Now everyone's views are being sought on the suggestion to ban traffic from areas such as Church Street or Adam and Eve Street, which has been generating hot debate on a Harborough District Council website.

The last major pedestrianisation in Harborough was in 1993-94 when 29,000 new paving blocks were put down on The Square as part of a multi-million pound Leicestershire County Council scheme.

The question of pedestrianisation was one of the key ideas put forward at the Hands on Harborough conference in March which was organised by members of Harborough Improvement Team.

The event brought together a cross-section of the town's community to discuss concerns and hopes for the town's development over the next 15 years.

An online forum was set up for people to air their views on the suggestions raised by delegates at the conference and pedestrianisation has been posted as the first topic for discussion on the site.

The Hands on Harborough forum was set up by Melanie Wisher, acting town centre manager for HiT, who said: "We will be researching other market towns that have used pedestrianiastaion and see what we can learn.

"This is in the very early stages and we are seeing what people think."

* To have your say, click this link to the online forum. The Mail is also inviting people's opinions on the subject.

Various views on the pedestrianisation issue have already been posted on the forum. These include:
* Electronic bollards operating on a time clock could be used to pedestrianise the town centre between 9am and 5pm on weekdays and Saturdays
* It would be a good thing, with less fumes and safer for toddlers
* Sounds a good idea in principle
* Concerns that traffic would be pushed out into the housing areas such as Alvington Way, Welland Park Road and Great Bowden
* Good use of a one-way system would also deter through traffic, but just needs planning and highways bosses to think it through properly first.