New safety improvements introduced to Kettering town centre
Stay Safe, Shop Local: Montagu Street footpaths widened to ease social distancing
A number of changes are being made to make Kettering town centre safer for businesses and visitors, and to encourage social distancing.
Kettering Borough and Northamptonshire County Councils are working together to remove the parking spaces on Montagu Street from Thursday 25th June, to widen the footpath and create a safer area for pedestrians. Parking has been suspended in Montagu Street and surface improvements have been made, along with the erection of temporary barriers. Parking space for 4-5 cars will remain on the street, towards the junction with Eskdaill Street.
A survey of the town centre has been undertaken to identify ways of helping business to recover, alongside providing a safe environment for people to move around. A number of further initiatives will be undertaken in the coming weeks, the first one of which will be the changes to Montagu Street. Visitors are reminded that parking is currently FREE in all Kettering Borough Council car parks, including nearby in School Lane, and will remain so until the end of July, before being reassessed.
Following the reopening of high streets on 15th June, the following changes have also been made in Kettering:
- Panelling on the bus shelters on Eskdaill Street have been removed to improve safety for those using public transport, by making it easier to practice social distancing.
- Signage and floor stickers have been provided to businesses to help queue management
- our town centres have benefited from an enhanced cleaning regime with high contact points such as bins and benches disinfected regularly
- KBC Wardens are out and about with PCSOs in Kettering, Burton Latimer, Desborough and Rothwell, acting as the eyes and ears for any potential difficulties
- Environmental Health Officers continue to monitor and review the town centre to identify any businesses with concerns / further pinch points.
You can find out more about how Kettering town centre is reopening for business and how we’re encouraging people to stay safe and shop local at www.thisiskettering.com/reopening
If you have any queries on these initiatives, please contact Kettering Borough Council by e-mail at: towncentre@kettering.gov.uk
Cllr Mark Dearing, Kettering Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, said: “As Kettering Borough’s town centres are reopening to the public, we’re working closely with businesses and encouraging visitors to stay safe and shop local. All possible measures have been put in place to help create a very safe and pleasurable shopping experience and I encourage people to support local businesses, now they have reopened, to help them get back on track.”
Rochelle Mathieson, Head of Commercial Development at Kettering Borough Council, said: “We want to encourage more people into the town centre as more businesses reopen, and for all those living, working and visiting the town centre to feel safe. We will also make sure we review the actions we are taking to establish their effectiveness.”
