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Holywell Town Centre
Published: 19/11/2018
Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to support a proposal to permanently remove the Pedestrianisation Order from Holywell High Street when it meets on 20 November.
Holywell Town Centre currently has a pedestrianised zone on the High Street and there has been much debate over many years regarding the effect the arrangement has had on High Street businesses, as shoppers cannot stop and quickly visit or easily collect items of shopping.
In July 2017, Flintshire County Council received a petition, signed by over 500 residents and businesses in Holywell, requesting that the Pedestrianisation Order should be removed, allowing traffic to freely access the town centre and allow for some free, short stay, on-street parking in the town. The Council agreed to the introduction of a pilot de-pedestrianised arrangement on the High Street, which comes to an end in December.
Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Countryside, Councillor Carolyn Thomas, said:
“The Council has worked with Holywell Town Council and agreed the trial period to remove the Order so that an assessment could be done on the benefit of removing the Order permanently.
“Although the trial period is due to come to an end after Christmas, a six month review of the impact took place and concluded that there was both local benefit and support to remove the Order permanently. The Town Council is, therefore, supporting the removal of the Order.”
As there is currently no funding available to carry out the necessary work which is estimated at £800,000, Cabinet is being asked to agree that Council officers work with the Town Council and local businesses to identify potential funding for the scheme.
When the current pilot finishes in January, the original Pedestrianisation Order will need to be reinstated because the existing construction of the road cannot sustain the long-term effect of traffic in its current form. However we will be working together to hopefully find funding for the work to be carried out as soon as possible.