Three town centre road closures are 'just the start' says Chesterfield Borough Council

Derbyshire County Council has closed South Place, Corporation Street and Crow Lane to traffic after receiving £443,000 from the government to put social distancing measures in place.

Now Chesterfield Borough Council has commented on the road closures for the first time and says it expects further consultation with County Hall before long-term measures are put in place.

A spokesperson said: “We view the decisions that Derbyshire County Council has taken to temporarily close Corporation Street and South Place as just the start of a process to encourage more Chesterfield residents to leave their cars at home and to cycle or walk into the town centre.

“Chesterfield Borough Council is hugely committed to rebooting the high street as part of our post Covid-19 economic recovery activities and to doing so in an environmentally sustainable way.

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“These are temporary road closures. The active planning measures that Chesterfield Borough Council would like to see put in place on a permanent basis have to be right for the long-term and we would expect Derbyshire County Council to fully consult with ourselves, the public and local businesses on any such proposals.

“Alongside our Northern Gateway and Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield growth projects we believe it is worth taking the time to properly work up these measures with Derbyshire County Council and with campaign partners such as the Chesterfield Cycle Campaign.”

County council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure, Councillor Simon Spencer, said the authority would be putting measures in place at more than 40 different locations across Derbyshire.

“We have closed off Corporation Street to allow a safe socially distanced walking route from the train station into the town,” he said.

“South Place has been closed off to make more space for people to walk from Ravenside retail park into the town. And we’ve closed off Crow Lane to allow a safe cycling route to the hospital.”

The South Place closure has been criticised by some residents as fines are in place for leaving Ravenside retail park on foot.

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