Chester Christmas Security Arrangements Online FAQs

To improve Chester city centre security for residents and visitors attending the Christmas
market and people choosing to go late-night shopping, the hours when the city’s bollards are
raised to the ‘up’ position will extend beyond the usual end time of 4.30pm for five weeks
leading up to Christmas.
From 15 November until 23 December, bollards at the Town Hall Kiosk and St. John’s Street
will be raised in the ‘up’ position, from 10.30am to 8pm from Thursday to Saturday, and from
Sunday to Wednesday between 10.30am and 6.30pm. On 24 December the bollards at those
locations will be raised in the ‘up’ position, from 10.30am to 4.30pm. The bollards on Bridge
Street and Watergate Street will continue to be closed from 10.30am to 8pm daily.
From 16 November until 23 December, bollards opposite the Storyhouse will be closed, on
Saturdays, from 10.30am to 8pm, and on Sundays, from 12pm to 6pm, for the duration of this
period. On 23 December the bollards will be closed from 10.30am to 8pm.
From 08 November until 23 December, bollards on Princess Street will be closed 24/7 for the
duration of this period.
Chester’s security bollards will also be in place during graduation week due to the high number
of people expected in Town Hall Square. Subsequently the bollards will be in place on the 5
to 8 November as 12 graduation ceremonies take place at the Cathedral.
In addition, the bollards will be in place for the Remembrance Sunday commemorations on
the 10 November, after which the Christmas Market will be built in Town Hall Square.
More information is provided below:

  1. Why have the anti-terrorism bollards been shut – is there a threat to Chester?
    There is no specific threat to Chester at this time; however, we constantly review our
    security arrangements and at this time it is the view of the Council and Cheshire Police
    that due to a number of factors including the current national threat level and high
    numbers of visitors to the Christmas Market and city centre we have taken the decision
    to implement a range of safety measures to help keep the public safe. These closures
    are part of that security plan.
  2. I normally have access – are these closures legal? Yes – these closures are legal and
    have been implemented under powers provided to the Council under the Road Traffic
    Regulations Act 1984. We have put these closures in to protect the public.
  3. I’m a blue badge holder. Where do I park? Blue Badge holders are advised that there
    are a range of alternative parking available in multi storey car parks, Frodsham Street,
    Chester, CH1 3JJ and Hamilton Place, Chester, CH1 2BG and on roads outside the
    central streets. If you are a CW&C registered Blue Badge holder and you are in receipt of
    a micro-chip your badge will give you 4 hours free access to any Council pay on foot car
    parks. Details can be found at the following link: Car parks in Chester
    (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk) There is also an allowance for Blue Badge holders to
    park on yellow lines for up to three hours, and in limited waiting bays for an unlimited
    amount of time.
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    Final
  4. I am a blue badge holder, and I would like to attend a church service/ visit a store
    within the protected area – where can I park? See (3).
  5. I am collecting a Blue Badge holder from the Grosvenor Hotel – how do I do this?
    You can organise to be picked up from the hotel rear entrance in the Grosvenor
    Shopping Centre car park, level 2. The car park, which is adjacent to the hotel, is
    accessed from Newgate Street, off Pepper Street post code CH1 1DE. The hotel can be
    accessed directly from level 2 of the car park.
  6. I am collecting a Blue Badge holder from the Blossoms Hotel – how do I do this?
    You will need to arrange a pick-up point as close to your destination as possible and
    walk to collect the individual concerned. Frodsham Street is a recommended location for
    this purpose.
  7. My business deliveries are only after 4.30pm – what do we do now? We would
    recommend changing your delivery times to between 8pm and 10.30am from Thursday
    to Saturday, and to between 6.30pm and 10.30 am from Sunday to Wednesday or ask
    delivery drivers to park legally outside the protected zone and walk the goods into your
    store.
  8. We have planned refit works of our shop in the evening, can we still get in? Not
    until after 8pm from Thursday to Saturday, and after 6.30pm from Sunday to
    Wednesday. We would recommend asking delivery drivers to park legally outside the
    protected zone and walk the refit materials into your store.
  9. We have a dinner booked at 7pm – we were told we could park in the city centre
    after 4.30pm. What do we do now? We would recommend parking in one of the many
    car parks across the city; details can be found at the following link:
    Car parks in Chester (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk)
  10. We have our own private car park within the protected zone. Can we still access
    this? Not during the closure period. However, you can access it between 8pm and
    10.30am every day (and between 4.30pm and 10.30am on 24 December).
  11. Can we drive up St John Street to our property? No as St. John Street is a one-way
    road.
  12. I work in the evening in Chester, and we usually park within the protected zone.
    Where do we park? We would recommend parking in one of the many car parks across
    the city; details can be found at the following link:
    Car parks in Chester (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk)
  13. We have a pre-booked function at a venue within the protected zone – are we still
    allowed to access the protected zone with our vehicle? No – We would recommend
    parking in one of the many car parks across the city; details can be found at the following
    link: Car parks in Chester (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk)
  14. What if there is an emergency, will it stop the Emergency Services gaining
    access? No – the only vehicles allowed access during these hours will be for
    exceptional and pre-arranged circumstances. These include emergency service vehicles,
    bridal cars attending weddings at the Grosvenor Hotel, funeral cars attending funerals at
    Chester Cathedral and Wesley Church, emergency utility works vehicles, emergency
    Highways and Lighting works, and Council waste collection vehicles.
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  15. If the roads are closed, can I leave my alfresco out? Only in line with the parameters
    set out in your premises’ alfresco licence.
  16. Will these closures happen every year when the Christmas Market is operational?
    The Council and its partners review the security arrangements for all major events
    including the Christmas Market.
  17. If I have made a delivery in the protected zone prior to 10.30am, will I still be able
    to exit via St. John St and Watergate St? Yes.
  18. I am planning an event in Chester city centre whilst the security arrangements are
    in place, which could include large numbers of people wanting to park. Who do I
    need to contact to discuss this with? You should e-mail the following Council
    Services as far in advance of the event as possible to consider any issues:
    artswest@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk and parking@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
  19. I am a Blue Badge holder – are there any additional support measures over this
    period to help me?
    The Council and its partners have the following alternative arrangements to support Blue
    Badge holders and disabled visitors affected by the current security arrangements:
  • Blue Badge Microchip: Cheshire West and Chester registered Blue Badge holders
    can register to have a micro-chip applied to their badge for four hours free access to
    any Council pay on foot car parks. Details can be found at the following link: Car
    parks in Chester. (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk). To apply for access via our
    ANPR (Automated Number Plate Recognition) system please email our parking
    services team at parking@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.
  • Disabled Drop Off: Blue Badge vehicles will be permitted access, Monday to Friday,
    to drop off at the night-time taxi rank and adjacent bays on Northgate Street opposite
    the new Coachworks Arcade. On Saturdays, and Sundays (from 12pm to 6pm), Blue
    Badge vehicles will be permitted to drop off at the night-time taxi rank on upper
    Northgate Street next to the Storyhouse.
    18/10/2024

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