Further information shared on upcoming security works

A senior councillor and council officers have been sharing additional detail ahead of work starting to make the Shambles and other city centre streets safer.

Business people, traders and members of the public dropped by for information from highways experts and for business advice. Also visiting the market stall were partners from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and York BID. This is in addition to early engagement, exploratory works, press releases, personal visits and hand-delivered letters.

The overwhelming response was pragmatic and most of the traders spoken with were supportive and agreed that the work needs to be done to make their businesses, employees and customers even safer, and accepted the short-term inconvenience.

It was confirmed that six out of seven access points into the Shambles will remain open as will vehicle access via Kings Square. In order to protect workers and members of the public, access from Pavement, one of the two main access points, will be temporarily closed.

To protect the look of this well-known and much-loved street, the base of the bollards will be finished in stone, similar to the bollards on High Petergate. The work has also been designed to minimise the number of bollards while protecting those on the street.

Installation work has already been completed at Lendal, High Petergate and High Ousegate/Spurriergate and is ending shortly at Goodramgate and St Andrewgate. Work is due to start at the Shambles, then Minster Gates, Colliergate and Blake Street. Work at the All Saints/Pavement junction and at the bottom of Parliament Street will take place early in the new year.

Matthew Kaplan, owner of The Cheesecake Guy shop on the Shambles, said: “This work is a necessity. It’ll be a bit of a nuisance, but people will still find their way into the Shambles. It’s not going to affect Christmas so I’m not going to fret about it.”

Another business owner told officers that the work happening between summer and half term wasn’t a bad option.

Cllr Peter Kilbane, Executive Member for Economy and Transport, said:“Thank you to everyone who came along to talk to us, the vast majority of whom understood why we’re doing this essential security work across the city centre. It will remove the need in future for the temporary barriers that detract from the charm of the Shambles.

“This work is about improving accessibility and keeping people and businesses safe in the long-term, ensuring our economy continues to prosper.

“I’m sorry for the short-term disruption this work is causing. It sends a clear message to would-be terrorists and all in the city centre that we’re taking action, we won’t put people or businesses at risk and that York continues to be one of the UK’s safest cities.”

Neil Ferris, Director of Place at City of York Council, said: “We recognise and apologise for the impact that this essential work is having on businesses and residents in the city centre.

“We have worked hard with the contractor to maximise safe public access – often in confined spaces - and to minimise the length of time the work will take while meeting standards and without adding significant costs to the programme.”

Promotional activity to support all affected businesses will be undertaken by a partnership of City of York Council, the York BID and the FSB.