One-way system for walking in Luton town centre from next Monday - with nearby roads closed to traffic

The measures have been installed to maintain social distancing as non-essential retail begins trading again on Monday, June 15.

George Street will be one-way for pedestrians with direction signs in place, in order to ease the flow of movement and create safe queuing areas.

Welcome signs will be in place in four key entrance areas of the town explaining the new rules, while marshals will also patrol the town centre managing queues and social distancing.

There will be closures to vehicles on four town centre roads:

> Wellington Street (between Stuart Street and George Street)

> Chapel Street (between Flowers Way and George Street)

> George Street (between Wellington Street and Upper George Street)

> Upper George Street (between George Street and Dunstable Place)

Car parking charges will also be reinstated in council owned car parks and at the Mall from Monday, June 15. Charges have already been reinstated for on street parking pay-and-display bays to help support the reopening of the town.

Cllr Sian Timoney, deputy leader of the council and portfolio holder for economic development, said: “We appreciate how difficult the past few months have been for non-essential retail businesses in Luton but from Monday we will see them able to open.

"We want people to know that if they are coming out to shop our priority is to ensure that Luton is as safe as it can be for everyone visiting and working in the town and we are committed to supporting local retailers and businesses to enable this.

“Working with our partners, we have looked carefully at the town centre and planned how people can navigate around whilst sticking to social distancing rules and so creating a shopping area that visitors feel confident and comfortable coming to.”

Gavin O’Brien, chairman of Luton Business Improvement District (BID), added: “As a BID our role is to do everything we can to support the businesses in Luton town centre.

"This week our focus is on delivering Business Covid Recovery Starter Packs. These packs contain social distancing floor graphics, tape and a window poster, hand washing poster, a business compliance poster and masks.

"They are designed to help businesses to manage the risk associated with Covid-19 and to prepare for reopening. The response to these packs has been really positive.

"Every business is different of course and has varying needs and although these packs do not provide an exhaustive list of contents they are equipping people with confidence and support as they prepare to reopen.”