Oamaru's one-way historic precinct street might have pedestrian-only days next summer - but it might not, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said.
He could not say at this stage, before a second survey of area businesses was complete, if the street would return to its pedestrian-only status for periods next summer.
"I certainly don't want to pre-empt whether there will be pedestrianisation again next summer," Mr Kircher said.
After a consultation period with area businesses, Harbour St was converted to a pedestrian-only street from 10am to 4pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November until Easter.
When the Waitaki District Council took the decision to trial the closure to cars in October, Cr Hugh Perkins argued an "analysis of the economic impact of the closure on businesses in the precinct be undertaken once the closure period ends after Easter 2018", council documents show.
Council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen said after consulting with businesses it was planned for the council to have made a decision on a closure for Labour Weekend.
At the time of the decision on this summer's car closure, Oasis Oamaru owner Greg Waite made another plea to the council to reconsider its decision.
In November 2016, Mr Waite circulated a petition among Harbour St business owners opposing vehicle restrictions.
In the middle of the latest trial period, Harbour St Collective Cafe co-owner Bruce Blackie asked the council to return to the Saturdays-and-Sundays-only pedestrianisation of the street, which the council trialled for three months in early 2017.
Mr Blackie said his business was roughly 30% down on turnover on a Friday compared with before the three-day car closure.
Mr Kircher, who is a trustee for the majority landowner in Harbour St, the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust, said different people had different desires for the street - businesses there would be surveyed again so the council could decide on "no closure; weekend closure; or weekend closure, plus some or all of the weekdays".
A winter 2017 survey showed the majority of 40 area businesses preferred the option of a seven-day-a-week closure.
"Last time when we got the survey results, we weighted it to those who we felt were going to be more affected," Mr Kircher said.
"I expect we're going to do the same."
