Decision Maker: Assistant Director Highways and Capital Projects
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
On 26th May 2020 Government announced that
from 15 June 2020 some non-essential shops were able to re-open
provided they were able to do so safely. The Council therefore
needed to undertake an assessment and put in measures to support
safe opening in the town centre. The Government issued guidance to
enable Councils to prepare for the safe re-opening in Urban Centres
and Green Spaces. “HM Government: Coronavirus (COVID 19):
Safer Public Places – Urban Centres and Green
Spaces”
A team of officers from across service areas undertook an
assessment process to identify constraints and the measures that
needed to be implemented across the town centre based on the
national guidance. The overriding principle in designing and
implementing the measures was public health considerations and
ensuring business could re-open safely.
This included a range of measures such as:
- signing and floor markings
- queue management systems and engagement with town centre
business.
- relocation of market stalls
- re-design of bus services and bus stops
- reallocation of road space to people walking and cycling, both to
encourage active travel and to enable social distancing during
restart.
This required a rapid assessment process, organising of resources,
legal work and implementation within a very short time frame. Most
of the measures above are planned to be implemented ahead of 15
June to support a safe re-opening of the town centre. However, the
measures for reallocation of road space need to be implemented in
phases as a result of timing of the supply of materials to deliver
the measures.
Phase 1 – Town Centre, Imperial Quarter and some queue
management guidance in Duke St, bus stop and provison re-design,
relocation of market stalls
Phase 2 – Duke Street – Social Distancing space
measures.
All measures will be kept under continuous review and where
possible modified. However, the overriding principle in designing
and implementing the measures is public health considerations and
the circumstances are likely to change over the coming
weeks/months.
Financial/staffing/health & safety (incl virus transmission
risks)/service delivery impacts/other risks and impacts
considered:
The measures were implemented to reduce transmission risks in the
town centre and on public transport.
The funding of some of the measures was included in a bid to the
DFT Active Travel Emergency Fund, where footpath widening, and
reallocation of road space was encouraged to retain social
distancing.
Impacts on businesses were considered in terms of suspension of
parking spaces but public health was considered a higher priority
and free parking remained available very close to locations
suspended and remained free.
Loading provision and disabled parking places were considered and
some were able to be retained in temporary locations.
The necessary legal orders were processed to implement the
changes.
Equality Impacts:
An initial screening exercise identified that there would
potentially be impacts on some people with protected
characteristics, specifically on the basis of age, disability,
pregnancy and maternity and carers.
Due to the emergency situation, changing
guidance/advice/legislation a full EIA has not been completed.
Instead a more dynamic approach was proposed with consideration
being given to any changes when proposed. As many of the decisions
will be regarding the physical environment we will work with Gordon
Pybus from DAD, but not on the basis of a full consultation. This
advice and guidance has informed the decision making and proposed
mitigation.
There have been discussions with DAD regarding detailed plans for
bus stops, bus services, suspension of parking bays (including the
relocation of disabled parking bays) and footway widening. DAD has
provided additional guidance from RNIB.
Following implementation of the social distancing measures we have
committed to respond to issues raised such as enforcement of the
restrictions and providing further information on the timing for
key mitigation such as the installation of temporary dropped
kerbs.
In addition some of the plans regarding cycling will be discussed
with Darlovelo in relation to cycle provision.
To implement the social distancing measures
considered necessary to support the reopening of the town centre
safely and any subsequent modifications within the principles of
the government guidance and to authorise legal orders necessary to
implement the measures.
Reason - To implement measures to support safe opening of the town
centre and manage the risk of transmission of the virus. The
over-riding principle being public health considerations.
As part of the assessment process using the
national guidance numerous options were considered at various
locations all having implications.
The measures were developed and implemented before shops re-opened
based on national guidance, there was a very short window to get
them in place to ensure businesses could re-open safely and there
was no precedent on how customers would return after lock-down. The
principle adopted ensured public health was a priority and there
was enough space to social distance upon re-opening. The plan
developed for implementation is considered to be the most
appropriate with the information available.
The proposals are to be kept under dynamic review when implemented
and adjustments that could be made to support business within the
principles of the guidance will be implemented.
Publication date: 23/11/2020
Date of decision: 26/05/2020