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Thank you for your contributions on social media. A range of questions and concerns have been expressed in a number of groups. Many of you have put in a considerable amount of energy to these discussions. It is great to see so many people feeling so passionate about the future of our town centre.

We are keen to find meaningful ways for us all to work together. We hope that together we can create an opportunity for residents of all ages, local businesses, Penarth Town Council (PTC) and the Vale of Glamorgan Council (VOG) and other interested stakeholders, to develop a shared vision for a safe, healthy, clean & green, people-friendly town centre.

Here we comment on the main issues coming up:

• How do we encourage shoppers to stay longer and do more in the town centre?

"I would stay and shop for other things for longer, but there's nowhere to sit in the core shopping area. Just an extra few seats would help me stay longer."

"I want more covered walking and sitting areas. Walking kids and prams through the long winter is miserable."

We'd very much like to see Windsor Road turn into a place where people would like to linger and enjoy. As city planner and urbanist, Brent Todorian says "Great places are both initially attractive, and 'sticky' once you get there. A place is sticky if people love it, and don't want to leave"

Of course, there needs to be space for social distancing and other Covid measures, as necessary. That's one of the key reasons why we feel making more space for people is vital. Especially if there will be more space given over to tables and chairs for the hospitality businesses.

What a great place it could be, with a real feeling of cafe culture, plus spaces to welcome in nature and street trees too. More space would allow children more freedom and would make it easier for their parents/carers. Wouldn't you like a civic square? We've seen how important it is to address the heat, the last few days have taught us that if nothing else.

Encouraging people to stay longer - the town centre as a place to socialise.

Some people were very keen to stress the importance of having space in the town centre to socialise and used the success of past PTC organised events to illustrate this point:

"I'd like to see more seating and social space, we're a sociable bunch in Penarth, look how well attended every event in town is when Windsor road gets closed off. I get that people love their cars and also that there are mobility issues to consider and cater for. But even from the far end of Westbourne road, by the golf course, it's only 1 mile to Windsor road shops. I walk (and have done with prams and toddlers and now little ones) or cycle every Saturday to shop in the town. A lot of our great local businesses also deliver (Windsor fruit do brilliant vegbox for example)."

"I'd like to see more pedestrianisation outside core hours so the restaurants and bars can host more people."

However some commentators were nervous about encouraging socialising for fear of consequences of too much alcohol consumption on the behaviour of their patrons. Licensees have a duty to sell alcohol responsibly. If they don't they lose their license.

• Why have you not engaged with stakeholders?

Some comments indicated that we had not engaged with stakeholders. Some accused us of not doing consultation. We have talked with many traders and shopkeepers in Penarth, as well as people using the town centre. Importantly, what we have done is shared an idea about how we might move towards a safer, healthier, more people-centred town centre. And we have done this in response to the PTC proposals.

We wanted to gauge the feeling of the town so we had open conversations with quite a few traders.

We also talked with people in the town centre one Saturday morning. The majority of people we spoke with supported the idea of making the town-centre more people-friendly.

We are open to engaging with people and would welcome a discussion with all stakeholders as to the future of the town centre. We hope to be able to have an event in the town centre in the autumn as a part of working together to develop a shared vision for the town.

Our ideas are based on PTC proposals of August 2020 and these were in turn based on a public survey the Council conducted in summer 2020 on the future of our town centre just as we were coming out of the first lockdown. The survey and proposals were in response to the public health crisis and the importance of social distancing, ventilation, outdoor space etc.

We were buoyed by the results of that survey and see it as a measure of support for our ideas. Of the 840 responses:

70% think that there should be more outdoor space for pedestrians and businesses

79% think that we need to prepare the town for the future

PTC concluded in their report on the survey that "The consultation shows that a clear majority recognise the need for a degree of change in the town centre, both for it to survive in the present and to thrive in future. The results call for the establishment of a greater degree of safe space and proposals which increase a degree of pedestrianisation whilst also increasing parking spaces".

Also, the VOG council has published its Project Zero plan in order to begin to address climate change issues. The outcome of the consultation indicated that "it was clear that the main aim should be on reducing the use of cars overall." This, accompanies the changes the VOG has to make to follow the new Welsh Government Transport Strategy and its active travel guidance, which states that "walking and cycling [will] be the natural mode of choice for short everyday journeys, or as part of a longer journey in combination with other sustainable modes."

