Brace yourself! York plans for the ‘shock’ of ‘significant numbers’ of people returning in post-lockdown ‘Covid bounce’

York could be in for a shock after lockdown, as the city is expecting ‘significant numbers’ to return as the restrictions are phased out.

After many months of the city being enjoyed mainly by residents, York will be crowded again – and plans are being drawn up to keep it safe.

Neil Ferris, economy director at City of York Council, said the city was “already much busier than it was prior to in the previous lockdown” and “there’s going to be a significant increase in people as we progress through the phased return” outlined in the government’s roadmap.

He told a meeting: “Not only is it going to be a shock to get back to normal levels, if we do have what some are calling Covid bounce with effectively a big increase in staycations and hospitality in the UK, that will even feel more of a change for residents of the city.”

The council was focused on “creating safe, well managed city centre spaces, and ensuring that local businesses can reopen”.

The challenge won’t be attracting people, but managing those that will come.

Café culture

Outdoor spaces will be crucial. “We’re going to effectively look at third party managed spaces. So like last summer Deans Garden, Museum Gardens, making sure that they’re open, accessible and clearly signposted across the city – that idea of attract and spread across the city centre.”

There would also be trader-led streets. “So where we’ve got adjacent businesses who want to undertake cafe license activity, and they want to expect if it’s expand beyond what they would normally do, we would facilitate that, particularly in areas such as Castlegate, Fossgate and Micklegate.”

Last year they approached Micklegate traders “but they didn’t wish to participate in a trader-led street”.

It’s something they want to encourage. The council also plans for more café and seating areas in Parliament Street, King’s Square and St Samson’s Square.

Pop-up spaces, like that facilitated by the York BID at College Green, were again on the agenda, as well as more toilets.

Community policing and Covid marshals would help to supervise open spaces like the riverside to maintain social distancing, and avoid the “unbecoming behaviour” which saw Tower Gardens used as a toilet by drinkers.

Geared up

The government is extending its amended café licence scheme for another 12 months, meaning there is no planning permission required for outdoor seating.

More road closures will be considered if required by trading groups in areas like Acomb, Haxby and Heworth.

“The city is geared up, and does successfully deal with seven million plus visitors a year,” Mr Ferris said.

“So whilst it will feel very strange to have the sheer quantity of people back in the city, the facilities are comprehensive enough to deal with that level of activity.

Cllr Ashley Mason pointed out that socialising had changed since the pandemic and people more regularly took their own food and drink to meet people away from cafes and bars, such as by the river.

“We’re not going to be providing significantly new venues,” Mr Ferris said. But Covid marshals and community police were able to “supervise people’s behaviours” to “make sure this city is respected by our visitors”.

The executive is considering making the extensions to the footstreets permanent, allowing for the outdoor ‘cafe culture’ to stay.

For the next year, there is a national fixed fee for an outdoor café licence of £100. After that year, Mr Ferris told the meeting that the council could levy its own fee and previously “some of those fees could be £700-£800 per licence”.