THE High Street in Worle is to be closed to traffic for one day to test the water for a permanent shut down. The road was initially going to be blocked off to cars for three days in September but the idea has been scaled back after a wave of opposition fr

THE High Street in Worle is to be closed to traffic for one day to test the water for a permanent shut down.The road was initially going to be blocked off to cars for three days in September but the idea has been scaled back after a wave of opposition from traders.A public meeting was held to discuss the proposal and traders warned North Somerset Council officers 'the High Street will die' if it is closed to traffic.The one-day closure between The Lamb Inn and The Maltings will take place on September 22. It will be part of a European-wide green initiative called In Town Without My Car. The authority's executive member for strategic planning and transport, Councillor John Crockford-Hawley, said: "I've listened to the traders and the three-day closure will not take place. It will just be a day now."Council staff will be able to monitor what happens during the closure."There's evidence from other towns which shows that when you give the shopping streets back to people, the traders benefit."For whatever reason the traders are under the misapprehension that a decision has already been made to have a permanent closure but I want to emphasise that no decision has been made."Temporary barriers will be put up when the closure is in force and council traffic officers will be looking at whether the closure generates traffic problems elsewhere, particularly in the narrow streets in the area known as old Worle, as well as the affect on High Street shops.