Works to repave and resurface the footway on Stonegate will be completed in January 2023, which will make the once in a generation scheme be finally complete, on one of York’s most loved city centre streets.
The works took longer than initially planned, due to issues found with the condition and structure of private cellars and delays due to covid-19.
The scheme incorporates improvements on Blake Street and will take place as follows:
- Stonegate will take place from Tuesday 3 January 2023 until Friday 10 February 2023.
- Blake Street will be split into two. The first works will take place from Monday 27 February 2023 until Friday 31 March 2023. The second works will take place in the financial year 2024-2025.
As part of the scheme, the council is planning to install/renew 12 dropped crossings in Stonegate where appropriate and possible to do so. So far, four existing have been renewed and six new dropped kerbs have been installed. The final two dropped crossings will be installed next year. There are some restrictions due to the locations of existing cellars).
This includes a mix of renewing existing and introducing new dropped kerbs. If dropped kerbs can be placed directly adjacent to each other, tactile paving will be installed too. Three sets of tactile crossings will be installed on Blake Street too.
Working to ensure the scheme meets important conservation standards has been a fundamental part of these works.
The council is working with as many businesses and retailers as possible to ensure the least amount of disruption for them and also members of the public.
Retailers and businesses were given the opportunity to feed back at a drop-in session in November ahead of the scheme starting and their feedback has been taken on board.
Letters will be hand delivered in the coming days to provide details and contact information to businesses and retailers in the area of the scheme.
Cllr Andy D’Agorne, Executive Member for Transport, said: “We are very grateful to the businesses and retailers for working with us during this scheme. We’ve faced a number of unfortunate set backs but it’s been really important to us that we’re been able to work closely with retailers and businesses to ensure the least disruption as possible.
“Stonegate is one of our most loved streets in our city centre so this scheme will ensure it keeps its special character whilst being more resilient to the weight of service vehicles.”
For first time in a generation the council repaved the entire stretch of Stonegate’s carriageway in 2020.
Over time there has been significant defects in the surface of the footways, where the surface is broken and uneven, which can potentially make it unsafe for pedestrians as well as looking unsightly.
These works will enhance the street’s appearance and character, creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment, attracting more people into the area and improving access for pedestrians.
Over the years, the council has replaced damaged footway or worn paving stones as required, but as part of its annual footways renewals programme.
In February 2022 - Upon removing and relaying new paving, a number of privately owned cellars directly underneath the footways were found to be in a very poor condition, which impacted on the repaving scheme. It is the property owners who are responsible for the structures under the highway that support the footway.
More time was required to ensure the new footway keeps its special character whilst being more resilient to future heavy use.
The council could not have anticipated the condition of these cellars in advance, as it was only when paving was removed could crews see the deterioration and poor condition of privately owned cellars.
For a full list of FAQs visit www.york.gov.uk/stonegate
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