Could town centre measures become permanent?

Road closures and restricted parking in Fore Street could become permanent after a government grant of  £6.4m was awarded to the county council.

The grant supports local authorities creating safer, easy to use spaces for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as reducing the increased pressure on public transport as a result of social distancing guidelines associated with the Coronavirus pandemic.

The council was allocated £1.25m in June for the implementation of temporary active travel projects, including temporary cycle lanes, closures of road sections to through traffic, new cycle parking, and upgrading of temporary measures to allow for social distancing. Parking in Fore Street was largely curtailed and the western end of the street closed from Parliament Square to Market Place.

The second grant will allow further cycling and walking improvements to be put in place, as well as upgrading some of the temporary measures to permanent installations.

Phil Bibby, cabinet member for Highways and Environment said: "I am delighted that Hertfordshire has been awarded £6.4m in funding from the Government's Active Travel Fund to further develop our green travel network. These improvements will encourage and empower many more people to travel in an active and environmentally friendly way, which in turn will deliver significant long-term benefits to the health and wellbeing of our residents and reduce our impact on the environment.

"We want everyone in Hertfordshire to be able to walk and cycle safely, and this important investment will allow the development of further access for all, helping to make the county more sustainable and ready for the future."

Proposed schemes will be subject to a consultation later this year to gauge views on the measures prior to their implementation.