LIVERPOOL’S gay village could be closed to traffic for longer than anticipated after councillors altered a pedestrianisation scheme yesterday.

Eberle Street, home to Garlands nightclub, will be closed permanently.

And plans to pedestrianise Cumberland Street and Stanley Street were extended.

The streets, home to many of the city’s most popular gay-friendly venues, were to be shut off between 10pm and 5am, Thursday to Monday.

But at a meeting councillors voted to close Cumberland Street from 6pm to 6am and Stanley Street from 10pm until 6am over the same days.

The proposals will now be re-advertised by the council and members of the public can register objections.

It is hoped the pedestrianisation will improve road safety for drinkers and clubbers.

But local businesses had complained the £260,000-telescopic bollards would unfairly restrict access to their offices, shops and restaurants.

Cllr Steve Radford, who is also a member of the city’s gay business association, is disappointed the committee did not go further.

He said: “We were pleased that we made progress.

“However, we are totally at a loss as to why they have recognised a safety issue on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but not other days of the week.”