Councils hold talks over plans to help Harrogate hospitality businesses reopen by unlocking outdoor space

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly poised to announce the sector can reopen on 4 July.

A formal announcement is expected in parliament today, Tuesday, alongside a relaxation of the two-metre rule.

But Coun Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said it will be difficult for firms to operate even if the social distancing rule is relaxed as he last week made calls for businesses to be given more space.

Now, North Yorkshire County Council, which is responsible for the district's roads, pavements and some car parks, said talks are underway.

David Bowe, the council's corporate director for business and environmental services, said: “We are working with the Harrogate BID, Harrogate Borough Council and retailers at a local level to create as much space within the public highway as is practicable to support safe social distancing, café culture and safe access.

“It is important to understand that there are inevitably differing demands on the public highway and these have to be safely balanced.

“These are very difficult times and we must ensure that people are able to get around safely, access services and properties appropriately, while creating an environment that encourages customers to come and shop and provides opportunity for businesses such as cafes, that are constrained by social distancing rules, to re-open".

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The county council has already introduced barriers to widen footpaths for social distancing in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon.

But Coun Cooper hopes more outdoor space can be given to reopening businesses which he said otherwise will find it "very, very difficult" to survive.

And it is hoped the process of approving licenses for businesses to operate outdoors could be sped up, but concerns have been raised over how quickly this can be done.

Members of Harrogate BID (Business Improvement District) have called on the councils to temporarily lift the licensing restrictions altogether.

The group's acting chair Sara Ferguson previously said: “We have already asked both authorities for their help in achieving this, but for them to do this, they need to take a bold and radical approach, and cut through the red tape.

“At the same time we can hopefully save a number of businesses that are currently under the threat of permanent closure, and the jobs that go with them".

The BID board says it is concerned that if the hospitality industry is not supported, there is a danger that Harrogate’s economy will be "irreparably damaged".

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter

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