Car Free Zone?

Intrigued by a suggestion I read this week that the town centre of the Hampshire market town of Romsey should become a car free zone.
It is by no means an official proposal, but seemingly comes from the president of the town’s Chamber of Commerce which could give it some bite, even though from what I read, it does not bear the stamp of approval of many others in the town.
The idea is prompted by work currently under way near the town’s Abbey church which is intended to enhance the streets by the Abbey, by making them more pedestrian friendly, making the pavements and roadway on the same level and discouraging cars using it as a through route.
That has led to the current idea that the same plans could be extended throughout the town centre and by turning it into a pedestrian zone would encourage more shoppers to the town which would lead to shops benefitting from more business.
According to then local newspaper, the Romsey Advertiser, the town is split over what appears to be a controversial suggestion.
But I am intrigued. Some 30 years ago I mooted the same idea in a regular column I was then writing for another newspaper. All that time ago I promulgated the idea that the town should take a leaf out of some other places where against initial opposition, the idea had worked a treat, however drastic the change might be.

Intrigued? Yes.  Nothing came of the idea at that time and no-one saw fit to take-up my thoughts and beliefs of how Romsey might benefit. So it will be interesting to see whether the present revival of the concept will carry any more weight than mine all those years ago!