Final stages of hostile vehicle measures starts in the new year

The final stages of work to protect the city centre will resume at Blake Street and Parliament Street from 8 January 2024.

Blake Street will be closed to all traffic for up to eight weeks. Alternative access for vehicles will be via Goodramgate and Spurriergate (access is also available via High Petergate). Access to businesses and properties will remain open and the footways will be alternately closed on each side of Blake Street in two phases.

The junction of Parliament Street and High Ousegate will also close to traffic as sliding bollards are installed alongside the fixed bollards already fitted. Alternative access will be via Goodramgate. Access on the footways will be largely unaffected.

Staff will be on-site during the peak morning delivery period to help with access for deliveries. The contractor’s public liaison officer is visiting all businesses to discuss their access needs and will follow this up with further contact the week before work starts.

On 3 January, the temporary barriers in place during the Christmas markets are due to be removed.

On 4 January, Blue Badge holders will be able to use the new, staffed sliding barriers at the junction of Goodramgate with Deangate during the regular footstreet hours of 10.30am to 5.00pm. Consultation on the new access for Blue Badge holders is underway at www.york.gov.uk/bluebadgeaccess

Cllr Peter Kilbane, Executive Member for Transport and Business at City of York Council, said: “Following the pause during the busy festive season, this final stretch of work will include installing the final set of bollards and connecting them to power and CCTV. I’d like to apologise for any disruption this may cause, and urge businesses to raise any areas of concern as early as possible with the contractor’s public liaison officer and the Council.

“This work completes the installation of the hostile vehicle measures which, together with other measures will protect all who live, work and visit the city centre and permanently remove the need for the temporary barriers that have been in use in recent years.”