• What evidence do you have that restricting cars and opening up the space for people will be good for business?

A number of commentators challenged the evidence that we are basing our ideas on. In our open letter we referenced the Pedestrian Pound report which contains plenty of evidence of the increased commercial returns from pedestrianisation and academic research since the 1970s is clear that pedestrianisation increases footfall.

We also know that there has been enough research conducted for us to be able to generalise from the data. We can look to success in other places and learn. Even though the view that Penarth is unique is widely held, there are similarities when you view our lovely garden by the sea through the wider lens of urban design and planning.

Some commentators thought that the PTC proposals would 'kill off trade' – we wonder what that claim is based on and urge a re-think. What leads them to believe that restricting cars will kill off trade? Doing nothing will just allow the decline to continue. Here's just one report of another town in south Wales trying to reinvent itself as a destination. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-57809563

• How do we deal with the practical problems of restricting cars in part of the town centre?

Concerns about car parking in Penarth have a long history, and despite some who seem to be in support of such a move, it is unlikely that any buildings in Penarth are going to be knocked down to create a car park.

There is actually a lot of street parking in Penarth. As far as we can see, the problem has been people ignoring the time-limits with little enforcement and, until recently when a camera car was introduced, no sanctions. The behaviour of the few who park their cars all day in the strets nearest to the town centre has caused problems for the majority.

The solution would be to work together to encourage more people to choose active and sustainable modes of transport, including public transport, e-bikes, walking and cycling. We are keen to learn how we as a community can create a shift in thinking around how people of all ages and abilities move themselves, their family and shopping.

We recognise that there will be a need for better facilities and infrastructure in town for this to happen. Plus, there will need to be much support and encouragement for people to use public transport and active travel modes for at least some of the journeys they make - about 20% of journeys are under a mile, a distance which most people can easily walk or cycle, and if less of these are made by car, the situation will improve for those who have little choice other than to drive. This is part of a wider challenge locally. We are pleased that currently we have Sustrans working in the Fairfield school area to improve things around there.

The Penarth Town Council proposal to restrict traffic use on Windsor Terrace and Lower Glebe Street resulted in a net increase in the number of parking spaces in and around the town centre from 523 spaces to 572 spaces and increased the disabled spaces in the centre of town from 13 to 23. There were also drop off and pick up points at both ends of Windsor Road. That's quite a large car park.

We hope the VOG will act quickly now to implement improvements to public transport and cycling and walking, in line with the Welsh Government's Transport Strategy and its Active Travel Guidance and in light of the developments happening in the lower Penarth area.

Some commentators were supportive of the idea of restricting cars in the town centre but wanted to see improved public transport alongside that plan, particularly from Lower Penarth and Cosmeston. One commentator wanted to see the return of a shuttle bus connecting the seafront, the town and the cliff top area. With perhaps some park and ride facilities at the Cliff Top.

Concerns were raised about displacement of traffic from Windsor Road onto neighbouring residential streets. One of the best kept secrets of urban planning is that reducing roads can actually reduce traffic – so called 'traffic evaporation'. When traffic evaporates it makes room for cleaner air and healthier people. There really are no arguments against this principle, it may seem counter-intuitive but it's a known fact.

Of course we also had some very positive responses to the vision we outlined:

"I choose to bypass the town centre due to the sheer number of cars, the pollution, the traffic noise, and the narrow overcrowded pavements. It's not a pleasant place to be. I would love to be able to amble through the town centre, pop in some shops, and relax outside with refreshments."

"I'd like to see the centre pedestrianised at all times. Cars can take 2 minutes more to drive around but their drivers will feel they are being hard done by. Make the space for people and businesses thrive. Parking will be their next complaint, because the idea of walking 100 yards is too much for many."

"...Would love to see more pedestrianised areas which feel safer for families with young children to spend time in. Also pop up market stalls in a pedestrianised zone would be an amazing opportunity for small businesses whilst creating an attractive 'market town' feel for penarth."

Let's make this the beginning of coming together to create a shared vision for our town.

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