Work to protect Minster Gates update as Pavement brought forward

To protect all in York’s city centre, work on Minster Gates and the Minster piazza will end on 20 October and work on the junction of Pavement and Piccadilly will be completed before Christmas.

Installation work has been completed at High Petergate, Lendal and Spurriergate. Work at Goodramgate and the Shambles is well underway.

While access to all premises 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.

At Minster Gates, complex pipe and cable work means extra time needs to be spent on installing the hostile vehicle measures. This point protects visitors enjoying views of the Minster as well as discovering the shops in Minster Gates.

The bollards originally planned to be installed after Christmas at the junction of Pavement and Parliament Street outside All Saints Church, will now be brought forward. Work will begin on 9 October to help protect all involved in the busy festive season. Measures have already been installed at the Pavement end of Parliament Street.

To fit in the pre-Christmas work at Parliament Street, the work at Blake Street will take place in January 2024.

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

David Colthup, Chapter Steward and Chief Operating Officer at York Minster, said: 

City of York Council and York Minster have been working on security within the cathedral's Precinct as part of the development of the York Minster Neighbourhood Plan. 

“The bollards at Minster Gates are part for the Council’s wider security measures for the city, but reflect the importance of the heritage setting of the iconic South Transept of York Minster. We welcome any measures that help safeguard the city and the cathedral."

James Gilchrist, Director of Transport, Environment and Planning at City of York Council, said:

“I’d like to apologise for the extension of work at Minster Gates and very much appreciate the patience of those affected, including the Minster.

“I’m very pleased that we are able to bring forward the work outside All Saints Church. This means that the more attractive, permanent measures will be in place during the busy Christmas period, and so minimise the locations where we will need to install temporary protection measures.”