Administrators struck the final blow at Tuesday’s council meeting, passing a motion to enforce a 1.8-metre, or in some cases 1.5m, “pedestrian zone” in the CBD.

It would restrict the way shops could display signage, stock outside the buildings and even tables outside cafes.

Administrator Rodney Roscholler said the policy was the “right thing to do” because the elderly formed a growing demographic in the city.

Chief executive Brendan McGrath said the restriction on footpath use had been successful in other municipalities.

“It’s about providing fair and equal access to the CBD without advantaging people who are more disabled than others,” he said.

“We as an authority have a responsibility to try and prevent issues as well as respond.”

Wangaratta Trophies and Engravers owner Ash Allan said administrators appeared to have their minds made up before the meeting and questions were not going to change anything.

But he still tried, telling administrators disability access had never been an issue in Wangaratta for the council or shopkeepers.

“Traders already clearly understand and respect the needs of the disabled and the aged, as in their businesses they work with them every day,” he said.

Spirited Party Shop’s Jane Hill said online shopping had taken many younger customers.

“The older people with disabilities are our shoppers, we know them and love them,” she said.

“We put stock out there because we wanted them to come in.”

The local law governing the footpaths has been in place since 2014, but shopkeepers would not give in – they planned to bide their time and fight again when a new council was elected.