Some Rickmansworth businesses have claimed High Street is being “destroyed” by pedestrianisation measures after a six-month consultation closed this week.

The county and borough councils have been testing banning most vehicles from the road between 10am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am Saturday to 6am Monday.

Several shopkeepers criticised the move claiming it was hurting their business, while some othters backed the move claiming the stretch didn't need cars. 

Manager of Hob hair salon, Natasha Knight, said: “There has been no consideration of businesses when the council decided to close the street to cars. It hasn’t helped us at all, everyone is feeling the struggle of decline in business.

“There are too many people in charge of the decision, and they have no consideration of what the high street needs.”

Rickmansworth has had car restrictions since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic due to social distancing, but vehicles have not returned since.

Alison Love, owner of F.L Dickins, said: “I have been at the shop for 40 years and have never seen it this quiet. My grandad started the business in 1949 and we have seen a lot of change in the high street, but this hasn’t helped at all.”

Lesley Beard, owner of clothes shop Zip Up, claimed the pedestrianisation measures were "destroying" the high street, adding it is far quieter than before.

But some businesses backed the move by pointing to a more pleasant environment with reduced car fumes.

Adrian Katachi, co-owner of Renaissance Tattoo Shop, said: “The pedestrianised high street is so much better for the town, it is so nice to see kids walking along the high street. There is no need for cars here.”

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council, said: “We have made some changes to the road closure arrangements following feedback from residents and businesses on the proposal. We have been trialling these new arrangements since March this year and they will go on for six to 18 months.”

District councillor for Rickmansworth Town, Andrea Fraser, said: "The town is full of history and needs to be modernised if the car-free part stays. It is making it so much harder to shop local."

Hertfordshire County Council has been asked for the official number of objections it has received.