Opening up more space outside businesses to allow for social distancing is just one of the proposals being considered by Pembrokeshire County Council in a bid to improve the transport environment.

Local authorities across the country are being invited to come up with temporary transport measures to improve sustainable and active travel in light of coronavirus lockdown measures.

Deputy transport minister Lee Waters has given councils until May 21 to come up with “pop-up measures” such as road closures with filters for cyclists, bringing forward default 20mph trials, footway widening and temporary crossing facilities.

He said that the disruption to transport networks by Covid-19 provided an opportunity to “do things differently” and get more people walking, cycling and travelling in sustainable ways.

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman said a number of scheme initiatives were being examined ranging from projects that can be implemented relatively quickly or ‘pop-up measures’.

“For example, the reallocation of road space through the suspension of on-street parking which would allow the footway provision to be increased and enable social distancing and ability to queue outside businesses to take place safely.

“Similar projects could support businesses by allowing them to extend their ‘footprint’ onto the highway, again through the reallocation of road space (subject to conditions and licensing requirements being met).

“This is of particular importance where social distancing has had a detrimental impact on the number of customers that the business can accommodate,” he added.

The council would aim to have the measures in place “in readiness for when the restrictions on the hospitality sector are relaxed.”

Other ideas include looking a key towns and outlying settlements where the relocation of road space could increase pedestrian provision as well as support ‘active travel’.

“Some of the ideas we are examining is the introduction of one-way flow along a number of strategic routes which – when coupled with measures such as cycle contra-flows – would allow us to link into existing active travel schemes and shared-use facilities.

“This is of particular importance at the present time when we are being encouraged to use more sustainable means of transport,” said the council spokesman.

Road safety measures, including 20mph limits, will also be considered.

Formal consultations on all proposals will be held to see what support there is for their introduction.