Businesses suffer as roadworks continue in York City Centre

Work is underway to install permanent anti terror bollards

Author: Kathy GreenPublished 12th Sep 2023

Businesses in York say they're being hit hard as noisy and dusty roadworks continue in the City Centre.

Work to install anti terror bollards had already started in Goodramgate but is now underway on the Shambles too.

"As soon as they hear the noise they just want to disappear"

Vicky Evans runs the Habit Café and bar and says trade's dropped by up to 40% since they started: "It creates quite a lot of noise and dust, quite often we have to shut the door and people don't want to hang around to look at what kind of food we have got, as soon as they hear the noise they just want to disappear from this part of the City basically."

"We are open, we open everyday so please do come down to Goodramgate, we have lots of independent business on Goodramgate, actually most of them are independent businesses here so come down."

"We just have to carry on there is no other option, the landlord is still going to charge us the rent, we still have to carry on with the bills so it's not that we are shut and we get any help from the Government, we just have to carry on."

Councillor Peter Kilbane, Executive Member for Economy and Transport at the City of York Council said in a statement: 'We aim to improve accessibility while keeping people and businesses safe in the long-term, ensuring our economy continues to prosper.

'I’m sorry for the short-term disruption this work is causing. It sends a clear message to would-be terrorists and all in the city centre that we’re taking action, we won’t put people or businesses at risk and that York continues to be one of the UK’s safest cities.'

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