Keeping high streets COVID secure and business friendly over the Holidays.

Local Labour councillors have implemented solutions that put lives and Livelihoods first in Street Space Review.

As many will be aware, during this pandemic The Pedestrian Street Space plan was temporarily put in place on roads across Harrow. This was to ensure the possibility of social distancing and keep our high streets viable, mainly this involved the widening of pedestrian areas in high streets.

The measures have been predominantly introduced outside shops with narrower pavements, where there is higher footfall in order to support adherence to the government social distancing guidelines and slow the spread of the virus.

As the pandemic forced quick action, Harrow Council knew that the implementation would need refinement and has kept the schemes under ongoing review, reacting to changing circumstances by adjusting the schemes where necessary. With Councils required to implement emergency schemes at an unprecedented pace, these measures are being reviewed on a monthly basis.

Due to the review and the constant attention of Labour councillors, some of the Street Space plans are now being adapted. This means that the roads will be reverted to their pre-pandemic state and a one-way scheme on pavements will be introduced to reduce social contact.

These will be on Streatfield Road, Honeypot Lane, Canons Park and Kenton Road and parts of Queensbury and Kenton East.

Cllr Varsha Parmar, Environment Portfolio Holder, said: “Safety remains our number one priority and people should adhere to the Hands, Face, Space mantra. The changes we have announced will see an advisory one-way scheme put in place and the current barriers removed.”

“These temporary schemes, which are part of wider measures that make it safer for people to move around the borough. We will react quickly to changing circumstances, as in this case and going forward.”

Local Business owner and Kenton West Councillor Ajay Maru, said: “It is crucial that when Government guidelines permit it businesses can still see footfall. To do that we need to ensure that people can walk through hubs like Kenton Road and still maintain distance. We need customers to ensure that we can use our streets in the confidence they are COVID secure.”

“We are listening to residents and will continue to do what we need in order to keep Harrow safe. Protecting lives and livelihoods”