A street which has become an alfresco haven in the heart of Brighton is to be reopened to traffic.

New Road has been redesigned by Danish architects Gehl at a cost of £1 million and has been closed to through traffic since the summer of 2006 when work began.

The council has always intended to reopen the road to cars once the scheme was completed, running traffic southbound from Church Street to North Street.

But after months of enjoying a pedestrianised zone, many are calling for the road to remain car-free Sue Addis, co-owner of Pinocchio Restaurant, New Road, said: "I would strongly support restricted vehicular access to New Road.

"The area is already being spoilt by people using it as a car park, which is a terrible shame.

"At Pinocchio, we have really embraced the beautiful work done in pedestrianising the street and have invested in attractive plantings, seats and umbrellas for our part of the new area, which I think looks fantastic.

"It worries me that this could be an accident waiting to happen - small children playing in what appears to be a safe, pedestrian environment could find themselves in danger from the cars and lorries allowed access to the road."

The paved road takes in restaurants, bars, theatres and the Royal Pavilion.

It has stylish benches dotted along the route and was one of the main sites for this year's Streets of Brighton.

The Queen even took a trip down the newly designed street when she visited Brighton earlier this year.

The council hopes the scheme will attract more visitors to the Pavilion and theatres, boosting the city's economy, and a spokesman last night said pedestrianisation was not out of the question.

He said: "There are clearly two schools of thought on traffic in New Road.

"Some businesses are likely to want it open, others to want it closed. Nothing is cast in stone and we'll continue to listen to all businesses in that street on what they want.

"Also the design now makes drivers feel they're intruding on a pedestrian space rather than the other way round as it was previously.

"And of course we always have the option of temporary closure for special events.

"The message to traders would be 'let's keep talking about it'."

An experimental traffic order has been introduced for up to 18 months which turns New Road into a two-way street.

Cars will be able to turn into New Road from Church Street and then left along North Street.

Only cyclists are permitted to turn off North Street onto New Road, the speed limit is 20 mph and some disabled parking has been provided.

Tony Mernagh, executive director of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said that allowing traffic to run along the street was a travesty.

He said: "The closure of New Road has created a fantastic space and it is right in the heart of the city.

"I would like to see it closed to traffic and certainly see it closed for special events.

"This is the best pedestrian scheme the city has ever had - it is exciting and dynamic and it is a travesty to open it up.

"It will be like George Street in Hove on Sundays when the atmosphere is just destroyed."

To watch the Queen's visit to New Road, Brighton, or to comment on whether the paved street should remain car free visit www.theargus.co.uk Do you think the road should remain pedestrianised? Leave your comments below.