River of rainbows to be created above Dewsbury shops in town centre

Councillors will consider plans for creative interventions and temporary or experimental road alterations in Dewsbury to help support social distancing and encourage people to walk or cycle when possible.

In addition to the road measures, the council will also make a decision on £200,000 of creative installations that would help make the town more attractive whilst encouraging social distancing.

Proposed works in Dewsbury include a rainbow river of ribbons above the town centre, an outdoor gallery along long causeway and around the town hall, new planters and green planting around the town, artworks in shop windows, a pop-up sculpture trail and a hidden gallery in the bricked up windows or old buildings.

If Cabinet approve the plans works will begin to appear in July and grow throughout the summer.

Councillor Naheed Mather Cabinet Member for Greener Kirklees said: “Our first priority remains public safety, but by bringing in these temporary road closures we also have the opportunity to test how impactful they are on social distancing, the climate, public health and the economy.

“Any changes will include the opportunity for public consultation.

“There have never been more people cycling and walking and with public transport being restricted to essential journeys only, now really is the right time to do this.”

The council brought in a selection of temporary emergency road changes to co-incide with shops re-opening in the town centres.

Further temporary measures to support social distancing and active travel are being planned for the end of the month.

The details of these changes are being finalised and will be shared with the public and businesses before they are made live.

The report asks councillors to agree a proposed approach to implementing improvements to roads to allow for cycling and walking moving forward.