Civic watchdog comes out against pedestrianising streets

The organisation has written to Hull Council to object to moves to pedestrianise the bus loop through Prospect Street, King Edward Street and Jameson Street.

About 60,000 people travel in and out of the city centre every day by bus.

The plans which are part of a £25m city centre facelift would see two bus stops removed on Monument Bridge as well as the setting down stop on Alfred Gelder Street.

The society’s acting chairman John Scotney said: “Principally it is the question of accessibility, it means bus stops will be further away from the main shopping areas, but also there will be less car parking spaces in the evening for people going to City Hall and New Theatre.

“In 2017 we will still need to go to the shops and people will still need to park for concerts and transfer from east Hull buses to west Hull buses on Monument Bridge.”

Coun Martin Mancey, who holds the portfolio for transport, said they were still consulting, with a meeting with bus companies today and a further meeting later this month. He said: “The whole concept of transforming the city centre is it to make it a more attractive place visually for people to enjoy and for pedestrians, without vehicles thundering by. “We want people to venture further (than St Stephen’s shopping centre) and by enhancing public realm links we want to ensure people are drawn into the city centre.

“Go to other great cities and almost all of them have significant areas of pedestrianisation.

“There is no right or wrong solution; you can go from one extreme to another, no pedestrianisation or total pedestrianisation. It is about getting the balance right.

“Everything is still subject to further consultation.”