Residents of a once bustling high street have claimed it has been turned into a ‘ghost town’ after the council blindsided them and installed a traffic blocking bollard.
The stylish Baker Street in Weybridge, Surrey, is famously a hub for eclectic independent businesses but it is now at risk of collapse due to shop owners fleeing.
The street is now beset with empty units as traders say they feel betrayed by the council and ‘forgotten about’ following the ‘ridiculous’ decision to build the bollard.
It blocks all traffic midway through the street and has left shop owners struggling for customers.
It was introduced during the pandemic to allow for social distancing, but businesses claim no consultation from Surrey County Council was made on the temporary measure becoming permanent.
The bollard was introduced during the pandemic to allow for social distancing and blocks all traffic midway through the street – leaving shop owners struggling for customers
Laura Slee is one of the shop owners who feels the council have blindsided the business on Baker Street by installing the bollard
Georgie Hillier runs the trendy Nettie Knows clothes store but says ‘people never come here, this road gets forgotten about’
Long-standing businesses like Step 39 shut without warning earlier this year after trading for more than 20 years, and others like Lola Jones have upped and left to set up shop in Farnham, while Sk:n emptied out with little notice.
But not everyone is against the closure, with some people living on the road saying it is much safer because cars are not able to speed down anymore.
Council leader, councillor Tim Oliver, insists businesses were consulted after the pandemic and added some residents say the move has improved the shopping experience in Baker Street.
Moira runs a dog groomer, Canine Beauty in the street and has lived in Weybridge for 30 years. She said: ‘It’s very sad, and the community will become a ghost town, not everybody here has disposable income to spend thousands on marketing.
‘The council are so far removed from the struggles of the day to day life. People used to use this road as a cut through but now a 10-minute journey takes 40 to 45 minutes. The bollard creates a false economy because if you drive to the bollard you need to turn around to go back the other way.
‘It’s a very scary time, everyone has got their own opinion but we are all trying to make a living and we want the community of Weybridge to get behind this. I chose to set up my business here because I love the road.’
Moira runs a dog groomer, Canine Beauty in the street and has lived in Weybridge for 30 years. She said: ‘It’s very sad, and the community will become a ghost town’
Long-standing businesses like Step 39 shut without warning earlier this year after trading for more than 20 years
A picture of the part of the road where the bollard would be build in 2018
Around the corner from the bollard, there are dozens of business located on the road
Laura Slee, runs Piajeh with her mother, who has had the shop for 26 years. Laura said: ‘I don’t remember having a say in it [the bollard] and they never should have done this.
‘It’s quite frustrating because Covid turned everything upside down, we asked to have the barrier removed, and businesses are closing because of it and they couldn’t care less.
‘We have our regular customers, but not everyone knows we are here. It doesn’t always occur to people to explore Baker Street but those who drove up here would see the shops and stop off.’
Like many other shop owners, the team at Piajeh have considered moving, despite being on Baker Street for decades.
Laura added: ‘The butchers, Stoneleigh, have moved to the High Street. We were looking to open elsewhere, but not all the independent shops here have the funds for it.’
‘The road closure is ridiculous, at the time it made a bit of sense and I think the council got government funding for social distancing,’ said Kristie Forder, from Modern and Classic Interiors, adding: ‘Cars just drive up here only to turn and go back the other way, it’s caused crashes outside the shop.’
Cafe Verditer owner Salvatore Mingoia says the street has gone from one extreme to another. From his point of view there’s no footfall and he feels sorry for the shop owners
However, Surrey County Council insist the road was dangerous before the bollard was in place, as it was used as a rat run.
Councillor Mr Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council and County Councillor for Weybridge said: ‘Whilst the barrier was initially installed as a temporary response to a government initiative to allow more space to residents during the pandemic, it was also seen as an opportunity to trial a resolution to a longstanding issue raised by local residents regarding Baker Street being used as a dangerous rat-run during busy commuter times.’
Mr Oliver added: ‘Once Covid restrictions eased, we consulted residents, emergency services and local businesses on what to do next with the temporary closure, with the choices being to remove it, keep it or do something else entirely.
