From the WMDC Press and Communications Office
MOVES TO IMPROVE NIGHT TIME
SAFETY
17 FEBRUARY 2006
Wakefield's
main street through the city centre will soon be closed to all traffic
except taxis and buses on evening weekends to help boost community safety.
Council
officers and West Yorkshire Police have teamed up to develop the plan
which will also see Westgate made a one way route only away from the city
between 7pm and 4.30am on Friday and Saturday nights.
The
scheme has been developed following extensive consultation with private
hire and hackney carriage drivers, public transport operators and
emergency services. It is aimed at further reducing violent crime in the
city centre and helping people move quickly away from the area once they
are ready to go home.
The
trial scheme will be launched in May and subject to regular review with
scope for further measures if the scheme can be improved.
Westgate
will be closed to all non-taxi or public transport traffic from 7pm at its
junction with Wood Street. Only buses, taxis, hackney carriages and
emergency vehicles will be able to use the route.
Council
leader Councillor Peter Box said: "Our aim is to make Wakefield city
centre a safer place. This is one way we hope to make it easier for people
who have enjoyed a night out to disperse more quickly and easily when they
are ready for going home. We have worked hard with taxi and private hire
drivers, bar and club owners and all our partners to come up with a trial
scheme that will hopefully reduce still further the number of incidents on
Friday and Saturday nights."
Chief
inspector Simon Whitehead added: "This is one of a number of measures
in place to help reduce incidents of disorder and alcohol related crime.
It is a serious issue for the city, and at this stage we are looking at
this new scheme as one of a number of options. It will not necessarily be
the final solution, and there may be other measures we need to try out
following the trial and evaluation. However we have had support from
partners who all share our aim to make Wakefield a safe place to
visit."
Ref:
PR719
Date: 17/02/06
INDEX
|
