THERE are now more car parking spaces in one Herefordshire town after the council reversed some of its social distancing measures.

From July, Herefordshire Council started to introduce the active travel measures in Herefordshire so walking and cycling would be more attractive during the coronavirus pandemic.

In Bromyard, this meant a number of parking spaces in Broad Street and High Street were replaced with widnened walkways, and plant pots put there to stop cars staying there.

Now Herefordshire Council has agreed to reinstate some of the parking spaces, namely those outside The Card Company.

Ledbury Reporter: Spaces have been reinstated opposite Lamings bakerySpaces have been reinstated opposite Lamings bakery

Bromyard Bringsty ward Conservatives councillor Nigel Shaw welcomed the changes, saying: "There was a third round of decision making back in December, but it's taken them this long to implement it, even though I've been moaning at them to do it.

"It's changed the parking restriction by the bakers, allowing them to put their flour delivery van where it needs to go. It's put back some of the parking opposite the bakers, which is where the pots have disappeared from, and it's also put back some parking in front of the chemists.

"The lines have been painted out. It's not all gone, but the most sensitive, the most contentious area, have been returned to normal."There were complaints from [town] councillors, there were complaints from the chamber of commerce as well."

Ledbury Reporter: Plant pots have been removed from outside the chemist in BromyardPlant pots have been removed from outside the chemist in Bromyard

In December, people in Bromyard took matters into their own hands by moving the plant pots used to block parking spaces and widen pavements for social distancing.

A Bromyard and Winslow Town Council meeting was told by Coun Suzette Brunsdon that a business owner had told her the pots were not convenient and felt they had not been listened to.

Councillor Fred Clark added there have been several comments from traders and others about the pots.

Herefordshire Council has repeatedly said since implementing the measures, which include a 20mph speed limit in Hereford and surrounding market towns, that it would take feedback on board and adjust the changes if necessary.

Councillor John Harrington, who is the cabinet member for roads, said: "We made some changes to the street layout and removed some planters after feedback from the chamber of commerce and the ward councillor, after they relayed concerns raised with them from businesses and members of the public with regard to delivery vehicles struggling to unload without obstructing the through traffic.

"Outside Laming's and the chemist were identified as the areas of most concern.

"We'll continue to monitor feedback but it is important to remember these changes were brought in to allow people space to keep distanced during this crisis and the crisis is by no means over yet."

In Hereford, the measures included the closure of the Old Bridge to all vehicles, except buses and taxis heading north.

The changes, which also happened in other counties across the country, came after the Government provided funding for councils.