York becomes UK’s first city with real-time transport model

Image result for computer linked traffic signals gifs

York has become the first city in the UK to introduce city-wide real time transport modelling to help ease congestion and pollution.

Working in partnership with PTV Group, Wood Group and independent strategic modelling experts RelativeGAP, City of York Council has started using the latest innovation and cutting-edge technology to manage the road network.

In areas it has previously been introduced, area wide travel times have been reduced by nearly 10 per cent.

Previously, the council has monitored the network through staff monitoring CCTV and social media feeds, with network monitoring operators and transport engineers manually implementing new signal changes to manage the flow of traffic better in busy periods.

With the new PTV Optima installed in the control room, the council can now adopt a more pro-active approach in monitoring and changing the network live to best suit traffic conditions.

For example, if there was a road traffic collision on the York outer ring road, the new software will be able to predict the impact on the wider road network based on the current traffic conditions. This will give the council the ability to react ‘live’ by changing traffic light timings across the city (where needed) and informing people sooner of the impact and possible delays.

This is the first real-time transport model of this scale that has been used for live traffic management in the UK. Other cities outside of the UK to use similar modelling include Vienna, Abu Dhabi, Moscow and Sydney.

The introduction of the new modelling system follows a successful bid by City of York Council, as part of the ‘Smarter Travel Evolution Program – STEP’, which is funded by the Government.

There has already been some criticisms of the system with problems identified on the Hull Road, Other motorists have criticised what seems to be inadequate green phase signal times on The Mount near the Holgate Road junction, despite relatively low traffic levels.

So what do these projects even mean?

Apparently the York Council is going ahead with a plan to bid for nearly £2 million of public funding, despite being told that the area does not qualify for the “Community Renewal Fund”.

York wasn’t on the list of 100 towns and City’s given priority for use of the fund.

Nevertheless, the Council has gone ahead and drawn up a list of schemes that might have benefited. “Partners” were asked to put forward their proposals.

Nine projects were subsequently selected.

There has been no public consultation on the proposals. This has now been exacerbated by a failure (in the Council report to a meeting next week) to provide any explanation of what the projects are intended to achieve.

The single line descriptions are a totally opaque.

We’re pretty sure though, that the “Bosch startup harbour programme” has little to do with ships and water!

Castle car park future

A Council meeting next week (14th June) will receive an update on plans to replace the Castle car park with an events space.

Contrary to expectations, most of the area would continue to be hard-surfaced. There is provision for a Pagoda style shelter. The useable space is rather less than can be found on the other side of the road in Tower Gardens.

More extensive changes are planned for the Eye of York – which would effectively become become “the rectangle of York” with space being made available for outdoor museum exhibitions.

The report recommends that “the new public realm at the Castle and Eye of York forms part of the
council’s funding bid to central government’s Levelling Up Fund, applications for which close on 18 June 2021″.

The new apartments being built at Castle Mills can’t be occupied before the Castle car park is closed according to a (frankly perverse) planning condition. The Castle car park can’t close until replacement parking has been provided. The Planning Committee has so far refused to approve the provision of a replacement car park.

We expect central government to start reducing its capital spending and borrowing shortly. We doubt whether “nice to have” schemes will get priority over essential infrastructure investment..

No updated business plan is being presented to the meeting next week.

NB. The Council has made no progress on the £5.9 million scheme to redevelop the site currently occupied by “Spark”. They are under pressure to sell the site and use the receipt to avoid unnecessary borrowing which otherwise would be necessary to fund the Castle Mills/car park part of the project.

The Council says that refined drawings may be presented to the meeting next week

Stonewalling

A detailed view of a rainbow corner flagIt looks like a controversy may be brewing over the York Council’s membership of a LGBT  organisation called “Stonewall”.  The Council has been a subscriber for about 10 years. In return for a £2500 annual membership fee, it is described by Stonewall as a “diversity champion” on its literature.

Having flown largely under most peoples radar for some years, the organisation has become more controversial recently. It is telling people how to style themselves and those that they interact with. A current Freedom of Information request is seeking  more information from the Council.

The issue has been highlighted by the decision of various government departments and organisations  like Channel 4 to withdraw support from Stonewall. This is turn appears to have been prompted by some – borderline eccentric – missives from the organisation which included a plea to re-label “mothers” as “a parent who has given birth”.

The genesis of the controversy though appears to have been differing views on Trans-gender policies.

We think that people should be able to label themselves as they chose. If “product of incubation tube 5” suits, then so be it.

But organisations which accept taxpayer funding must also be sensitive to the views of others. There is sometimes a fine line between educational and political activities. Stonewall is a registered charity.

It is not just national organisations that need to be sensitive to the views of their members and supporters. For a couple of years now York Civic Trust (also a charity) has been edging towards a more extreme approach to transport policies. Its latest attempt to influence the emerging Local Transport Pan can be found be clicking here. 

