More night time closures of town centre:Warrington

POLICE and council bosses have widened the night time no go zone in the town centre.

And taxi drivers say the new restrictions could boost business and create a safer environment for the drivers.

The restrictions will see Academy Way, parts of Bridge Street, Friars Gate and sections of Rylands Street off limit to drivers between 9pm and 5am each day.

Part of Friars Gate, at the Show Bar, formerly Brannigans, is now restricted to one way for traffic travelling east to west at all times.

David Boyer, head of transport, said: “This is all about making Warrington a safer place for people who are visiting the town and for people who work here. We want to protect people and enhance Warrington’s night time economy. Part of that is making it safer.”

Insp Richard Reeves, from the town centre NPU, said: “Had we not have taken this approach and there had been an accident the accusations would have been on our door. We are not just waiting for something to happen, we are looking to promote safety.”

The initiative is a continuation of Warrington Borough Council and the police’s joint initiative Arc Angel, which strives to hammer down on drink related offences and to make people feel safer. In 2008 late night closures were introduced on lower Bridge Street.

Insp Reeves said before the closure on lower Bridge Street was introduced hundreds of people would be forced to stand on pavements when they left bars.

He said the closure has created more space and a much more relaxed environment for revellers, door staff and police.

Mr Boyer said the new enforcements which will start operating tomorrow, Thursday, will hopefully be the right balance as there will be enough room for people to pick up and drop people off and taxi drivers can collect people at the lay by at Portos, on Academy Way.

Ambulances and fire engines will be able to access the closed areas by unlocking the bollards.

Steve Harper, chairman of Warrington Taxi Drivers’ Association, said Hackney cab drivers have worked with the council to introduce the restrictions.

He said the original closure on lower Bridge Street caused lots of taxis to park by the junction near to Academy Way.

He said: “I think it is a brilliant idea. it will make it much easier for the police with no vehicles being allowed access and safer for drivers.

“I don’t think it will affect the business because if 1,000s of people go out they still have to go home. I think it might improve the business because more people will go out because it will be a safer environment.

“People can spill into the street and nobody will hit them and if trouble flares up police can get to them.”

The initiative will be trialled for 18 months.

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