Street closure planned so businesses in town can safely reopen

Coun Stuart Gerrard had called for the temporary closure of Market Street in Atherton at weekends.

This was to enable outdoor seating areas and more space in town to implement social distancing to help pubs and restaurants and other businesses operate safely.

And Coun Gerrard’s wishes look like they have been met with Wigan Council proposing a temporary traffic regulation order to enable them to close the street on Saturdays from 10.30am to 11pm and on Sundays from 10.30am to 7pm during the summer months.

Coun Gerrard, who represents Atherton on Wigan Council, welcomed the news, saying: “Glad they have listened to our residents and businesses and been very helpful in making it happen. It is only experimental at this stage.”

In a letter to Coun Gerrard, the council said: “We are proposing a temporary traffic regulation order (TRO) to enable us to close Market Street in Atherton on Saturdays from 10.30am to 11pm and on Sundays from 10.30am to 7pm during the summer months.

“As you are aware buses are currently allowed to travel down Market Street therefore we have discussed the proposal with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the bus operators to understand the impact on bus services and propose mitigation measures.

“We are proposing to provide two temporary bus stops on Mealhouse Lane to accommodate the diverted services, which TfGM and the bus operators are comfortable with.

“I have attached a plan of the proposals which shows the closure point on Market Street and the two proposed temporary bus stops on Mealhouse Lane.

“The next step to progress this proposal is to instruct our legal department to advertise the temporary road closure traffic regulation order.”

However the council said it would not be able to implement the road closure for Saturday but it is aiming to have it in place as soon as possible, with the hope it will be ready for the following week (July 11).

The letter added: “The licensing team have written to all pubs, restaurants and cafes to offer advice and support on reopening.”

Leader of Wigan Council, Coun David Molyneux said: “It’s time to think differently about how we can support our businesses to recover from this pandemic.

“By providing more outdoor space during peak times such as weekends, we can help pubs, bars and restaurants to operate safely by minimising the risk of the virus spreading while allowing them to welcome more customers.

“We have been in contact with Transport for Greater Manchester about the impact on bus services on Market Street and they are supportive of our plans in the interests of reopening our high streets.”

Social distancing signage will be in place in town centres and businesses can download Covid-19 materials from the council website to put in their establishments.

Coun Molyneux said: “Local businesses are at the heart of our economy and we will do everything we can to help them thrive.

“We would like to thank the public for their hard work over the last three months but as more social settings reopen, we cannot become complacent.

“We continue to encourage residents to stay safe and be kind by keeping their distance from others, washing hands regularly and wearing face masks on public transport and in shops.

He added: “By continuing to work together, we can reduce the risk of a second wave and avoid future lockdowns."