CIVIC chiefs agreed last night to take the first tentative steps along a road that could see Eastleigh's shopping streets paved over.

Members of the borough council's Eastleigh Local Area Committee agreed to call for further research into the pros and cons of pedestrianising Market Street and High Street despite warnings from traders that independent businesses would die.

Eastleigh planner Graham Tuck told councillors: "We believe we should continue to pursue development and redevelopment options and, at the same time, start to examine environmental improvements."

But he added it was important to understand whether or not pedestrianisation would work in a town like Eastleigh and further research work was needed on car parking, the effects on all types of retailers and what Eastleigh customers wanted.

Pete Richards, who runs Just For Fun, told councillors retailers were fearful that they could not survive without Eastleigh's current convenient on-street parking.

Councillor Bill Luffman said there was plenty of alternative parking to replace roadside slots and believed pedestrianisation would solve street pollution and traffic problems.