Labour run York Council is forcing through plans for the next stage of its controversial citywide 20mph roll-out despite public and political opposition.

A recent council consultation in west York saw only 7 out of 13,000 residents support the proposals for blanket 20mph limits in areas including Acomb, Holgate, Foxwood, Dringhouses and Woodthorpe. Despite this lack of public support, Labour’s Transport Chief approved the latest stage of the £600,000 roll-out last month and tonight Labour used their majority on the cross-party Corporate and Scrutiny Management Committee to defeat a Liberal Democrat attempt to stop the policy. Labour won tonight’s vote by 5 to 4 with all opposition councillors voting against the 20mph scheme.

Lib Dem Councillors Ann Reid, Lynn Jeffries and Nigel Ayre had called-in the policy for review and urged Labour to abandon the scheme or delay it until the new limits introduced earlier in the year in South Bank could be properly assessed. Lib Dems argue that resources should be focused on roads with high accident rates after data provided by City of York Council showed that of the 383 accidents in west York over the last 5 years only 48 (13%) occurred on roads where it is now proposed to reduce the speed limit.

Speaking at tonight’s meeting Cllr Ann Reid, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport and Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Councillor, commented:
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Less than 3 weeks before the Council implements its Lendal Bridge closure, they have scheduled a series of drop in sessions at which residents can raise concerns.

The first was taking place today in the council’s exhibition unit which is outside M&S on Parliament St. It will be there on the following dates.

* 12 noon – 7pm on Wednesday 7 August
* 7.30am – 1.30pm on Thursday 8 August

* 12 noon – 7pm on Wednesday 11 September
* 7.30am -1.30pm on Thursday 12 September
* 10am – 4pm on Saturday 5 October

The Council claims to have produced a leaflet which should have been delivered with Local Link. This somewhat flawed delivery process which has been criticised in the past. The leaflet is available to view by clicking here
Councillors have apparently been given bundles of the leaflets to use in fending off irate constituents.

Two business briefing sessions are being held to inform the businesses and retail community on where they can find out more about the trial and ask any questions, on:

* 3pm on Wednesday 14 August at City of York Council’s West Offices

* 6pm on Wednesday 14 August at West Offices

Many businesses – including in particular City centre hotels – have already raised concerns that it is too late to warn many of their guests and customers about the proposed closure dates and times.

They have asked the Council to ensure that Sat Nav companies to update their software to reflect the closure times. So far they have had no response.

Many want the kind of hotel direction signs – popular on the continent – introduced in York.

All in all, this is a rushed initiative which needed a lot more preparatory work and at least some public consultation.

The closure is initially for six month’s from 27 August during daytime hours (10.30am to 5pm), Lendal Bridge will only be open to pedestrians, cyclists, buses, taxis, and emergency vehicles.

York Travel are reporting that “from 1pm today until 11.59pm on Friday 23rd August, Water End/Severus railway Bridge will be closed to all Eastbound traffic due to bridge repairs”.

No explanation or apologies have been given for the lack of notice.

The roadworks live traffic map is not showing serious tail backs as yet. Click on map for latest position

NB. The closure of Lendal Bridge is scheduled for 27th August. This will affect the volume of traffic trying to use Clifton Bridge

We are expecting a response to our complaint about non disclosure of information on York bus services tomorrow (Tuesday).

The case revolves around the York Councils refusal to publish details of subsidised bus ticket sales.

The Council has been heavily criticised over recent months for lack of transparency in its decision making processes

Over the next couple of months, extra cycle parking will have been put in place in Lendal, Goodramgate, King Street, Library Square and Micklegate.

This comes on top new parking recently installed in Piccadilly and North Street.

This will help to create an extra 150 spaces to add over 1000 spaces already availible within the city centre.

City of York Council will carry out reconstruction works on part of Tranby Avenue in Osbaldwick from Monday 5 August.

The works are programmed to take approximately four weeks in total to complete, working Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm. #
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Residents have a final chance to stop the introduction of a wide area 20 mph speed limit in West York on 12th August.

The Labour plan has been “called in” by the Liberal Democrats and will be discussed by an all party committee which will meet at 5:00pm in the Thornton Room – Ground Floor, West Offices (Room G039)

Residents can register to speak at the meeting. To do so they should email or telephone Jill Pickering Telephone: 01904 552061, E-mail: jill.pickering@york.gov.uk. The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Friday 9 August 2013

Details of the reasons given for the “call in” can be read by clicking here

A proposal which would see local Libraries taken out of Council control has also been called in. Details can be found by clicking here

The same registration requirements apply to this item

The latest bus map can be viewed here http://getdown.org.uk/bus/maps/york.pdf

First are currently reviewing their routes in the light of the results of recent public consultation.

Changes are expected in the autumn.