Consultation summary. click to enlarge

62 responses were made to the recent consultation on the design for the new Park and Ride site at Askham Bar.

In the main residents supported the scheme.

One of the main concerns (see right) related to the awkward access for cyclists. This is now to be replaced by a single crossing of the access road.

Good news is that the existing bus stop on the old Park and Ride site will be retained.

Many residents wanted a pedestrian and cycle route via the Tesco site. This has been turned down by officials on cost and safety grounds. There was a similar fate for a suggestion for a split level junction at the College on Tadcaster Road. This was aimed at eliminating the delays caused by the constantly changing Toucan crossing traffic lights.

The report is due to be considered at a meeting on Thursday 12th April (4:30pm Guildhall).The meeting will also consider arrangements at the new Poppleton Park and Ride site as well as a proposal to declare an air quality management area on Salisbury Terrace.

Full reports can be accessed here: http://tinyurl.com/Strategy-12th-April

The proposed revised new layout is shown below

North Yorkshire Police have issued the following advice: “More than a third of all burglaries are crimes of opportunity, where the burglar enters through unlocked doors or windows. Keep your home secure.
According to the Home Office, you are ten times more likely to be burgled if you don’t have basic security – even something as simple as putting strong locks on your doors and windows will keep your house much safer.

Nationwide, burglary has fallen by nearly 60% since 1995 – but criminals are opportunists who will take advantage of any chance to steal from you, so you should remain aware.
Securing your home

If you want to be certain your home is as safe as you can make it, here are ten top tips you should follow: (more…)

York NHS has issued the following statement:

“On Tuesday 17 April the Walk-in Centre will close at the Monkgate site and will reopen as part of the urgent care centre at York Hospital (located in the emergency department) from Wednesday 18 April.
A significant amount of work has been undertaken to design an improved service that will best meet patients’ needs, whilst offering the most effective use of the resources available.
The urgent care centre will help patients to access the right care from the right healthcare professional at the right time. They will also be able to access the range of specialist support services available at the hospital if needed. Health services will also benefit from more streamlined patient pathways.

By separating minor illness and injury from the main emergency department, the emergency department staff will be able to focus their efforts on the most seriously ill patients. The development of the Urgent Care Centre is the first stage in a redesign of the whole service offered by the Emergency Department.

The urgent care centre will be managed by a multidisciplinary team of medical and nursing staff with the skills to see and treat minor illness and injury.

There will be a single reception point and patients will be directed to the urgent care centre or the emergency department depending on their needs.

Other services located in the Monkgate building will continue to operate as normal. Only the walk-in centre is affected by this move”.

www.York.NHS.uk

Councillor Keith Hyman, Liberal Democrat spokesman for City Strategy, has joined forces with the two Green Councillors to ‘call-in’ the Labour Cabinet’s decision to scrap a cycle lane.

Labour formally agreed to remove the Clifton Green/Water End cycle lane and reintroduce a left-hand traffic lane this week despite a consultation that saw 106 out of 178 people– together with all three emergency services – say the junction should stay as it is. Council officers have admitted that the changes would make it less safe for cyclists and cost £12,000.

A ‘call-in’ means that the decision can not now be implemented until a further scrutiny debate takes place to look at the reasons why the decision was made.

Cllr Hyman commented:

“To reinstate a left turn lane for motor vehicles puts cyclists and pedestrians at more risk than they are now. The report on the issue shows that the Emergency Services and a Safety Audit of the junction are unanimous in saying that the current layout is the safest.

“I am at a loss as to how the Cabinet can ignore this evidence. I realise they stated in their promises to York that they would alter the junction, but surely having seen the report they should have reconsidered and accepted that the decision they have taken is wrong.

“They should now accept public opinion and expert opinion, swallow their pride, and change their policy.”

It looks like the Council has finally made the choice of a new car for the Lord Mayor. A new Volvo S80 Nilsson Limousine now sports the famous DN1 registration number. The vehicle is normally famous for its gas gulling 3 litre petrol engine but the 2.4 diesel model comes with stop/start and relatively low emissions at 129 g/km.

There is no doubt that a new vehicle was needed. The aging Vauxhall had long passed its sell by date and was increasingly unreliable. The last LibDem led Council had started the process of replacement and was looking at vehicles like the £30,000 Toyota Prius +, a 7 seat MPV with a CO2 rating of less than 100 g/km and fuel consumption of around 68 mpg.

Ironically Volvo produces a S60 plug in diesel hybrid although this is not yet available with a passenger capacity of more than 5.

The Council leases its vehicles so there should not be much difference in annual expenditure, although some may feel that the opportunity to set an example has been lost.

Hybrids run on battery power on local trips reducing pollution levels. And many of the Lord Mayors journeys are – of course – limited to the York area.