Essential works to improve and maintain York Street and complement the opening of Bath’s new state-of-the-art World Heritage Centre and Clore Learning Centre will restart on January 6th.

The works between Stall Street and Kingston Parade are expected to last sixteen weeks and will support the opening of the centre, as well as improve the public realm in the long term.

Bath & North East Somerset Council completed phase one of the works in Swallow Street earlier this year but paused until January, following feedback from traders, to minimise the impact on local businesses in the busy summer and Christmas periods.

The area will be resurfaced in a high-quality natural stone, in keeping with the historic streetscape, and the street will be raised to create a level surface throughout, allowing for a smooth transition throughout these spaces.

The Council is notifying residents and businesses that from January 6th, access to York Street will be restricted to emergency and site vehicles only for the duration of the works.

A pedestrian diversion will be in place between York Street and Stall Street and York Street and Abbey Street with diversion routes clearly signposted.

The works will be carried out by the Council’s contractor, Volker Highways. Works will take place between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, with the site operational from 7am to 7pm.

Businesses between Terrace Walk and Kingston

Parade who have pavement licenses will not be able to place furniture on York Street from January 1st due to the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) for social distancing coming to an end on December 31st. A separate Temporary Traffic Regulation Order starts on January 6th to enable the works.

Before Christmas the Council triggered a public inquiry for its proposed traffic regulation order for anti-terrorism purposes in York Street, as part of the city centre security scheme, despite work to mitigate concerns. It is anticipated the inquiry will be held in Spring 2022. If the inquiry finds in favour of the

Council, businesses will be able to place furniture back in the street without applying for another license.

The Abbey Footprint Project team will also be on site between January 10th and 21st, undertaking planned works within the Great Drain.

Find out more about the opening of the World Heritage Centre and Clore Learning Centre at https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/archway-project