Town centre prepares for easing of lockdown

Doncaster town centre

Doncaster Council has started planning for when its main town centre and other centres across the borough can fully reopen for visitors.

With the Government starting to relax restrictions on places people can go and further guidance expected in the coming weeks and months on what outlets can reopen, the council is to introduce new ways of using the town centre.

The council is urging anyone who does need to go into town to observe safe distancing guidelines at all times. Signage will be going up around the town centre to reinforce this public safety message.

Town Centre ambassadors will be available to help and advise people, while police officers will look to ensure people are observing safe distancing rules and not gathering in groups.

To help people social distance and reduce the potential of crowded public areas, the council is introducing a ‘keep left’ pedestrian flow arrangement on busy streets.

People will be asked to walk on the left hand side of streets like St Sepulchre Gate, the High Street and around the Frenchgate Centre. A number of crossing points will allow people to get to the other side of the streets for their essential needs.

This change will be introduced shortly and will be similar to what supermarkets and other organisations have implemented.

Additional core parts of the town centre will be pedestrianised between 10.30am to 4pm. This will see traffic restrictions in place at Sunny Bar and Wood Street.

Pedestrian friendly areas will help people walk to where they need to safely and make it easier to observe social distancing rules. Delivery vehicles will have access before and after these times and emergency vehicles at all times.

Some car parks may need to be accessed via different routes once the town centre is pedestrianised.

The council has increased cleansing at its car parks but users are encouraged to make card payments if they can and observe social distancing when parking up and paying.

The council’s Business Doncaster team is working with businesses to ensure they are fully aware of the latest Government guidance and any changes that the council are looking to introduce.

Councillor Bill Mordue, cabinet member for Business, Skills and Economic Development, said: “We are pulling out all the stops to prepare the town centre so people who have to visit for their essential needs can do so, observing social distancing rules and the latest public safety messages at all times.

“Our teams are working incredibly hard to make the necessary changes and liaising closely with businesses and partners to make sure that when we can start encouraging people back into the town centre, we are ready and open for business.

“The town centre will need to look different and be used differently but these changes will be important to help keep people safe during this emergency.

“We do need to remind people that most of the town centre is still not open yet and they should only visit Doncaster town centre and our other town centres across our borough if it’s absolutely essential to do so.”

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