City of York Council will be closing High Petergate for up to 12 weeks whilst emergency repairs are carried out to the former Halifax Estate Agents building.

Staff moved out of the building in September last year after cracks appeared in the front of the building. Contractors have subsequently investigated the problems and have found that the front of the building appears to be falling away, into High Petergate. City of York Council's building control team have been working with the contractors and essential work must begin immediately to repair the building.

Peter Evely, head of highway regulation, said: "Given the significant danger posed by this building, work must begin immediately. This will require us to close High Petergate because scaffolding must be erected and, because the road opposite this building is particularly narrow, there isn't sufficient room to allow traffic to continue to use the road. Pedestrian access will be maintained."

Mr Evely continued: "The closure will affect all of High Petergate, although we will be suspending the one way system between Duncombe Place and King's Square. This will obviously cause some inconvenience but is unavoidable in these circumstances, given the threat to public safety posed by this building. We will be monitoring the situation and expect the work to last for 12 weeks."

The building, number 31 and 31a, is leased by Halifax Estate Agents, who are now based in The Stonebow, and is an important part of the city's heritage, dating from the 16th century and is a listed building.

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