Busy Hartlepool town centre road closure in response to Covid-19 emergency

York Road between Victoria Road and Park Road will only be open to buses, bicycles and yellow taxis from Monday, September 21.

It is part of the Hartlepool Borough Council’s ongoing response to the Covid-19 pandemic and aims to make it easier for people to keep their distance during peak shopping hours and encourage greener types of travel.

The council says the stretch of York Road was identified as a potential bottle neck when the original lockdown restrictions were eased with large queues blocking the footpath and pedestrians walking along the road to avoid the congestion on the pavement.

A spokesman said: “The purpose of the trial is to enable people to more easily socially distance themselves past queues outside of the banks and other business premises.

“Whilst those initial queuing situations have now eased, given the increasing infection rate across the region we do not want to see a return of such queues and breaking of the social distancing rules.

“This trial will monitor whether removing general traffic during the peak shopping hours (10am–4pm) will result in a safer environment for people to use the carriageway should they need to.

"It is not a pedestrianisation scheme though, and people will still need to be aware that buses, taxis and cycles will be continuing to use the road.

“We are also keen build on the shift in momentum towards more sustainable modes of transport and this scheme although only covering a relatively short stretch will help promote active travel, by encouraging a safer and more attractive environment for cycling.

"This is the first trial of its type in Hartlepool and we are keen to observe if a sustained change in travel habits can be realised.”

The scheme will be closely monitored in its early weeks and also its effect on surrounding roads.

The council stresses it is a temporary measure solely in response to the Covid-19 situation and the restriction is only in force between 10am and 4pm.

Deliveries will still be allowed between 10am-noon and 2pm-4pm.

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