Bones found at Shambles site as work hours to install safety measures extend

The working hours of contractors installing city centre safety measures are extending as historic bones are found next to a Medieval burial ground. The planned reopening date for pedestrian access to Shambles has been announced.

While access to all businesses remains open at all times, the York BID, FSB and the Council are signposting pedestrian routes into the affected streets and running a shopping promotion to support businesses.

Installation work has been completed at High Petergate, Lendal and Spurriergate. Work at Goodramgate and the Shambles is underway. To progress work as planned, working hours are being extended on the Shambles and Goodramgate and businesses are being kept up to date with these changes.

From next week on the Shambles, work will take place 8am-7pm Monday–Friday, and 8am–4pm on Saturdays. This is due to archaeological finds of bones and challenging ground conditions. The historic bone fragments are likely to have been part of the neighbouring St Crux burial ground and have been sent for analysis with York Archaeological Trust.

From this week on Goodramgate, work will take place 8am-7pm Monday–Friday, and 8am–4pm on Saturdays. This is due to having to work around complex, existing underground pipes and cables which is extending the work by three weeks until 13 October.

While one of two main access points into the Shambles from Pavement has temporarily closed, there are six other access points which are open as usual and with extra signage in place. The contractor aims to reopen pedestrian access on one side of the Shambles/Pavement junction as early as possible in the week commencing 2 October. Pedestrian access to all businesses on Goodramgate is open.

To support businesses and residents affected by this essential work, the contractor’s public liaison officer will again visit and talk to them. Where a chat isn’t possible and where there are letter boxes, a letter is hand-delivered.

Cllr Peter Kilbane, Executive Member for Transport and Economy, said: “We are sorry that the work is having to extend and we’re taking all feasible measures to balance timescales, disruption and project costs.

“This infrastructure is in place to protect the city and while we are supporting businesses with additional signage and partnership promotions, we understand and apologise for its impact.”

James Gilchrist, Director of Transport, Environment and Planning, said: “I want to apologise for this delay and the disruption to city centre businesses and residents while we install these hostile vehicle measures. We continue to work with our contractors to maximise access while minimising delays.

“Working in a historic city centre, we are always mindful of unexpected findings as our work at Shambles and Goodramgate has shown, which is why we’re upping our contractor’s working hours to help mitigate the impact.”