WIDER pavements will be created outside of a number of bars, cafes and restaurants in Ilkley to allow them to open as lockdown eases.

New seating areas will take the place of on street parking spots.

Pub beer gardens and outdoor seating areas will be able to reopen on April 12 when lockdown restrictions are eased.

However many smaller pubs and cafes do not have outdoor seating areas, raising concerns that some businesses would miss out on weeks of custom after already having been shut for months.

Bradford Council has announced that it would be installing temporary pavement extensions outside of a number of businesses to allow customers to remain socially distant.

Officers from the council’s Landscape Design and Conservation and Highways teams are focusing on supporting groups of businesses that have little or no scope to adapt their sites and who rely on customers being able to use pavement space safely.

The work is to be funded by the European Regional Development Fund’s Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, the government’s Towns Fund Accelerated Funding, Bradford Business Improvement District (North Parade only) and Bradford Council.

Pavement extensions will include an additional extension outside Piccolinos in Brook Street, Bettys Tea Rooms on The Grove, and Emporio Italia in Railway Road in Ilkley.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “We know some areas of the district make it difficult for people to maintain good social distance so this project will give people the extra space they need to stay safe.

“By providing these pavement extensions it will also give businesses more space to safely operate from when they’re allowed to reopen.”

“It’s part of a broad range of measures the council has put in place to support and protect local people and businesses through the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Businesses in Ilkley are encouraged to contact Saira Ali (saira.ali@bradford.gov.uk) to discuss how the council can provide pavement extensions in their area.