Chester’s Northgate Street closed by St Peter’s Church

A section of Northgate Street in Chester, near St. Peter’s Church, has been closed due to the potentially dangerous state of the church wall. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The street and one footpath next to the church wall have been closed to vehicular access since November 2022, due to concern about falling masonry. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Following a structural survey of the church wall, the results of which have now been shared with the Council, the church wall has been judged to be in a potentially dangerous structural condition. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“In accordance with Section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the street and both footpaths have now been closed until further notice to protect the public.” Chesire West and Chester Council said. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for the Environment, Highways & Strategic Transport, said, “The emergency closure is due to the potentially dangerous structural condition of a section of St Peter’s Church wall.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Our officers have ensured there is a safe restricted environment, so that remedial action can be undertaken at pace to make the wall safe in association with a structural engineer commissioned by the Council and the structural engineer acting on behalf of the Church.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We are liaising with businesses to minimise any disruption and seeking to rectify the situation as soon as possible.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Signage at the site reflects the closure, and alternative access points to Northgate Street have been provided. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Social media messaging is alerting the public to the closure of the road and footpaths until further notice. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Northgate Street can still be accessed via the Rows steps by Rosie’s or around the corner on Eastgate Street. The Council is encouraging the public to follow the provided alternative routes and to heed the signage in the interest of public safety. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​