BRIDGE Mall traders have overwhelmingly opposed plans to re-introduce traffic to the popular shopping strip.
Of the 53 Bridge Mall precinct traders contacted by The Courier at the weekend, 24 voiced their opposition to the plans, six were undecided, 20 were unable to comment either because the store was part of a chain store or because the owner was away - while just three traders supported the initiative.
Most traders expressed outrage at council's secret ballot to return traffic to the area without consulting local businesses.
One trader called for Mayor David Vendy to resign while several claimed Cr Ian Jolly, manager of Stockland Wendouree, had a conflict of interest and should have been barred from casting a vote.
Allans Music and Sweet Art Cakes & Candy and Tozers Restaurant were the only three traders to support the change.
The Lingerie Shop owner Jenni Britten said she was furious at the backflip.
"All of our customers love the mall and it's just such a happy shopping centre - this is heartbreaking," she said.
Ms Britten said the mall suffered from inadequate parking and toilet facilities and called on council to re-assess its priorities.
Kismet owner Noellene Gleeson, who has traded in the mall for 36 years, said before the mall, drivers and traders had to endure bottleneck road conditions.
Ms Gleeson also called for Cr Vendy to resign over poor handling of the issue.
Darrel Lea owner Libby-Mae Maloney said she was "disgusted" at moves to put a road through the mall.
"I think it's terrible," she said.
"I think the Bridge Mall is a safe place for children and families currently without having to worry about traffic."
Tozers restaurant owner Kim Tozer said Bakery Hill was renowned as the "dead end" of Ballarat and he backed council's idea to bring traffic back through the mall.
"A lot of people who come down this end of town don't like dining here at night because they think it's unsafe," he said.
Just About owner Ron Sharp said the turnaround was "a bit of a shock".
"The plans they had to improve the mall I thought were a great idea. I think it's too far up the track to change now."
Mr Sharp also criticised Cr Jolly's part in the vote.
World of Discovery owner Perri Hawks said she had mixed emotions on the decision.
"It's obviously a decision that's been made with quite a bit of thought gone into it with councillors voting, but it's a bit of a surprise," she said.
Les Dickinson Pharmacy proprietor Paul Pickersgill said he was undecided.
"They need to do something in the mall - whether it's a road that goes through or they put a cover over the top and make it into a shopping centre."
Country Kids owner Norm Rees said he was against the change.
"I think they should have talked to the business owners and property owners before making any decision," he said.
Messer & Opie owner Geoff Opie said he was appalled at council's decision making process.
Wetsports owner Len Salter described the decision as "a bolt out of the blue" after lengthy planning and consultation on the $500,000 proposed revamp.
"I just wonder if all of our council decisions are being made on this ad hoc basis of whim," he said,
Exclusive Meats owner Ian Amwyl attacked council for having "more money than brains".
Mr Amwyl, who has operated his business on the same site for 22 years and also operated in pre-mall years, feared drivers would speed through the site.
Mr Amwyl was also angry at the time and resources spent on investigating the earmarked revamp.
Eyres Bros Hardware owner Graeme Eyres branded the lack of consultation "appalling".
Mr Eyres also said Cr Jolly should have abstained from voting.
Picot & Widmer owner Marie Ashton said the change "was wrong".
"I think it's a safe area now and it will look fabulous when the revamp is done," she said.
Collins Booksellers owner Marion Thals said the mall was already a "thriving business centre".
"I can't believe it. Apart from the fact that all that money was spent on putting in into a mall and now they are going to rip it up," she said.