Moreton Bay Regional Council has decided not to build a park in Baynes St, Margate

A southeast Queensland council has shelved plans for a new park after business owners said it would force them to close their doors.

Moreton Bay Regional Council has shelved plans to build a civic park in Margate.

PLANS to build a park in the middle of a southeast Queensland business district have been shelved after business owners said it would force them to close their doors.

Margate, north of Brisbane on the Redcliffe Peninsula, is one of the only suburbs in the Moreton Bay Regional Council area that does not have a park.

Moreton Bay Regional Councillor Koliana Winchester (Div 6) made an election promise to build one.

The council put together a proposal to close part of one of the suburb’s streets, Baynes St, to traffic and transform it into a park.

The park was meant to be a place for friends to catch up, children to play and community events.

Residents and businesses owners were given several weeks to have their say on the proposal.

Council received 15 written submissions, 203 completed surveys and more than 200 comments about the plan.

“Over 80 per cent of respondents supported the idea of a new civic park in Margate,” Cr Winchester said.

“Sixty-five per cent supported a civic park for Baynes St in particular however only 13 per cent of business owners located in Baynes St supported that proposal.”

Earlier this month, a number of business owners said they would have to shut their doors if the proposal went ahead and part of the street was closed to traffic.

Business owners Elizabeth Barber and Lynn Mather were against the proposal for a park in Baynes St, Margate. Photo: AAP Image/Regi Varghese

Elizabeth Barber, who owns a commercial property at Baynes St, said it was a poorly thought-through proposal.

“The road closure would be the demise of many new and established businesses shutting their doors with the loss of 30 staff,” she said.

“The major drawcard for customers to Margate Village is the convenient street parking.”

Mrs Barber agreed something needed to be done to revitalise the business district but said a park was not the answer.

Lynn Mather, owner of FMG Hair at Baynes St, said closing off the street to traffic and removing on-street parking would be the end of businesses.

“I don’t know how (a park) will fit here,” Ms Mather said.

Cr Winchester said she would find another way to fulfil her election promise.

“I will continue to push for a civic park in Margate, but I no longer support the proposed location in Baynes St based on the feedback received from the local business community,” she said.

Cr Winchester said the council would consider the other suggestions made during the consultation period including improved street lighting and better amenities.

“Margate is home to some fantastic local businesses and passionate local residents who have gone out of their way to share their thoughts and feedback with me and this will help inform the next step in identifying a (location for a) civic park in Margate,” Cr Winchester said.

A copy of the final consultation report will be published on the council’s website by the end of next week.