Tuesday, April 09, 2013

BRIGG PEDESTRIAN ZONE - OFFICIAL DEFINITION OF PERMITTED VEHICLES


Interesting information has come to light in Brigg about our town centre Pedestrian Zone.
It takes the form of a Humberside County Council pamphlet issued in 1993 when the inner relief road (Barnard Avenue and Ancholme Way bridge) was opened to traffic. This left the Market Place and much of Wrawby Street to those on foot. Well, that was the intention. As we know it's far from the case, and there have been many motorists who have entered the zone without just cause.
Whether what Humberside, as the then highway authority, put in place in 1993 has ever been amended only North Lincolnshire Council, the successor authority, can say.
Anyway, back to the pamphlet...
I have to say that what you are about to read fits in exactly with what I've been telling those who mention this topic over many years.
BRIGG BLOG HAS ADDED THE CAPITAL LETTERS BELOW TO EMPHASISE IMPORTANT SECTIONS
Humberside County Council makes it clear that vehicles are allowed into the pedestrian zone for the following purposes:
a) For delivery, of collection, OF BULKY OR HEAVY ITEMS from the zone.
b) For gaining access to properties FOR WHICH THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF ACCESS.
Disabled persons' vehicles ARE NOT ALLOWED in the pedestrian zone. Specially designated disabled parking bays have been provided at close proximity to the pedestrian area to assist the disabled and strategically located seating will also be provided within the pedestrian zone. Disabled persons' wheelchairs, manually or electrically operated, may be used within the pedestrian zone. Severely disabled drivers MAY BE ISSUED WITH SPECIAL PERMITS TO ENTER THE PEDESTRIAN ZONE.
Cycling is PROHIBITED in the pedestrianised area, although pushing of a pedal cycle by hand is permitted.
So what should we make of all that?
The document spells out that delivery/collection from premises can only be made where bulky, or heavy, items are involved. That does not cover a handful, or armful of goods, or taking a car, or van, into the pedestrian zone just to visit a particular shop or office.
Sadly, although this document spells out what rules were laid down in 1993, it has little or no relevance today because the powers-that-be seem to take little or not action to deal with offenders. And it's been like that
for most of the past 20 years.
Maybe the unearthing of this document poses the chance for the authorities to make a fresh start. First, we need North Lincolnshire Council and Humberside Police to confirm that the information issued by Humberside County Council still applies today. Next, it needs to be enforced as those who drafted it at County Hall, Beverley, in 1993 must have expected it to be.

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