Mayor’s Mall plan causes traffic tie-up

AFTER months of uncertainty and objections from members of the San Fernando business community, as well as Southern Division Police, High Street was transformed into the country’s first Pedestrian Mall. For the Christmas season only, shoppers have an almost unrestricted access to the city’s stores and malls along High Street. On the city’s outskirts, however, traffic was reduced to a crawl on many streets — St James Street, Independence Avenue, Harris Street and Coffee Street — as motorists were caught unaware about the new traffic arrangements. One irate motorist, caught in a traffic jam on St James Street, vowed to avoid the city centre and do his Christmas shopping at malls outside of San Fernando. Newsday saw motorists performing illegal U-turns along several short streets to avoid the massive traffic jams throughout lunchtime yesterday.

The Pedestrian Mall is on a trial basis until December 31 and only taxis and delivery vehicles will be allowed on High Street from 6 am to 8 pm daily. Assistant Commissioner of Police (South), Dennis Graham, said the mall was “not feasible” given the short notice to businesspeople, motorists and shoppers. Meanwhile, San Fernando Mayor Ian Atherly, on a walkabout along the newly-created Pedestrian Mall, expressed optimism that as the season progressed, the new mall would be embraced by all segments of San Fernando. He reiterated that the new arrangement would help boost sluggish sales in what is traditionally the busiest time of the year.

Accompanied by senior members of the San Fernando City Corporation’s (SFCC), municipal police department and licensing officers, Atherly also promised to allow vending along the blocked-off portions of Mon Chagrin Street and along Short Street. Police warned vendors against blocking the free flow of traffic and obstructing the entrances of business places. Meanwhile, San Fernando Business Association (SBA) president Daphne Bartlett said she would monitor the feasibility of the Pedestrian Mall. “It is still too early to tell, but we are working with the Mayor on his plans for the city,” she said. Bartlett stressed that businesspeople were anxiously awaiting the city’s measures to deal with rampant street vending which, during the Christmas season, saw hordes of vendors descending on the city’s main shopping thoroughfare.