Plans to ban cars from Howden town centre scrapped by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in face of local opposition

More than half of those who responded to East Riding of Yorkshire Council were strongly against the proposals to pedestrianise Market Place and High Bridge in Howden Town centre.

More than 600 people responded to a consultation on whether to close just Market Place, shut that street and High Bridge or do nothing.

The Conservative-run council and others across the region are bidding to find ways to help local high streets recover from the pandemic after a huge drop in footfall.

And the authority's economic development portfolio holder Victoria Aitken said previously that Howden had some of the smallest pavements in the East Riding, making social distancing difficult.

If the proposals had gone ahead, an Experimental Traffic Order would be imposed on one or both of the streets.The majority of respondents to the consultation live in Howden or use the town for its shopping and leisure facilities, with 53.6% surveyed strongly against the council’s proposals.

Further questions asked how much the town centre would need to change in the next 10 years, with 46 per cent of respondents suggesting it is already ‘fit for purpose’.

Coun Aitken said: “We fully appreciate and are thankful for the feedback we have had from the many residents, businesses and stakeholders taking part in this consultation.

“We have noted how, for example, people have told us that Howden town centre’s main role is for everyday shopping.

Additionally, feedback also suggested that there is room for improvement in some other aspects of the town centre, such as cycle parking. We will continue to work with local stakeholders to identify future improvements for the long-term benefit of the town.”

Howden town councillor Steve Smythson, a Liberal Democrat, said: “This was always going to be a very divisive issue for the town. I am pleased ERYC have listened to residents and booted it into touch. I would like to see them trying to deal with the existing traffic problems including better cycling provision.”

The council is now working with local groups to develop a Covid-19 recovery plan, which will recommend a series of "realistic and achievable actions that will work towards a successful recovery for the town centre, post-lockdown".

With high streets hit hard by changing shopping habits even before the pandemic, civic and business leaders have been looking at pedestrianisation as a means of revitalising town and city centres.

Work to transform Greek Street in Leeds city centre into a new-look pedestrianised space was successfully completed last summer.

But in October plans to temporarily pedestriane James Street in Harrogate were delayed after complaints from the town’s business sector.

Elsewhere in North Yorkshire, a trial closure of Whitby Swing Bridge to vehicles is to take place this year despite concerns that it could lead to traffic “mayhem”.