The Briggate Action Plan in Leeds City Centre aims to transform its bustling streets by requiring cyclists and e-bikers to dismount and prohibiting pedlars in pedestrian zones, ensuring safer, more enjoyable experiences for over 250,000 weekly visitors. These bold proposals, including extended pedestrian hours from 10 am to 8 pm, seek to alleviate congestion and enhance accessibility, with enforcement through Fixed Penalty Notices and a crucial public consultation phase.
What are the key proposals in the Briggate Action Plan to improve safety and accessibility in Leeds city centre?
The Briggate Action Plan proposes requiring cyclists and e-bike riders to dismount in pedestrianised zones during extended hours (10 am–8 pm), prohibiting pedlars from specific areas, and enforcing new rules through Fixed Penalty Notices to enhance safety and accessibility in Leeds city centre.
Addressing Safety Concerns in Leeds’ Bustling Retail Hub
With weekly footfall surpassing 250,000, Briggate stands as one of the busiest high streets in the region and a central pillar of Leeds city centre. However, the sheer volume of visitors has brought to the forefront a series of safety and accessibility concerns. Among these issues is the movement of an estimated 1,100 bicycles every day through the pedestrianised shopping corridor, alongside approximately 15 mobile street pedlars. Visitors and shoppers, according to a recent survey, have expressed apprehensions about the coexistence of pedestrians, cyclists, and traders in these narrow and densely populated areas.
The proposals, outlined in the Briggate Action Plan, are due for consideration by the Leeds City Council’s executive board in the upcoming meeting. One of the core measures includes a new requirement for cyclists and e-bike riders to dismount and walk with their bikes within the city centre’s pedestrianised zones during pedestrian hours. These areas encompass not only Briggate but also Lands Lane, Commercial Street, Albion Place, and lower Albion Street. The intention is to reduce the risk of collisions, particularly given that some delivery cycles can reach speeds of up to 45 mph – a significant hazard in packed spaces.
Additionally, the action plan proposes to extend the pedestrian-only hours from the current 10:30 am–7 pm window to a longer period of 10 am–8 pm, giving shoppers and visitors an even greater sense of safety and comfort. “Briggate in particular is one of the city’s retail crown jewels and we want to do all we can to ensure it remains an attractive, appealing and above all safe destination for the hundreds of thousands of shoppers who visit each year,” said Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport, and sustainable development.
Tackling the Impact of Pedlars and Street Trading
The presence of pedlars – unlicensed, mobile street traders – has also become a prominent issue identified in the public survey. While the city centre accommodates 12 council-managed pitches for licensed independent traders, pedlars often congregate in key pedestrian zones, especially during major city events such as Light Night Leeds and Leeds Pride. Their activities have led to concerns about restricted access, anti-social behaviour, and the sale of counterfeit goods.
The Briggate Action Plan introduces several targeted interventions to mitigate these challenges. Among them is the proposed prohibition of pedlars from defined areas within the pedestrianised centre, aiming to unclog thoroughfares and improve the overall visitor experience. This would be enforced through consultation on a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which, if enacted, could make it a punishable offense to operate as a pedlar in specific city centre zones.
Survey data underscores the need for action: 50% of respondents felt their experience was negatively affected by pedlars, while 61% cited delivery cyclists as a detriment to their enjoyment of the area. The council’s approach, therefore, is twofold – prioritising both licensed, regulated trading and the safety and accessibility of all city centre users. “These proposals are designed to be a starting point and an important opportunity to bring about some changes in the city centre in light of issues the public have raised with us,” Councillor Pryor explained.
Implementing and Consulting on New City Centre Regulations
A significant element of the action plan is the emphasis on public and stakeholder consultation. If the council’s executive board approves these initial proposals, the next phase will involve comprehensive engagement with local businesses, residents, and visitors. This approach is intended to ensure that a diverse range of views inform the final measures, making them as effective and balanced as possible.
The consultation will specifically gather feedback on the following proposed changes:
- Mandatory dismounting of cyclists and e-bikers in pedestrianised shopping areas during set hours.
- Extended pedestrianisation hours from 10 am to 8 pm, enhancing the window of safety for shoppers and visitors.
- Prohibition of pedlars from trading in defined city centre locations, particularly during busy periods and events.
Enforcement will be a central feature of the plan, with anyone breaching cycling or peddling restrictions potentially subject to Fixed Penalty Notices. The council sees this as essential to ensuring compliance and maintaining the integrity of pedestrianised spaces. To support transparency and informed debate, the full executive board report is available for public viewing at the Leeds City Council democracy portal.
The Broader Vision for Leeds City Centre’s Future
Leeds city centre has shown impressive resilience and growth in the post-Covid era, emerging as a leading regional destination for shopping, dining, and leisure. The high levels of foot traffic and economic activity are a testament to the city’s vibrancy, but they also highlight the necessity of forward-thinking urban management. The Briggate Action Plan seeks not only to address immediate concerns but also to lay the groundwork for the city centre’s sustainable evolution between 2025 and 2027.
The executive board’s upcoming decision on whether to proceed with the consultation will shape the next steps. “By setting the challenges out in this way and offering some potential solutions we hope to spark a wider, more detailed and ultimately beneficial conversation that will enhance the city centre for years to come,” Councillor Pryor remarked in anticipation of the process.
If the action plan is adopted, its phased delivery will focus on balancing safety, accessibility, and commercial vitality – ensuring that the voices of both businesses and the public remain central to Leeds city centre’s ongoing transformation.
- The Briggate Action Plan proposes requiring cyclists and e-bikers to dismount in pedestrian zones and prohibiting pedlars to improve safety and accessibility in Leeds city centre.
- Weekly footfall in Briggate surpasses 250,000, highlighting safety concerns due to an estimated 1,100 daily bicycle movements and 15 mobile pedlars.
- The plan suggests extending pedestrian-only hours from 10:30 am–7 pm to 10 am–8 pm to enhance safety and comfort for shoppers.
- Pedlars, identified as unlicensed street traders, contribute to concerns about restricted access, anti-social behaviour, and counterfeit goods, prompting proposed prohibitions in defined areas.
- Enforcement of new regulations will involve Fixed Penalty Notices, and a public consultation phase will gather feedback on mandatory dismounting, extended pedestrian hours, and pedlar prohibitions.