A public consultation could be held on proposals to pedestrianise one of Ripon’s historic city centre streets during the daytime and summer evenings.
A petition signed by 868 people is calling on North Yorkshire Council to make progress on the long-discussed pedestrianisation of Kirkgate.
Campaigners want automatic rising bollards installed to restrict traffic between 10:00 and 17:00, with additional restrictions between 17:00 and 21:00 during the summer.
They say the change would create a safer, more welcoming area where people could walk, shop and spend time, while supporting local businesses.
Ripon councillor Andrew Williams said the petition had been raised by residents after North Yorkshire Council declined to carry out a consultation exercise on how seasonal pedestrianisation might be achieved.
However, he acknowledged there were significant practical difficulties.
“There are numerous complications to pedestrianising Kirkgate, and it’s not that straightforward,” he said.
“There are residential properties whose right of access is through Kirkgate, which makes it very difficult legally.
“The only way you could really introduce pedestrianisation would be with a rising and falling bollard, and that then raises issues around cost and maintenance. So it has never been straightforward to achieve.”
Council officers have raised similar concerns.
