‘Void’ opens in St Leonard’s Place outside Theatre Royal

The hole is in the road outside the Theatre Royal, in St Leonard’s Place, and has been covered. 

City of York Council said the cause of the void is unknown and “it is anticipated that the works [to repair the road] could take around two weeks to complete”.

From 6am tomorrow (Thursday, May 22), the council said the section of St Leonard’s Place between the Theatre Royal and Red House Antiques Centre will be made into one lane and put under temporary traffic light control.

The ‘void’ outside the Theatre Royal, in St Leonard’s Place, which has been covered (Image: Newsquest)

The temporary traffic lights will be staffed between 7am and 7pm to limit disruption for all road users including those using Gillygate and Bootham, the council said.

Buses will continue to use the road as usual but the works mean the bus stops outside and opposite the Theatre Royal will move from 6am tomorrow.

Southbound buses using those stops will all use a temporary stop at the taxi rank by Bootham Bar which will be signposted.

Northbound buses will use a stop at the shelter next to Exhibition Square.

Services 5/5A (towards Strensall) and 6 (towards Clifton Moor) will use a temporary stop in Museum Street.

The nighttime taxi rank in St Leonard’s Place will be suspended for the duration of the works.

A council spokesperson said it will have a “much better understanding of the causes” of the void once its teams “have been able to safely access the site”.

“As usual, the site will be assessed for any archaeological remains once excavation starts,” they added.

The spokesperson said local businesses have been written to about the work.

Cllr Kate Ravilious, the council’s executive member for transport, urged people to plan ahead during the “busy time for York’s road network”.

The work will take place during the closure of Queen Street over the bank holiday weekend, as work on the Station Gateway project enters its next phase.

As The Press has reported, Queen Street will close to vehicles from 7pm on Saturday, May 24, until 6am on Tuesday, May 27, so a new road surface can be laid.

Cllr Ravilious said: “York is very much open for business and we encourage everyone to plan ahead, use public transport, walk or cycle where possible, to help reduce traffic congestion in the city centre.

“For example, Askham Bar, Poppleton Bar, Monks Cross and Grimston Bar Park and Ride routes do not use St Leonard’s Place and would make excellent alternatives to driving in to the city.”