‘The majority of responses were in favour of keeping it.
‘Accommodations were made to local businesses in response to concerns raised, and we have seen no reports from the emergency services having problems lowering the barrier.
‘Furthermore there is short term parking available outside of the shops.
‘The view from a number of residents is that the road barrier has actually made shopping along Baker Street more attractive: it was previously a very busy and dangerous rat-run but it is now much easier to find parking places and it is a pleasantly quiet road to visit for shopping or enjoying the hospitality businesses.
Business such as Lola Jones (pictured) have upped and left the road to set up shop in Farnham
‘However we are always receptive to the views of all residents and encourage those with concerns to get in touch to report any highways related issues via our website.
‘Local councillors will also arrange to meet with the action group in order to understand the issues they have.’
‘Thriving and busy businesses will move from the town’
Shops not relying solely on footfall have also noticed the change, Matthew Burdon from Weybridge Audio says the impact has been massive on the other shops.
Given that the store operates online and acts as a showroom, the issue doesn’t hit as hard, however he said the staff can tell it has taken its toll on neighbouring shops.
Matthew said: ‘The shops that are still operating are thinking about leaving. Thriving and busy businesses will move from the town.
‘I don’t know if we will stay here when it comes to renewing our lease in three to four years, but the shop has been in Weybridge since 1968.’
Cafe Verditer owner Salvatore Mingoia says the street has gone from one extreme to another. From his point of view there’s no footfall and he feels sorry for the shop owners.
He said: ‘I’d like to see more gift shops, independent shops and a variety of businesses, that’s what we want. When Step 39 was there it used to be really popular.’
Newer shops such as Georgie Hillier’s trendy Nettie Knows have also felt the pinch. Georgie grew up around Weybridge, which is why she decided to launch her clothes store on Baker Street three years ago.
She said: ‘People never come here, this road gets forgotten about. It would be good if we had a Christmas or farmers’ market on the road, we need more shops, we have got enough cafes.’
The road was ‘crazy and dangerous’ before the bollard but not everyone in the area wants to see the bollard removed, many people who live on Baker Street and neighbouring roads are overjoyed about the closure.
One Baker Street family who wished to remain anonymous, say they ‘love’ the closure.
They said: ‘We love it. We lived in when the road was a rat run it was crazy and dangerous, the kids couldn’t go outside with people trying to pull into the drive and hitting speeds of up to 50mph.’
Dismissing shop owners concerns, they said: ‘There would be nowhere to park for drivers, even if the road did reopen. They’d still need to park in the nearby car park and walk up.
‘Covid in general impacted shops, maybe the new stores opening on the high street are taking business away from Baker Street. There are so many variables.’
Vasilis Sarafidis, who also lives in Baker Street, said: ‘It’s [the bollard] very important for us otherwise there is too much traffic. It’s very quiet as it should be, it’s very nice. There are also elderly people over the road who will appreciate it.
‘Cars will see the shops exist but if they continue driving up to the roundabout near Sainsbury’s, there’s not going to be anywhere for them to stop. There would be a lot of traffic to stop here.’
However, on Springfield Meadows, not everyone is impressed with the closure as it leaves them trapped in traffic if they try to leave Weybridge.
One resident said: ‘If we want to get out we now have to go through three sets of traffic lights. It takes around 45 minutes to get out of Weybridge.
‘Cars did drive fast down there, I think just make it one way and reduce the speed to cut off the rat run. We would rather the road reopen.’
‘We have fantastic local shops and businesses that we need to support’
The area’s MP Dr Ben Spencer said: ‘I am aware of the concerns around the Baker Street road closure on local shops and businesses and I have met with a range of them regarding their concerns.
‘Given access to Baker Street falls within the powers of our local authorities and councillors, I have requested a joint meeting with Surrey Highways, County Councillor Tim Oliver and the Baker Street businesses to discuss the issues around the barrier.
‘We have fantastic local shops and businesses in Weybridge that we need to support, and I encourage both Surrey and Elmbridge Councils to do all they can to support them.’
