A local councillor is asking residents to contact him if they have ideas about Beverley become a more COVID safe town centre.
Cllr David Elvidge made the comments following news of a grant that the government will make available to local authorities. East Riding of Yorkshire Council stands to benefit from hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The new Reopening Highstreets Safety Fund will see towns in the East Riding benefit to the tune of £301,870.
As a result of the grant, the Minster and Woodmansey Councillor has already been involved in meetings to address how cash can be used.
Commenting on the grant and plans to make town centres safer Cllr Elvidge said;
“I attended the first Beverley Town Centre Focus Group last week and I’m enthusiastic about some of the new and inventive ideas being put forward to enhance the centre of Beverley.”
“While there I voiced strongly my ideas to overall reduce parking, but keep an increased number of disabled bays in Saturday Market.”
“This would allow more space for residents to pass each other at a safe distance. Also, it would encourage traders to provide outside tables and chairs.”
“Also I have suggested ideas around sanitisers to be provided throughout the centre of town, and the possibility of a “keep right” system.”
“It’s early days, but it is exciting to be working on a scheme to move Beverley into the post-COVID era.”
“If anyone has any ideas they’d like to run by me, I’d be pleased to hear from them.”
MP Graham Stuart has also welcomed the news. He says that this is new money while adding he hopes it will help build consumer confidence.
MP Also Welcomes Funding To Help Town’s Become COVID Safe
Mr Stuart said;
“This new money could help ensure the centres of Withernsea, Hornsea, Hedon and Beverley get back on their feet quickly while finding innovative and exciting ways to support businesses, grow consumer confidence and ensure the long-term safety and prosperity of our town centres.”
“I know ERYC are eager to help businesses get back on track. I’ll do everything I can to make sure businesses get the support they need.”
Any money available should NOT come under ERYCC.A completely independent organisation should oversea.During the crisis the Council had done ZERO in Beverley town regarding information.It has been left to individual shops to mark social distances on pavements etc and apart from a few tatty signs nothing from the council in saturday market.Their main contribution was to restart parking charges as soon as they could so this concern for town centres is just PR spin.
how about reducing town centre ( market places) limited by camara too 20 / 15 minute call collect spaces,’. allother car parks close to the town centre free. this will encourage trade, shopping they call these days.
How can the town become Covid safe when you have an idiot conservative councillor encouraging people to attend protests when NHS front line staff and other key workers are dying from this horrible virus !!!!