ST JOHN'S Square is to become a traffic free zone now a £120,000 scheme to pedestrianise it has been given the go ahead.
Under the plans, agreed at the last night's Blackpool Council executive committee, buses and taxis will be banned from the square, which underwent a £4.7m revamp last year.
The move comes following a council and Blackpool Transport investigation i
nto the safety of "shared space" concept in the square – where vehicles and pedestrians use an area without pavements or road markings.
Four options were put before the executive committee, although one – to send buses down Topping Street – was been dismissed because the road is not wide enough.
Options two and three involve the Market Street, Church Street and
Corporation Street loop, and Clifton Street and Market Street.
The preferred option, which councillors voted to approve, will see buses and taxis use the Market Street, Church Street and Corporation Street loop, with traffic travelling up Clifton Street for the first time.
Additional bus stops and changes to junctions will cost £120,000.
The change will be introduced on an 18-month trial basis.
Coun Maxine Fowler welcomed the decision and said she had been concerned after seeing examples of shared spaces in London which were not working.
She added: "There were fears about safety in St John's Square, particularly from people on holiday who may not be as aware the area is shared between pedestrians and public transport."
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY SEE WEDNESDAY'S GAZETTE.