It has become clear that the Council made a number of important decisions on 20th June. The results of decision meetings held on that day are only now beginning to emerge. The decisions were taken behind closed doors and residents had no opportunity to make representations.
Even opposition Councillors – who responded to an appeal for their views – found that their views had not been recorded before the decision was taken. This has led to an official complaint being recorded by LibDem spokesperson Ann Reid.
The comments were added retrospectively on 28th June!
No objections were recorded by Conservative Councillors while the Greens said they were generally in favour of the plan.
The biggest shock is that the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order – needed to legally enforce the closure of Lendal Bridge to private vehicles – could last for 18 months.
Previously the Council had talked only of a “6 month” trial.
Many thought that this was too long a period.
Lendal bridge without traffic
Officials have confirmed that “Enforcement will be carried out by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras under City of York Council control”. This in itself is likely to be highly controversial. The Council have still failed to explain why web access to their traffic cameras is not available.
ANPR does work when police use it to pull up drivers who are suspected of committing an offence. It is less effective when used to enforce parking restrictions and there are numerous examples of “cloned” number plates being used to evade detection.
There will be access to the national “Traffic Penalty Tribunal” for anyone who wishes to appeal against a Penalty Charge Notice.
It remains unclear whether there will be a general exemption from the ban for disabled drivers.
There will be numerous knock on effects from the closure.
• Coaches will be allowed to use the bridge outside the affected hours (10:30am – 5:00pm).
• A right turn from Lendal will be reinstated, as will the right turn into Library Square.
• On Station Avenue, the left hand lane will be designated as a bus lane.
• The Lord Mayors car will not be excluded from the restrictions “other than when it is carrying a visiting dignatory”
• St Leonards Place will become “Access Only”
The use of an experimental traffic order means that the Council does not have to consult residents before imposing the change. They must however consider any objections raised during the first 6 months of the trial.
The Lendal Bridge clsure proposal is likely to be debated by the full Council at its meeting on 18th July.
