A consultation has seen an “overwhelming” majority back the continuation of pavement cafes in Lichfield city centre.
A number of streets saw disabled parking bays relocated to nearby car parks during the Covid-19 pandemic in order to allow hospitality businesses to serve outside while social distancing restrictions were in force.
But many outlets have sought to continue operating with outdoor seating areas.
Lichfield District Council said almost 1,600 responses were received to a survey on the long-term future for pavement cafes – with 85% wanting them to continue, saying they added to the city experience, attracted more visitors and created a friendly atmosphere.
But criticism had previously come from blue badge holders who said they were no longer able to access shops in the city centre due to the removal of on street spaces.
The survey saw 5.5% say that the pavement cafes were a negative, with 5.5% citing them to be very negative.
A spokesperson for the council said work would continue to seek alternative solutions for disabled drivers.
“We are committed to making Lichfield city centre a vibrant, safe and exciting place to live work and play.
“Car parking for blue badge holders is a vital consideration and whilst some parking bays have been moved to accommodate the pavement cafes, we have allocated alternative blue badge parking spaces in the city centre at Bird Street Car Park and Lombard Street Car Park.
“As a council we will ensure we communicate with any affected residents and visitors to ensure parking is well signposted. We would also like to reiterate that, blue badge holders can park in any council owned car park for free, if they display their badge.
“We are always looking for ways to balance the needs of different people and to support our disabled residents and visitors.
“We have contracted disability consultancy AccessAble to review the parking provision in Lichfield city centre and we look forward to receiving their report.”
Lichfield District Council spokesperson
Of the 1,592 people who responded, 75 confirmed they were disabled, with 117 saying they had been impacted by the pavement cafes using the former blue badge bays.
Lichfield District Council said the pavement cafes would continue to operate in the city centre into the autumn.
Well, 1,600 responses out of a population of 120,000+ is hardly likely to give rise to an ‘overwhelming majority’. The consultation itself was very limited, only three questions if I recall. I think the point is being missed here. The idea of a pavement cafe culture is quite attractive for a lot of people (although I would again take issue with the phrase- it is not taking place on the pavement, but on the disabled parking bays). It depends on where you put this outdoor seating and how you accommodate disabled people who can’t walk from carparks; if they had no problem with this, they might not need a blue badge. Surely the precinct would be a much better place for outdoor cafes, with no traffic coming past your table. Let’s face it, there are empty units in the precinct that could be used. And I don’t see any cafes in the market square where the banks are. A sensible approach could see all parties being catered for.
It is about time the council went ahead with full pedestrianisation of the city centre. It is quite frankly embarassing that Lichfield must be the only town/city in the Midlands that has yet to do so.
The extension of on road tables seems to have been a success especially through the late spring / summer period. With that in mind surely it would be beneficial for the council to open up the disabled parking bays as the trade will drop off now its colder.
Parking around Market square, adjacent to Banks, Building Societies, Solicitor’s (as examples) would benefit those in need, and also open up more car parking spaces behind B&M where the space taken by disabled bays seems somewhat over the top.
So you expect businesses to move ? I wouldn’t move just to gain outdoor seating ?. Better solution would make it seasonal when the weather turns bad and no one wants to sit outside let the blue badge brigade through, soon as the spring arrives get the tyre spikes out and ban all traffic…..simples
I find that most of disabled parking is taken in carparks so people must be able to access. Perhaps there needs to be more but where they are situated seems to work. Do think the town centre needs to be pedestrianised
Once again for those at the back. Blue badge holders can park for free on double and single yellow lines. I note the officers do not point this out in the report, no doubt fearful of encouraging such use for whatever reason.
On another point do any of the many tiers of local councillors know why the block paving outside of the kitchen shop going towards B and M has not been re-instated following the work (on a main of some kind)? This has just been filled with tarmac when the paving could have been put back down as you would on a drive. Please don’t tell me the paving has been dumped and the whole of market street will need re paving to match? It looks a real mess currently and has been like this for a number of months.
FULL Pedestrian will eventually come, as in most other towns- no delivery vehicles after 10am 7 days per week.
The use of outside tables worked well and made the center a much more welcoming place. I agree that much more could be made of the Market Square area too. There is no reason as to why the parking access cannot be reinstated outside HSBC/Nat West as there aren’t any cafes there anyway and this could now continue up around the corner where Bloomers used to be. The tarmac strips that blight the center area look dreadful and I would hope they are temporary – this is an area that definitely needs a revamp too, particularly outside B&M/Iceland.
Making the center a traffic-free area isn’t viable as there are many residential properties that require access but stopping taxis etc taking the short cut down past B&M etc to get back to the waiting area could be dealt with
John there are cafes around the market Square and another in the church all well used
What a dilemma! Personally I think that the pavement cafes are one of the few good to come out of the Covid pandemic. BUT, they absolutely cannot override the need for disabled people to access the city, freely and without discrimination. Expecting them to “walk” from Bird Street and Lombard Street is ridiculous. I can’t see why both cannot be provided for (the photo of McDonalds & the Tasty Cafe show only two parking bays used by the cafes, the rest are closed off by boxes full of mud!) but if the council can only come up with a choice between cafes and adequate disabled parking in the right place then regrettably the cafes have to go.
Mr Murdoch..BLUE BADGE BRIGADE..I’m sorry me having a blue badge offends you so,Who do you think have blue badges?OAPs, BENEFIT DODGERS?I’m 52 yrs old awaiting 2new knees,a hip replacement and an elbow joint operation,and I haven’t used the city centre while the tables were on the pavement,I’m gone elsewhere,so the shops are losing footfall.Think before you bundled everyone in the so called brigade,I must of missed the sign saying Disabled visitors and shoppers unwelcome.
Are you winding us up Mr Murdock? Unfortunately, disability is not a seasonal phenomenon, but ‘pavement’ cafes are.
Too many cafes in relation to other type of shops. What is there to come to Lichfield for? Where is the shopping experience? Debenham site empty another year. And so called plans for a cinema or bowling alley. We have heard it all before. Costa was empty today. Starbucks was full. Next week?? And goodbye to Boomers…what a shame.
There is only one cafe around the market square and social distancing must only apply to one part of lichfield because near wilko is packed with people parking. I hope tasty cafe pays for the space they use snd does socisl distancing apply when the food festival is on lol
My dog likes to spend time in these cafes but there is no provision to bring him to the facilities with ease. He has to walk quite far and his legs aren’t up to it. It’s so thoughtless to put animals out like this.
John Allen….. was you one of the 1600 responders? My guess is “No”, but you voice your opinion on here about it? Boomers were in the Market Square, did they receive your support? If they did, they may still be here. Empty units in the precinct…. more cafes will mean a watered down market for the cafe’s already in the City Centre…. causing empty units in the precinct due to a lack of business.
Your guess is wrong Fuggs, I did respond to this survey. Why do you assume that I would critise something without bothering to take part? A bit cynical.
John Allen… I’ll take that ONE line back….apologies…. nothing wrong with being cynical nowadays!!!!!