North Yorkshire County Council has decided to postpone a temporary pedestrianisation of James Street in Harrogate.
In an email to businesses, David Bowe, director of business and environmental services at the county council, said the authority will not pedestrianise the street before Christmas.
It comes as the authority had planned a trial pedestrianisation which would have blocked off the street to cars for up to six months.
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Business managers, landlords, Harrogate BID and Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce met virtually with the the council earlier this week where some raised concerns over the issue. They said the timing was poor, as the run-up to Christmas will be particularly vital for them this year after losing trade through lockdown for several months.
Now, Mr Bowe has told traders that their concerns were heard “loud and clear”.
He said in an email:
“In conclusion having discussed the matter with Cllr Don MacKenzie, the leader of the council and the chief executive I would make the following proposal. That we agree not to introduce the experimental order before Christmas and that NYCC officers will engage with representatives of your group to develop a detailed proposal for an experimental part closure of James Street to best advantage.
“I recognise that you may still have reservations about the plan and they will be taken into account when a report for a decision is subsequently presented.
“I believe the response above demonstrates that we have listened to the points you have raised and have noted them. Whilst the final decision on this has yet to be taken, we do now offer you assurance that any experimental closure will not be implemented before the New Year.”
The temporary closure of the street to traffic was requested by Harrogate Borough Council for “social distancing and safety purposes”. Cllr Don Mackenzie, NYCC’s executive member for highways, backed a temporary, partial pedestrianisation, saying such moves had proved popular with residents and businesses elsewhere in the country.
However, landlords and businesses on the street continued to voice concerns about the potential impact on trade.
