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12
Apr
Are roller shutters ruining Knaresborough's historic High Street?
For many people, their first impression of Knaresborough is its High Street.
The highway forms part of the A59 that transports thousands of vehicles each day.
But it is also a busy shopping street and part of Knaresborough Conservation Area — and there are growing fears about its appearance.
One of the main concerns is the state of shopfronts, and in particular the emergence of security roller shutters.
The shutters deter criminals but some say they are inapprorpriate for a conservation area and that the historic street, which is lined with grade two listed buildings, is beginning to resemble a suburb of Leeds or Bradford because of its unwelcoming, unattractive appearance.
'It's destroying our image'
The Stray Ferret contacted numerous groups, councillors and businesses in the town to find out what people think.
Town councillor David Goode, speaking in a personal capacity, said he shared the concerns:
When people visit a historic town they have certain expectations in terms of what it will look like and feel like. There’s no way roller shutters are remotely in keeping with this type of image.
It’s destroying our image. A number of businesses are opening in Knaresborough that have no respect for Knaresborough and its character. It’s appalling.
The shutters next to Berry's Passage.
Andy Grinter, secretary of Knaresborough Civic Society, said the conservation area existed to protect the town's historic character as it evolved.
Mr Grinter added:
The recent installation of roller shutters on the shop next to Berry’s Passage is the latest in a series of changes that risk undermining the appearance and feel of our conservation area. Alongside the retrospective application for an aluminium shopfront on the High Street and other less-than-sympathetic alterations, it raises an important topic for discussion — how do we balance the needs of modern businesses with the responsibility to safeguard what makes Knaresborough unique?
This isn’t just a question for planners or conservation groups. We are all stakeholders in Knaresborough’s future — business owners, residents, visitors, and the council alike. A thriving High Street benefits everyone and many of us choose to live, work and shop here precisely because of the town’s distinctive character. If that is gradually eroded, we risk losing not just an aesthetic, but part of the town’s identity — and, ultimately, what makes it an attractive place to invest in and visit.
Mr Grinter said there were practical questions to consider, such as whether the increase in roller shutters was being driven by pressure from business insurance providers and, if so, what alternative security measures could “maintain safety while respecting the historic streetscape”.
He added:
Many heritage towns have successfully balanced these needs — why should Knaresborough be any different? There is precedent for action. When Superdrug installed roller shutters a few years ago, enforcement was swift, and they were replaced with internal security grilles in a matter of weeks. Yet similar cases now seem to be left unaddressed. If enforcement is inconsistent, what message does that send about the value we place on our heritage and planning policies?
This is an opportunity for North Yorkshire Council to reaffirm its commitment to protecting the character of the town.
Planning enforcement
Christine Willoughby, chair of Knaresborough in Bloom, said she was “strongly against” roller shutters because they “give the wrong impression of the town”
Ms Willoughby added:
Knaresborough in Bloom works hard to make the town attractive, we put up hanging baskets and plant plants in the town in tubs and troughs to make the town look good. I am worried that if roller shutters become more prevalent, then they will become harder to resist and the town will suffer.
She said she understood some people might consider it more important to have shops open than empty, but on a recent visit to Scotland she saw towns that were “nothing but charity shops, vape shops and pawnbrokers, together with the odd take-away, barbers and nail bar”.
She added: “It was sad and I felt that Knaresborough was doing better and was resisting the pressure to have these sorts of shops. I feel that the planning enforcement team at North Yorkshire Council should take action and hopefully get these most recent roller shutters taken away.
The council has recently taken action against one High Street shop, which had to apply for retrospective planning application on its frontage after a planning officer said work carried out was "not suitable for this historic streetscape and must be removed and replaced".
We counted two High Street shopfronts with security roller shutters last weekend — the one near Berry’s Passage and a vape shop. Pharmacy+Health had internal security grilles.
Pharmacy+Health did not respond when aproached for comment. Neither did business group Knaresborough & District Chamber.
But a spokesperson for the British Retail Consortium said:
Crime continues to be a major issue for retailers, costing them over £2.2bn from theft alone. Meanwhile, they spend around £1.8bn on crime prevention, including everything from extra security, bodycams, and security shutters. Unfortunately, retail theft is not a victimless crime, pushing the price up for honest shoppers.
Councillor Hannah Gostlow, a Liberal Democrat town and county councillor, said planning rules did not permit roller shutters. She said:
Local planning policy prohibits the installation of roller shutters because of the negative impact they have on our High Street. Alternative internal shop security grilles are available to ensure our valued local businesses can stay safe. Unfortunately roller shutters can make our streets look unsafe, neglected and damage the look and feel of our communities.
We asked the council if it was aware of concerns in Knaresborough and what action, if any, it was taking but have not yet had a response.
But recent changes suggest the issue of balancing business concerns with planning issues will rumble on in Knaresborough for some time.
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