“For the city centre, we propose that removal of what the Council refers to as non-essential
car use should be achieved by restricting through movement*, increasing parking charges
and selective reduction of parking space. Expansion of the Clean Air Zone to include cars
would help achieve our low emission targets. It may also be appropriate to consider a
permit system for access, enforced as Coppergate is currently“.

“reduce the mode share for travel by car to 49% in 2027 and 40% in 2037“.

*NB. the only significant volume of City centre  “through movement” vehicle journeys currently takes place via Lendal Bridge

The statements are made without any attempt to model the impacts that such policies would have on the rest of the City, much less the consequences for the economy.

The members of the Civic Trust, and citizens more generally, will expect a measured and evidenced approach from the Council as it reviews its transport plans.

North Yorkshire Police appeal following rape on Hob Moor

May be an image of outdoors and text that says "APPEAL ON LICE"

We’re appealing for information as part of a rape investigation in York.It happened on Hob Moor at around 4am to 4.30am on Sunday (30 May).

A number of lines of enquiry have been carried out which lead us to believe this was an isolated incident.

A young woman was walking across Hob Moor in a south-eastern direct from the west when she was approached by a man and assaulted.

The man is described as a slim build and wearing black trousers, a black hooded jacket and black gloves.

A full investigation is currently under way, and there has been an increased police presence in the area.

Anyone with information about the incident, or who saw anyone acting suspiciously, is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and select option 1, quoting reference 12210128446.

Freedom of the City for NHS York

Thanks to those who have supported the plan to offer the Freedom of the City to NHS York

To confirm, you can add your support at the following web site

https://www.change.org/FreedomofCityforNHSYork 

&/or you can forward an email of support to the Lord Mayor at civic@york.gov.uk

Background

In recognition of the work undertaken by professionals, key workers, and volunteers during the Coronavirus pandemic in York, the City Council is asked to offer the Freedom of the City to NHS York.

This is a simple way for the City of York to say “thank you” to the many people who have “gone the extra mile” during the very challenging circumstances of the last year. It is suggested that recognition of key NHS staff is one way of highlighting the work of all key sector workers in the City.

The granting of the Freedom of the City is an ancient privilege most often exercised when recognising military units. The last award was made in 2015 to the Queens Gurka Signals.

We hope that you will feel able to support the petition which asks for the Freedom of the City to be offered to NHS York on behalf of all those key workers and volunteers who have contributed towards getting us through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Call for Chapelfields clean up

Seems that weed growth is getting out of hand again this summer in the Chapelfields estate. We’ve asked for better street cleaning in the estate.

Too many of the drainage channels near the traffic buildouts are blocked with detritus and weeds
Some of the cul de sacs and garage areas on the estate need to be hand-swept
Several problem areas don’t appear to have had their first application of weed killer yet.

Meanwhile mystery still surrounds the future of the Sanderson House community centre on Bramham Road. The running of the centre was taken over by the Council last year but there is little evidence that activities with a wide appeal will restart there anytime soon.

If any estate would benefit from an active residents association then it is surely Chapelfields. We hope the authorities will provide the necessary support to make this a reality again.

Last month to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme

Figures published on 28th May show that 8,490 EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who have made York their home, have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme.

June is the last month in which citizens and their family members, who have been resident in the UK before 31 December 2020, can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.

They can apply at Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status): Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

To the end of March 2021, 8,190 of the total 8,490 applications have been concluded in York.

Even if you’ve lived in the UK for many years and have a permanent residence document or EEA Biometric Residence Card (BRC), you still need to apply to the EUSS by 30 June 2021 to continue to live, work, study and access healthcare and other services.

For support, residents can contact:

  • Citizens Advice York for general advice about the scheme. For an appointment call 07496 749 807 (Mon-Fri 9am-12pm)
  • York Learning for help to complete your online application. For an appointment call 03333 445 675 or text ‘VISA’ to 07537 416 944
  • For general information and signposting to help, please email bianca.vartic@york.gov.uk .

For more information and guidance please go to www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/join-EU-EEA-Swiss-family-member and www.york.gov.uk/EUSettlementScheme.

Those who have successfully applied to the EUSS can access their pre-settled or settled status online at: www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status.

Coronavirus York updates; 29th May 2021

Test results

Eleven new positive test results announced today. Brings cumulative total up to 12,400

The 12 positive test results recorded lst Thursday was the highest single day total seen since 23rd March 2021.

The number of cases in the City has increased by one to 32.

The rate /100k population is now 15.19. It is set to rise to over 20 by Tuesday. The rate in York continues to be below the regional and national averages

Neighbourhoods

There are now six neighbourhoods with 3 or more cases in each.

Vaccinations

  • 66.9% of adults in York have now received their first vaccination
  • 43.5% have also had their second jab

Tests

  • 4562 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 23rd May 2021. 0.5% were found to be positive
  • 1674 “lateral flow” tests were also conducted in the City on 28th May.