Traders have welcomed the first weekend of car-free shopping in a Brighton street.

Saturday and Sunday saw the trial of the pedestrianisation of East Street with business owners predicting the scheme will only get better with the start of summer.

The long-mooted car ban finally came into being between 11am and 7pm as part of the 18-month trial.

Supporters predict business turnover in the area could increase as a result by up to 60%.

The street is one of the oldest in the city and also one of the busiest with up to 20,000 people a day visiting in peak times.

Council officers will monitor and assess the success of the scheme over the next year and a half before a decision is made on whether to make the arrangement permanent.

Gemma Dilloway, owner of Scoop and Crumb ice cream parlour, said: “It seemed a lot more pleasant with everybody wandering around.

“The street was really buzzing. Our takings were down on the Sunday but I think that was more to do with the weather.

“It’s made a big difference that the loading bay has been moved. It was right outside my shop.

“It has been a good start and it will get even better once we get all our tables and chairs outside.”

Mark Sinclair, general manger of C&H Weston, Aston Bourne and Barbour stores, said: “It’s early days so time will tell but I think it’s going to be a good thing for our clothing stores.

“It will certainly make it easier for people wandering about and looking in shop windows.

“We do get a lot of builders’ vans and delivery lorries parking up which doesn’t make it easy for people to look into shop windows from across the street.”

Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of the environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “It’s probably a bit too early in the trial to judge how things will go, especially with the unseasonal weather, but we are committed to hearing the good and problematic aspects as the trial progresses and welcome feedback from traders and the public.”

BACKGROUND

A 2001 nationwide study into the benefits of pedestrianisation reported that turnover for retailers and restaurateurs increased significantly over and above that in other comparable vehicular streets, though there is no significant change for hoteliers.

A larger proportion of businesses reported an increase in profits for those located within pedestrianised areas compared to those outside those zones.

The differential in turnover for retailers and restaurants was 40 to 60% and the differential in profits was 10 to 15%.