CAFE culture will be coming to Coleford this summer after plans were announced to close St John Street to traffic.
Work to lay new utility services is planned for June or July. But instead of complaining about loss of trade, the street's resilient shopkeepers are planning a summer celebration to bring in shoppers.
Pedestrians will still be able to use the street and the lack of traffic means there is potential for a town event on a scale usually only seen at Christmas time.
Coleford Town Council has set aside £3,000 to sponsor events to bring more shoppers to the town centre.
Anne Ingleby-Lewis of the Forest Bookshop said: "Modern techniques promise minimum excavation works, so it will be an opportunity to enjoy this attractive and characterful Georgian street as a pedestrianised zone."
The traders are currently thinking about fun ways to get more people to visit the town centre.
Ideas put forward so far are street entertainers, a voucher system to encourage people to visit the independent shops and tables and chairs outside Vicky's Cafe.
The closures are likely to coincide with the Coleford Festival of Words which will feature local writers, poets, artists, musicians and performers.
Anne looks forward to the traffic ban. She said: "We have always wanted the street to be pedestrianised.
"It would be lovely if we could hold activities in the road and create more of a cafe culture with benches outside for people to sit on.
"Maybe if it proves popular, the authorities may be persuaded to make St John Street permanently traffic free."