Two town centre streets in Harborough have now reopened to traffic following a period of closure

Church Street and Adam and Eve Street in Market Harborough have reopened to traffic following a period of closure.

The roads, which were temporarily closed to traffic in June to encourage social distancing after the Government lifted town centre lockdown restrictions, were reopened today (Friday September 18).

The usual one-way systems apply.

A protected cordoned area into the road is being introduced outside the Post Office and GI’s Barbers in Adam and Eve Street to allow safe queueing as traffic returns.

Measures put in place in Church Street in Lutterworth to widen the pavement with barriers will also be removed.

The Harborough District Council said it will continue to review the local or national situation around Covid-19 cases.

Cllr Phil King, leader of Harborough District Council, said: “Introducing the measures was the right thing to do at the time to provide shoppers with the confidence to come back to our town centres and to support safe social distancing and safe queuing.

"That increased confidence, plus evidence we have gathered, suggests the current best approach is to reopen the roads. That said, we will be monitoring the situation.”

In collaboration with retail groups, local businesses, and Leicestershire County Council, Harborough District Council introduced a number of road changes to facilitate social distancing as town centre shops and businesses reopened following the Government’s easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

A decision was taken to reopen the roads following a public survey and feedback from businesses.

The ‘High Street Helpers' will continue to assist shoppers and public hand sanitiser points and street markings, showing people where to queue safely, will remain in place.

The council said the introduction of face coverings in shops, customer numbers dropping from an initial peak, and progress towards ‘normality’, means less need for road closures.