Ban on driving through town centre remains
A BAN on driving through Nuneaton town centre remains in place despite reports that people can use them to pick up their shopping on market days.
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council bosses have warned motorists that it remains illegal for them to drive through Nuneaton town centre to do their shopping on market days.
It comes after a post on social media from a market stallholder claimed that drivers had permission to drive through the pedestrian-only town centre to pick up goods.
A trader posted a message on Facebook claiming that the council was allowing vehicles to access the town centre on market days
This is absolutely not the case according to the borough council, which was keen to set the record straight on the rules.
The Telegraph asked the borough council if restrictions, which ban motorists from travelling through the town centre during the day, between 10am and 4pm, had been lifted.
A spokesperson explained that bollards which block access to the town centre had been permanently lowered during the lockdown –but the daytime traffic order remains in place.
“The statement made about market is incorrect,” the Town Hall spokesperson said.
“The Nuneaton and Bedworth town centre traffic bollards are under the control of Warwickshire County Council as the Highways Authority. At the start of lockdown period, as staff were required to work remotely, Warwickshire County Council decided to leave the bollards lowered to facilitate access for emergency vehicles into the town centres.
“Between the hours of 10am and 4pm, anyone entering the pedestrian area would still be in contravention of the Traffic Order and could be liable to a PCN from a police officer for driving in the pedestrian zone and we would not encourage residents to do so.”
There has long been an argument that the timing of when the bollards are lowered should be changed, to allow more access to the town centre.
But despite repeated calls over the years, the county council has been steadfast in its decision to remain at 10am4pm.