A PETITION to change the streets of Winchester "needs work", according to city council cabinet members.

Phil Joyce presented Extinction Rebellion's petition at a meeting on July 8, which looks to give pedestrians and cyclists more room to encourage green travel.

It has 746 signatures and the idea was largely praised by councillors – but it will not be accepted before some modification, if at all.

Cllr Paula Ferguson, cabinet member for climate emergency and local economy, said: "Since lockdown began the air does taste cleaner and it's easier to walk and cycle.

"These are changes we want to keep as they will make people happier and healthier.

"But we have to be careful about how heavily we restrict travel into the city centre by car and the petition needs work."

The petition asks the council to restrict the use of inner-city car parks like Middlebrook, Colebrook and The Brooks to blue badge holders and residents.

"Most people have no alternative to travelling in by car," continued Cllr Ferguson, "and although I believe in this petition's ambitious ideas, providing parking remains important – particularly in this recovery from Covid-19."

The committee heard that transport makes up for 58 per cent of the district's annual carbon emissions.

But Cllr Frank Pearson stands by the same view as many other members: that too many restrictions will be damaging.

He told the meeting: "Winchester is an administrative centre that draws people from all over Hampshire, let alone Winchester District. It is a tourist centre of international repute.

"It is an historic cathedral city; it is a retail centre, not only for its residents but also for the surrounding rural area; it is a transport hub for road and rail journeys.

"It is an education centre that draws students from near and far; it is a place of work, and as an urban centre, the home for some 48,000 people.

"Forget these facts, then elements of what Winchester is about, begin to die. All of these points must be considered if you are not to cut Winchester off from its economic catchment area."

Extinction Rebellion are also asking the council to: reallocate one lane of traffic for use by pedestrians; prioritise public transport, blue badge holders, residents and emergency vehicles on the roads; pedestrianise areas where there is a high density of people; and

Cllr Martin Tod pointed out that some of these are already being worked on.

He referred to The Square being closed to through traffic on the weekends, soon to be seven days a week, and the lane closure in North Walls to allow more room for cyclists and pedestrians.

Councillors for rural wards across the district are hoping similar measures will be carried out in their villages.

The petition will be discussed further at a future Health and Environmental Policies Committee.