THE pedestrianisation of a shopping street will be reviewed for the third time in five years over concerns operating times could lead to the closure of independent shops.

The hours for when George Street in Hove is closed to traffic will be reviewed again less than two years after proposed changes were rejected by traders.

Ward councillor Andrew Wealls said the time was right to look at the system again because of a number of changes in recent months, most notably Tesco’s move to stop non- customers using its car park.

The expansion of St Andrew’s CE Primary School in Belfast Street and its impact on reducing spaces in Harrington car park are also as factors.

Cllr Wealls said George Street was one of the city’s biggest employers, supporting more than 800 jobs, and was the only seasonally pedestrianised street in the country.

The shopping street is pedestrianised from Monday to Saturday between 10am and 6pm from April 1 to October 30, and between 10am and 4pm from November 1 to March 31.

The Conservative councillor said changes might have to be brought in or run the risk of chain stores closing down and independents going bankrupt.

Transport committee chairwoman Councillor Gill Mitchell said she understood the concerns raised and the impact of changes since the proposals were last rejected because of licensing issues with tables in the public highway and 85 per cent of traders opposed to changes.