Next week vibrant planters will be installed on James Street and Albert Street in Harrogate town centre to maintain social distancing measures.

The planters have been introduced thanks to funding from European Regional Development Fund and the Government as part of the national scheme to help high streets reopen safely.

Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council are working in partnership to install the planters that will replace the existing cones along James Street and part of Albert Street (between Station Parade and Princes Square).

To ensure the planters can be installed safely, and the existing cones removed, the county council will be introducing a temporary road closure on James Street and Albert Street on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th November.

The closures will be manned and access will be made available to any properties within the closure, should this be required to accommodate scheduled deliveries or collections to and from stores.

Councillor Graham Swift, Harrogate Borough Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, said:

“We recognise the majority of businesses and stores in Harrogate are currently closed. But we hope in the run-up to Christmas, and the anticipation that the current lockdown will be lifted, people will be able to return to the high street. And do so safely with the addition of these new eye-catching social distancing measures.”

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, said:

“Our local highways team is working with Harrogate Borough Council’s parks team to install these planters alongside signage that will reinforce the message that it is safe to shop local.

“We are confident that the introduction of more attractive social distancing measures will offer reassurance to the public that they can shop safely and at the same time give much needed support to our local businesses.”

Existing parking suspensions will remain in place until the end of January to support social distancing measures but the county council will continue to monitor and review the situation between now and January.

However, suspensions that are currently on Albert Street, between Princes Square and West Park, will be removed and parking will be available.

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