Portsmouth City Council has completed improvements to make Guildhall Walk permanently pedestrianised.
The works completed by Colas prevent vehicles from accessing the space and make it more friendly for people walking and for cyclists visiting the area.
During the pandemic, Guildhall Walk along with Castle Road and Palmerston Road were temporarily closed to vehicles to create enough space for people to safely socially distance from each other by allowing people to walk in the vehicle free road.
These temporary measures received positive feedback from members of the public and surrounding businesses. As a result, new projects were proposed to look into making these changes permanent.
These works are part of the District Local Town Centre Scheme which aims to create safer public spaces and support walking and cycling.
Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Transport at Portsmouth City Council said:
“It’s fantastic to see so many people enjoying this area free of traffic. When changes like these are made to the city, it’s important that we design spaces that can be enjoyed by all, whether they are passing through or permanently based there.
“By listening and working alongside local businesses, we understood the need for delivery vehicles to have access outside businesses at certain times. This was factored into the design so that the bollards blocking vehicle access in the road are removable for deliveries.
“We’ve also worked alongside equalities groups and listened to valuable feedback from residents who regularly access the pharmacy. This need was factored into the design by creating three new disabled parking spaces on King Henry I Street.”
Further improvements to Guildhall Walk also include:
- 12 new cycle stands have been installed outside and adjacent to Sainsbury’s Local.
- All signage has been updated to reflect changes.
- The daytime taxi rank has also now been relocated to King Henry I Street.