Labour ignore opposition and push-on with 20mph plans

Speed survey resultsLabour 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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Cost of Local Plan consultants report put at £9000

The York Council has said that the total cost of the work undertaken by Arup consultants to support the Local Plan Preferred options – Housing Requirements in York: Assessment of the Evidence on Housing Requirements in York was £8,837 plus VAT

This is the report that the Council used in “Draft” form to justify its decision in April to seek land on which to build an additional 22,000 in York over the next 15 years.

LibDems back new save our countryside campiagn

Green Belt map of England

Green Belt map of England

York’s Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader says a new national campaign to protect the countryside supports the approach his party has taken to controversial housing plans.

Last week the Lib Dems submitted their objection to Labour run City of York Council’s Draft Local Plan, which proposes building 16,000 houses on Green Belt land over the next 15 years. In recent months the Lib Dems have been leading the fight to protect York’s Green Belt, including organising a petition signed by nearly 2,500 local residents. The party has said that new housing should be focused on brownfield sites before the countryside surrounding York is developed.

Now a national ‘Save our Countryside’ charter launched by the CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) has highlighted the threat of developing Green Belt land and called on councils to develop brownfield sites first. The CPRE has said that current policies mean the countryside is “being destroyed unnecessarily” and a ‘brownfield first’ approach should be adopted.

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York Crime and Police update

Appeal for witnesses after York burglary
Police investigating a two-in-one burglary in York are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Poppy Rodgers death – drug dealer jailed
A York man who supplied Class A drugs to a teenage girl leading to her tragic death is facing up to a long jail sentence.

York financial advisor sentenced to 18 months for fraud
A York financial advisor who defrauded his clients out of £160,500 has been jailed for 18 months.