Bollards in Chester raised longer this Christmas season to improve safety
Additional security measures will be in place to protect shoppers visiting the Christmas market and shops in Chester this festive season.
From 18 November to 22 December, the city centre’s bollards at the Town Hall Kiosk, St. John’s Street, Bridge Street, and Watergate Street will be raised in the ‘up’ position for a longer period than usual, between 10.30am and 9pm seven days a week. The bollards are usually lowered at 4.30pm Monday to Saturday (and at 8pm on Bridge Street and Watergate Street).
Only bridal cars attending weddings at the Grosvenor Hotel, funeral cars attending funerals at Chester Cathedral, emergency service vehicles, emergency utility works vehicles, Council waste collection, emergency lighting and highways vehicles will be allowed access into the central streets of the city during these hours and will also apply for the period 22-24 December between 10.30am and 4.30pm.
Blue badge holders, hotel guests, businesses, deliveries, and residents will not have access during these hours.
There is a range of alternative parking available in multi storey car parks, Hamilton Place, Frodsham Street, Weaver Street and on roads outside the central streets for blue badge holders affected by this change. Blue Badge vehicles will be permitted access to drop off at the night-time taxi rank and adjacent bays on Northgate Street opposite the new Northgate development (old library entrance).
Retailers in the city centre should arrange for all their deliveries to be made before 10.30am, or after 9pm, during this period. The Council will work with the business community in Chester over the coming weeks to find solutions to issues which businesses may encounter with deliveries, caused by these changes.
Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, said: “Last year we increased the time the bollards were raised so that people could shop in the evenings in a secure environment, and we will be doing the same this year.
“There is not a specific threat to the city of Chester but it is important that people can come into the city to do their shopping during the Christmas period and feel more secure in the large crowds.
“We appreciate that this decision can cause some disruption to shop deliveries and we appreciate the support businesses have offered to this decision which has been made for the purpose of ensuring people’s safety.”
Chief Superintendent Peter Crowcroft of Cheshire Police said: “To ensure our streets are safer for shoppers, visitors, residents, and workers Cheshire Police continues to work with our partners, the council, businesses, and the public to disrupt criminal and terrorist activity.
“We have said for many years that communities defeat terrorism, and the help and support we get from the public is a vital part of that. So we would urge everyone to remain vigilant, and if you do see anything suspicious then please report it, in confidence, to police via 101 or 999 or the Anti-terrorist hotline or gov.uk/ACT. It won’t ruin lives, but it may well save them.”
Residents and visitors can also feel assured by the success of Project Servator, which involves officers who are specially trained to spot the tell-tale signs that someone may be planning to commit a crime, on patrol on the city centre streets. The policing tactic can be used any time anywhere and aims to disrupt criminal activity, including terrorism.
Project Servator was first trialled in Chester City Centre in June 2019, with Chester Police becoming one of 18 UK police forces to fully adopt the policing tactic in March 2020.
The tactics have been developed and tested by security experts at the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) in partnership with the City of London Police.
Chief Superintendent Crowcroft added: “The team continues to work with partners, including other police forces, businesses, and the public, to protect our streets and everyone who lives, works, or visits here and to make it difficult for criminals to operate.
“Project Servator encourages everyone to stay alert and report anything that doesn’t feel right. You can report any suspicious activity by speaking face to face with officers, or by calling police on 101. In an emergency, always call 999.”
Chester Christmas Security Arrangements Online FAQs:
To improve Chester city centre security for residents and visitors attending the Christmas market and people choosing to go late-night shopping, the hours when the city’s bollards are raised to the ‘up’ position will extend beyond the usual end time of 4.30pm for five weeks leading up to Christmas.
From 18 November until 22 December, bollards at the Town Hall Kiosk, St. John’s Street, Bridge Street, and Watergate Street will be raised in the ‘up’ position, seven days a week, from 10.30am to 9pm for the duration of this period. From 23 to 24 December the bollards at those locations will be raised in the ‘up’ position, from 10.30am to 4.30pm (apart from Bridge Street and Watergate Street, which will be from 10.30am to 8pm).
More information is provided below:
- Why have the anti-terrorism bollards been shut – is there a threat to Chester? There is no specific threat to Chester at this time; however, we constantly review our security arrangements and at this time it is the view of the Council and Cheshire Police that due to a number of factors including the current national threat level and high numbers of visitors to the Christmas Market and city centre we have taken the decision to implement a range of safety measures to help keep the public safe. These closures are part of that security plan.
