York pavement cafés will be allowed in certain parking bays – but banned from narrow footpaths
York has a new set of guidelines covering pavement cafés.
Councillors have agreed the new rules, which aim to allow York’s al fresco dining sector to continue to flourish while safeguarding public access – particularly for disabled people.
Fast-track café pavement licences were first issued under new rules brought in during the pandemic.
And outside eating areas have continued to prove crucial to many York café businesses long after Covid restrictions were lifted.
However, disabled residents have found that some of the pavement seating has blocked their path and further restricted their access to the city centre, already worsened by the changes to Blue Badge parking.
The new rules have been drawn up with the support of “independent access consultants” and in consultation with disabled residents, the council says.
This collaborative approach will continue with the support of a new panel, where York groups and communities will be able to feed back on their experience of the new guidance.
What the guidance says
The new guidance on acquiring a fast-track pavement café license for businesses includes:
- Pavement cafés in pedestrianised streets are only allowed on footways if a width of 1.5 metres remains for people to get past
- That width increases to 2 metres in high footfall areas such as at busy junctions or near bus stops
- In footstreets where there is level access between footways and the road – for example in Coney Street – licences may be issued for pavement cafes to cover the full width of the footway
- Pavement cafés will be allowed in street parking bays where sufficient parking and loading capacity – including for Blue Badge holders – remains, and where the café area can be protected from any passing traffic. The licence holder will be required to cover all associated costs including changes to the permanent traffic regulation orders, and changes to the kerb.
Businesses who do not qualify for the fast-track licence by fulfilling the 1.5m clear footway rule will still be eligible to apply, using the pre-Covid route through a full planning application.
The council has also pledged to improve information and support to businesses as well as require the licence holder to undertake counter terrorism training to build on work to protect everyone in the city centre.
Cllr Andy D’Agorne, executive member for transport, said: “I’m very pleased that this new guidance drawing on the lived experience of disabled people and the expertise of independent access consultants will bring better access on pavements within the footstreets.
“It also provides clarity for the future to ensure that businesses can play an important part in keeping people safe around their premises.”
More information about York pavement licences can be found on the council’s dedicated web page here.
No Surprise there,The council have taken away the ability of many cafes and pubs to trade at a crucial time. They’re happy,Im led to believe, for the Winter Hutt to be erected without the relevant planning permission(maybe someone should investigate how that happens) but small business cant have a few tables outside.
I have a business on Castlegate a supposedly pedestrian street that cannot now have tables outside on the purpose built decking as the council now want it to be Blue badge parking. I and 4 other businesses installed the decking at our expense to enable people to sit outside only to be told a year later they’d changed their minds.
Such a short sighted choice. .
people walking on Castlegate now have to contend with cars,cyclists and electric scooters most of which ignore the rules of the road and go the wrong way down the street.
The change in cafe licensing on castlegate removed 20%of my trade so I feel for the other business owners who will now also suffer badly,its a kick in the teeth for so many businesses that contribute so much to the cities income .
Well done COYC on another utterly stupid decision!
That does not explain Micklegate where the cafe seating areas are in the highway taking our parking spaces set behind large red and white motorway barriers. Tres Parisien!