Further steps to manage unauthorised vehicle access in pedestrian areas

Temporary manual gates to support the existing vehicle access restrictions in place on pedestrianised areas of Leeds city centre have been installed. The gates will help control unauthorised vehicular access into restricted pedestrianised areas during the festive season. The seven gates will provide another level of additional safety and security during busy shopping periods in the run up to Christmas and the New Year. Undertaken as a precautionary measure, this work will also provide extra reassurance to visitors, businesses and local residents. The gates, which will be in operation from 10.30am to 7pm daily, are to be reviewed by Leeds City Council and partners including the police in the New Year. A scheme to install a permanent bollard system in the city centre area, approved by the council earlier this year, will be implemented in 2018. Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, said: “The installation of these seven gates will add an additional layer of enforcement and safety to restrictions already currently in place in the city centre, and mean that during busy shopping periods no unauthorised vehicles will be able to access to certain pedestrianised areas unless express permission is given. “This is part of our ongoing planned programme of work, which will see a permanent bollard system introduced in the city centre next year.”