- I normally have access – are these closures legal? Yes – these closures are legal and have been implemented under powers provided to the Council under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984. We have put these closures in to protect the public.
- I’m a blue badge holder. Where do I park? Blue Badge holders are advised that there are a range of alternative parking available in multi storey car parks, Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3JJ and Hamilton Place, Chester, CH1 2BG and on roads outside the central streets. If you are a CWAC registered Blue Badge holder and you are in receipt of a micro-chip your badge will give you 4 hours free access to any Council pay on foot car parks. Details can be found at the following link: Car parks in Chester (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk) There is also an allowance for Blue Badge holders to park on yellow lines for up to three hours.
- I am a blue badge holder, and I would like to attend a church service/ visit a store within the protected area – where can I park? See (3).
- I am collecting a Blue Badge holder from the Grosvenor Hotel – how do I do this? You can organise to be picked up from the hotel rear entrance in the New Gate Street Car Park, off Pepper Street.
- I am collecting a Blue Badge holder from the Blossoms Hotel – how do I do this? You will need to arrange a pick-up point as close to your destination as possible and walk to collect the individual concerned.
- My business deliveries are only after 4.30pm – what do we do now? We would recommend changing your delivery times to between 9pm and 10.30am or ask delivery drivers to park legally outside the protected zone and walk the goods into your store.
- We have planned refit works of our shop in the evening, can we still get in? Not until after 9pm. We would recommend asking delivery drivers to park legally outside the protected zone and walk the refit materials into your store.
- We have a dinner booked at 7pm – we were told we could park in the city centre after 4.30pm. What do we do now? We would recommend parking in one of the many car parks across the city; details can be found at the following link:Car parks in Chester (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk)
- We have our own private car park within the protected zone. Can we still access this? Not during the closure period. However, you can access it between 9pm and 10.30am every day (and between 4.30pm and 10.30am on 23 and 24 December).
- Can we drive up St John Street to our property? No as St. John Street is a one-way road.
- I work in the evening in Chester and we usually park within the protected zone. Where do we park? We would recommend parking in one of the many car parks across the city; details can be found at the following link:
Car parks in Chester (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk) - We have a pre-booked function at a venue within the protected zone – are we still allowed to access the protected zone with our vehicle? No – We would recommend parking in one of the many car parks across the city; details can be found at the following link: Car parks in Chester (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk)
- What if there is an emergency, will it stop the Emergency Services gaining access? No – the only vehicles allowed access during these hours will be for exceptional and pre-arranged circumstances. These include emergency service vehicles, bridal cars attending weddings at the Grosvenor Hotel, funeral cars attending funerals at Chester Cathedral, emergency utility works vehicles, emergency Highways and Lighting works, and Council waste collection vehicles.
- If the roads are closed, can I leave my alfresco out? Only in line with the parameters set out in your premises’ alfresco licence.
- Will these closures happen every year when the Christmas Market is operational? The Council and its partners review the security arrangements for all major events including the Christmas Market.
- If I have made a delivery in the protected zone prior to 10.30am will I still be able to exit via St. John St and Watergate St? Yes.
- I am a Blue Badge holder – are there any additional support measures over this period to help me?
• Dial West Cheshire Shopmobility:
The Council and its partner organisation Dial West Cheshire have the following alternative arrangements to support Blue Badge holders and disabled visitors affected by the current security arrangements: The opening hours of the Shopmobility service will be extended on a Thursday from 9.30am until 7.30pm (rather than the current closing time of 4.30pm). Users are always encouraged to book in advance but bookings on the day will still be accepted. The Thursday offer will be available on 24 November, 01, 08, 15 and 22 December and will also align with the majority of the city’s Christmas parade programme. The Shopmobility in Chester can be contacted or using the on-line booking https://dialwestcheshire.org.uk/services/shopmobility/shopmobility-online-booking/.
Blue Badge Microchip: parking@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.
Cheshire West and Chester registered Blue Badge holders can register to have a micro-chip applied to their badge for four hours free access to any Council pay on foot car parks. Details can be found at the following link: Carparks in Chester. (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk ANPR (Automated Number Plate Recognition) system please email our parking). To apply for access via our services team at Blue Badge vehicles will be permitted access to drop off at the night-time taxi rank and adjacent bays on Northgate Street opposite the new Northgate development (old library entrance). Traffic management operatives will be instructed to permit vehicles through the coned off entrance to Northgate Street at Hunter Street to drop off a passenger(s) in a safe city centre location. Please note that a valid Blue Badge must be presented to be permitted to drop off.
