City centre hostile vehicle measures to be completed

The last set of hostile vehicle measures (HVM) to complete the protective ring around the city centre will be installed at the junction of High Ousegate and Piccadilly from Tuesday 27 August, with support being offered to any affected businesses.

The new, high-security sliding bollards will sit across the junction of High Ousegate and Parliament Street with Piccadilly, and will align with the fixed bollards already in place outside All Saints’ Church and at the end of Parliament Street. This work will complete the network of HVMs to stop hostile vehicles entering the city centre.

While this last phase of work is underway, vehicles will only be able to get onto High Ousegate from Parliament Street and then leave the city centre via Coney Street and Lendal. Signed diversions will be in place.

Access to High Ousegate from Piccadilly will be closed to traffic during the work. When it is complete, this junction will reopen, as before, between 5pm-10:30amonly. Arrangements for this installation are much the same as when recent works were done by utility companies.

Access for pavement users will be unaffected during the work. From 10:30am-5pm, Blue Badge holders will be able to enter the city centre as usual through Blake Street and Goodramgate.

The work is expected to take up to nine weeks until the end of October. As usual, working in an ancient city means that it is difficult to predict the exact length of time it will take. The work has been timed to end well ahead of the busy Christmas Market period.

Our contractor has delivered letters to all affected businesses announcing this work, offering to discuss their access needs and support. The contractor’s traffic marshals will offer support at busy loading and delivery times.

Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport at City of York Council, said: “This is the last section of the ring of bollards installed to help protect everyone visiting, working and living in the city centre. I’m sorry for any disruption this final work may cause. Thank you for your patience and co-operation while it’s underway.

“To support businesses and people in the city centre, our team is ensuring that access remains open, and that anyone using the pavements will have the necessary 1.5 metres width to pass by the work area.

“As with previous installations, we’re working with The York BID to promote local businesses which may be affected.

“Please expect the works to take up to nine weeks although we hope they will finish earlier than that. If you’ve any concerns, should please let us or the contractor’s public liaison officer know as soon as possible.”