A RESTAURATEUR is starting up a petition for the council to demolish Leatherhead High Street's ironwork feature to let traffic flow.

Susan Leveritt, the marketing manager of Vecchia Trattoria in Leatherhead High Street, believes that traffic flowing through the High Street is necessary for the vitality of town businesses.

She has started a petition calling on the council to abandon its plans to close the High Street to evening traffic and to let traffic flow into the High Street from North Street by ditching the so-called 'waterless' feature.

She said: "I am sure lots of people have enjoyed it, but now with this financial situation we need something else. I am saying to people 'think the unthinkable'."

She believes that getting rid of pedestrianisation would increase footfall in the town and help businesses.

She added: "Currys couldn't make it and the pound shop couldn't make it here and so many people just can't survive with whatever traffic is walking along here. It is people that come in cars that have got a budget and that money so we can thrive."

Laura Trotman, the assistant manager at the Christina Charles clothes shop in Leatherhead High Street, said: "I think we should get rid of the waterless feature and let cars drive up. There is no point it being there, so let cars drive through.

"In the old days they could do it and the buildings haven't moved forward they are at the same place.

"If they could do it then, then they could do it now."

To sign up to the petition, visit Vecchia Trattoria in Leatherhead High Street.