Councils in the Harrogate district could soon pave the way for pop up beer gardens and outdoor cafes to help boost hospitality businesses.
There are plans to allow pubs, restaurants, and cafes with space outdoors to reopen on July 4 with special safety measures in place.
Many in Harrogate’s hospitality sector do not have those spaces and would, under the current rules, need to stay closed or continue with takeaways.
Harrogate BID has urged both local authorities to help speed up the application process for businesses to open up on pavements.
Richard Cooper, the leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said at the cabinet:
“Even if it’s at a one metre distance but, as it stands, it’s a two-metre distance it is going to be very difficult for those businesses to survive. I believe we should give businesses space where there is currently tarmac. I think that is something absolutely mission critical.”
What Mr Cooper means exactly by “space where there is currently tarmac” will be closely scrutinised – any proposal that would cut on street car parking spaces or lead to permanent changes such as pedestrianisation will be fiercely opposed by retail group Independent Harrogate.
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Harrogate Borough Council is responsible for granting the premises licence and North Yorkshire County Council licenses the use of pavements, so they will need to work together.
The BID board is concerned that if the hospitality industry isn’t supported, Harrogate’s economy could be irreparably damaged.
Harrogate Borough Council is now in talks with North Yorkshire County Council.
David Bowe, Corporate Director for Business and Environmental Services, said:
“We are working with the Harrogate BID, Harrogate Borough Council and retailers at a local level to create as much space within the public highway as is practicable to support safe social distancing, café culture and safe access. It is important to understand that there are inevitably differing demands on the public highway and these have to be safely balanced.”
Robert Ogden, on behalf of Independent Harrogate, said:
“It is extremely important that Harrogate’s businesses are able to thrive in the current crisis, and Independent Harrogate supports measures that will enable smaller cafés or restaurants to open while respecting social distancing guidelines. We know the councils will do their best to balance the commercial imperative with reserving sufficient space for the public to walk on, without resorting to road closures.”
