Proposals to improve Front Street to be scrutinised

Plans to improve Front St will be discussed at a scrutiny meeting next week (9 September) with design ideas shaped by the community being presented.

In October 2023, the council’s Executive approved £570,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) money for phase 2 improvements to Front Street. Earlier this year, residents, visitors, businesses and other stakeholders were invited to share their priorities and provide feedback on ideas for phase 2. This process received 900 individual responses and over 5,000 comments.

This community led approach has shaped the design ideas being presented at scrutiny. Proposals include:

• The ability to close the road to hold events and community activities with new infrastructure to facilitate events, including a regular local market
• Wider and more accessible pedestrian crossings, creating a new central space in the main shopping area and a new pedestrian crossing near Morrisons
• Welcoming entrance points as part of efforts to create a people-friendly space and reducing vehicle dominance
• Significantly reducing the number of bollards, while continuing to tackle illegal parking
• More seating, bins, community notice board and planting in the main shopping area
• New signage and wayfinding, with a design that has been created by the community, that reflects the identity of the area.
• Clearly marked, accessible blue badge car parking in four locations. Supported by enforcement to prevent the misuse of these spaces
• A feasibility study to look at pedestrianising the area in the future.
• Plans to commission a community mural from a professional artist

Work is already underway to upgrade the toilets to two accessible facilities.

An update on the project will be discussed at scrutiny before a report will be taken to the decision session for the Executive Member for Economy and Culture later in September. An engagement event with the community will also be held onThursday 26 September at the Gateway Centre with people invited to drop in at any time between 3pm and 6pm to meet the team.

Councillor Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of the council and Executive Member for Economy and Culture said: “Thank you to residents, businesses and the wider community for your continued input into this project. We are continuing to listen, which is further demonstrated by us taking an update to scrutiny before a decision is made.

“The overriding thing we have taken away from this engagement process has been people’s pride and passion for the area. We share that and have a real desire for what is best for the area. We want to continue to take forward this exciting project which will vastly improve Front Street and will continue to work with the community to make the most of this funding.”

“We have made significant progress in creating a programme that reflects what we’ve been told in our extensive engagement with the community. This includes finding a way to hold events, something which has already started with the return of a market on Front Street. It has also meant tackling the challenge of the bollards head on. We have listened to people who want the bollards to go but we also heard that people want to continue to prevent illegal parking in the area. We hope that with our proposals we have found a way to deliver on both.

“We are also ensuring that all improvements to the area align with the long-term vision for the future of Front Street."

Scrutiny will take place on Monday 9 September at 5.30pm and will be webcast at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

To read the report or find more information about the meeting, visit Agenda for Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee on Monday, 9 September 2024, 5.30 pm (york.gov.uk)

For more information, visit www.york.gov.uk/AcombFrontStreet.