U-turn on one-way system

Ward councillors were told yesterday (Wednesday) that the barriers that were installed to allow shoppers to keep a safe distance, will be removed imminently.

The councillors - Alan Lamb, Norma Harrington and Linda Richards - said they have been inundated with complaints from residents and businesses affected by the measures, either as a result of traffic congestion, empty shops or rat-running cars in residential streets.

Coun Alan Lamb told the Wetherby News: “We understand these measures were implemented with the best of intentions, which was to keep people safe while socially distancing.

“Making any change will have upsides and downsides and it became obvious here that the unintended consequences of the scheme outweighed the benefits.

“It is unfortunate that many Wetherby businesses have now lost money that they will simply not get back.

“We need to move forward and get the message out there that Wetherby is open for business.”

The ward councillors said they were supportive of the motive to keep shoppers in the town safe from traffic while observing social distancing but said the implementation by Leeds City Council was ‘wholly inadequate’.

They said they are looking to use local knowledge to help design any new traffic solutions.

Coun Lamb added: “Looking at the longer term, we are wanting to work with the City Council, local businesses and residents together to develop a traffic management plan for the town that delivers benefit to all.

“This will be fully consulted on to get the advantage of ideas from people who really know and understand our town.

“This will take as long be properly planned and fully thought out, not implemented as a rush-job.”

Coun Harrington said they are looking forward.

“It is unfortunate that these measures have clearly caused difficulties – we know that was not the intention,” said Coun Harrington.

“However, our market town was never designed for such things, the lack of communication with the residents and businesses has highlighted many faults with the

practical delivery of the scheme which was hastily introduced.

“Only with a properly consulted traffic plan, will we be able to overcome issues such as those experienced here.”

Coun Richards said: “The barriers and measures were put in place to keep people safe and socially distanced whilst out in the town.

“Now they are not going to be there, we will all have to make an extra effort to enforce our own distancing measures. I believe this is more than achievable as we all look out for one another while out and about in Wetherby.”

Yesterday’s announcement to remove the traffic scheme followed an extra ordinary Wetherby Town Council online meeting to discuss the issue, which was joined by several residents.

Prior to Wednesday’s decision, Elaine Lilley of Kendalls Jewellers on the High Street told the News: “The high street was already challenged before all of this and we need supportive measures to get people back into town, not disruptive measures.

“Consumers need confidence to get back out there. Footfall is not high enough on the High Street to justify this disruption.

“How can the council reasonably say this is helping pedestrians pass each other?”

Elaine explained that the problem was how the one-way system had been laid out and signed.

“Where the path is widened there is a great big sign in the way making the situation even worse than it was.

“In one week of observing these new measure we have not seen one person use this space for passing, in fact quite the opposite they now struggle to pass.”

She added that small retailers such as hers were struggling because of the enforced closure of over three months, due to lockdown to try to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.

“Since returning on the June 15 it has been a very challenging time trying to build the business back up.

“It has taken a good four weeks to get anywhere near where we left off only to turn up on July 23 to find a new one way-system and road closures in place without any prior warning.

“It is supposed to be a measure to assist people in coming back in to town and going about their business in the safest way possible, however, we feel that this has not been thought out to respect struggling businesses trying to get back on their feet.

“From Wetherby Road and Boston Road, coming from Collingham and the motorway, there are big road closure signs stating ‘Road Closed’ Access only - indicating that Wetherby Town is closed, which is extremely misleading and will potentially divert shoppers and tourists coming into town.

“The unsightly red and white bollards and No Entry sign all they way along High Street, do not make it an attractive town to visit.

“The No Entry signs for traffic have been placed without any thought in the middle of the pedestrian areas where they are supposedly widening the pavement for passing pedestrians, therefore, defeating the object.

“The streets are backed up with traffic at peak times, therefore, this will stop people coming into the centre of Wetherby.”

Sherrin Wright of the Shoe Tree, on High Street, said the scheme, although well intentioned, is not proving useful.

“It is affecting customer footfall, something that was just beginning to be re-established after lockdown.

“It also is proving very difficult for people to cross the road from the disabled parking on Cross Street.”

She said that deliveries to High Street are challenging and in some cases not possible.

Sherrin also questioned the need for the one-way system and the barriers at this point in the crisis.

“Wetherby seemed to be managing to social distance with out a problem and adding these measures nearly two months after shops in general could open seems unnecessary, no doubt expensive and causes traffic congestion on the routes into Wetherby town centre.”