A FLINTSHIRE town’s High Street is set to open permanently to traffic in a bid to boost trade despite hefty costs.

In May drivers were given access to Holywell’s main shopping area for the first time in more than 25 years to allow shoppers easy access to businesses.

A six-month trial period was launched after a petition containing more than 500 names was presented to Flintshire Council supporting the removal of a pedestrianisation order.

The local authority is now recommending to make the change permanent, but has warned town councillors and business owners that they will need to find grant funding of £800,000 in order to achieve it.

Cllr Carolyn Thomas, the council’s cabinet member for Streetscene and countryside, said: “The council has worked with Holywell Town Council and agreed the trial period to remove the order so that an assessment could be done on the benefit of removing the order permanently.

“Although the trial period is due to come to an end after Christmas, a six month review of the impact took place and concluded that there was both local benefit and support to remove the order permanently.

“The town council is, therefore, supporting the removal of the order.”

The High Street has been pedestrianised since 1992 and only delivery vehicles were allowed to drive down it before the trial launched. Mixed views were expressed when the changes were first introduced in May, with some business owners expressing safety concerns.

The town council had planned to hold a poll to gauge opinions, but did not receive enough support.

The trial is due to finish in January and the original pedestrianisation order will need to be reinstated initially because Flintshire Council says the road cannot cope with extra traffic as it stands.

Cabinet members will be asked to support removing the order at a meeting on Tuesday November 20, once it has worked with the town council and businesses to achieve funding.