Skip to content
Menu

Call for improvement for Cartergate pedestrian zone as motorists reminded not to use it as a shortcut

Posted on: Thursday, August 3, 2023

Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Porfolio Holder for Public Protection and Community Relations is calling for Nottinghamshire Highways to look at options for bollards or another measure along one of Newark’s major pedestrian zones.

Cartergate in the town centre is a restricted area at all times with loading/unloading only permitted between 16:00 to 08:00 and this is enforceable by the Police.

Motorists with a Special Access Permit are allowed into the area beyond these times to access the shops on Cartergate. The County Council administers these permits that are only granted to those with significant mobility problems.

Councillor Paul Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Community Relations at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Local retailers have told me that Cartergate in the town centre is seeing up to 500 cars a day illegally driving along the pedestrian precinct, despite there being Traffic Regulation orders in place. Drivers using this area as a shortcut are putting shoppers at risk of being run over whilst in a pedestrian area.

“Drivers need to be aware that this pedestrian precinct is for people to shop safely and away from traffic. Because of the urgency of the situation I have been in touch with Newark Police and I am urging Nottinghamshire County Council’s Highways Department to explore options to prevent unauthorised vehicle access.”

A highways manager from Nottinghamshire County Council said: “We are working with NSDC on these matters and also working to encourage drivers to be respectful to pedestrians and not drive in the area.

“The County Council is actively engaged with the Department for Transport with the expectation that it will be granted enforcement powers for moving traffic restrictions later in the year. It has just completed a public engagement exercise that resulted in a significant level of support. If it is successful in this application, pedestrian streets such as Cartergate can be enforced using ANPR cameras in the near future.”

In addition to holding conversations with Nottingham County Council, the District Council will work with its partners at Nottinghamshire Police to explore what can be done, building on a number of joint initiatives already in place to keep the district’s town centres safe for everyone.