THE Business Improvement District (BID) has called for the People Friendly Salisbury scheme to be suspended, putting more pressure on Wiltshire Council. 

It comes after MP for Salisbury, John Glen, also called for the traffic reduction scheme to be suspended, as well as for a wider consultation. 

The BID, which represents businesses in the city, says while it supports the longer term ambitions of the scheme, "there are many pressing challenges facing businesses at this time and we need to do all we can to enable a positive trading environment in the run up to Christmas".

It says businesses have raised concerns about the short term impact the scheme is having or may have once the COVID restrictions are lifted and the Christmas trading period can begin.

In a survey conducted over the last few days, the initial feedback provided from more than 75 businesses in the city centre showed 71 per cent of those businesses who completed the survey asked the BID to ask Wiltshire Council to lift the scheme until next year.

Therefore the BID Board has written to Wiltshire Council asking it to temporarily suspend the People Friendly Scheme, and suggesting a reintroduction of the scheme next year.

The BID adds: "This suspension will allow Wiltshire Council to review and address some of the challenges and concerns raised to date regarding the scheme".

Wiltshire Council has been contacted for comment.