‘Livable’ Tory St dead in water

An experiment in making Tory St more livable with seats, planters, and one-way traffic has been scrapped.

The re-imagined design had originally been intended to stand for three-months but only two months after the opening party in early April, the lane will be returned to a regular two-way street, with removal of its new furnishings and new paint job beginning earlier in the week.

The project had been criticised by local businesses over a perceived lack of consultation and issues over vehicle access.

For one business owner, the change back couldn’t come fast enough.

Amelia Lingonis, who runs homeware store Smack Bang, said the lack of parking or loading zones had resulted in traffic jams as trucks hastily offloaded merchandise in the middle of the street and the space had attracted drinkers at weekends.

‘‘I’m glad it’s being ripped out – we objected to it in the first place but they didn’t want to listen to anything we said,’’ she said.

‘‘A bar on the corner was getting kegs delivered but they had nowhere to park, so they were parked in the middle of the road, unloading kegs, and scooting them down the middle of the road, blocking traffic.’’

Lingonis said it took council a month to install skate stops to dissuade skateboarders, who regularly scuffed up the seating.

The aim of increasing foot traffic had also failed, with the change of weather meaning very few people were willing to sit around outside, she said.

A letter to store owners in the area said the deconstruction work would be completed within a week and it would remain open to cars and pedestrians throughout.

‘‘On completion of the works, Lower Tory Street will operate as a two-way street again with a single loading zone and on-street parking,’’ the letter read.

Councillor Nicola Young, who holds the Central City Projects portfolio, said lower Tory St was always intended as an experiment.

‘‘People who live in the area and businesses don’t like it but people who live further away who cycle through it love it,’’ she said.

Police had been asked to monitor how the changes were received and had reported no increase in antisocial behaviour or traffic accidents.