People in Swale are being asked for their views on plans to make road closures in some of its town centres permanent.

The local authority is running a three week long public consultation on the controversial pedestrianisation of Sittingbourne, Sheerness and Faversham town centres.

Temporary closures were put in place in July last year, initially to help with social distancing rules during the pandemic, but have caused up roar among business owners.

On Monday fed-up shopkeepers in Sheerness High Street gathered at 10am to try and stop barriers being put in place at the junction with Millennium Way.

Three officers attended after Swale council warned police and its contractors about the protest. The officers spoke to traders for about half-an-hour before enabling wardens to put the barriers in place. No arrests were made.

The High Street has been closed to traffic six days a week since last year but shopkeepers who have seen their incomes plummet say enough is enough.

David Schwab, who runs Bitz and Bobs in Sheerness Broadway, said: “As we are coming out of lockdown and Monday was the day when everything opened, the road should open with it.

“The road was originally closed for Covid and social distancing, so as the restrictions are easing, this should be reopened.

“I also believe that by having the High Street closed, you’re just sending people to Neats Court where there is no social distancing in place - it’s not fair.

“Why aren’t both of the other ends of the High Street cordoned off, or Neats Court, or Leysdown, or anywhere else on the Island for that matter? We are a small town and we will go out of business very slowly if this doesn’t change.

“The big shops are going already. There’s not enough footfall to keep us all going. We are all hanging on at the moment by a string.”

Kerry Parker, part-owner of W.K. at 140 High Street, which offers a key cutting service, shoe repairing, engraving and more, said: “We are 40% down in business. It should be open like it was before. The reasons given for closure are ludicrous.

“The entire country is opening, yet our High Street is staying shut.”

Now Swale council is calling on shoppers, shop owners and residents to have their say on whether the scheme should be made permanent - either staying the same or slightly modified.

The consultations will take place for each of the three towns affected separately.

Cllr Monique Bonney said: "Our town centres are really important. We want them to be vibrant, attractive places to visit and work in, with good accessibility, thriving businesses and communities.

“It is important we increase footfall and encourage events as well as encourage the use of public transport as well as walking and cycling.

“We want to carry out an informal consultation to get a clear view of all the issues and options.

“This is part of a wider scheme of work we are currently undertaking to improve the public realm in our town centres and help give them the boost they need to recover from the pandemic and thrive in the years ahead.

“We really want as many people as possible to take part in the consultations in each town so we can make an informed decision about what to do next.”

A recent poll from Kent Online found that 67% of around 850 people thinks the car ban in Sheerness should be lifted.

The consultations are running until Monday June 14, and people can take part by visiting here.

Results will be shared with the Swale and Kent County Council Joint Transportation Board, and the council will then decide if they want to proceed with a formal consultation before any changes are implemented.

Read more: All the latest news from Sheerness, Sittingbourne and Faversham