After being closed for a time yesterday, St Helens Road has reopened. White lining work there has been completed and is also well advanced on Tadcaster Road.
Both carriageways have been resurfaced.
The contract is expected to be completed tomorrow on schedule although some bad weather is forecast (heavy rain).
A York Council manager has responded promptly to reports of Epicormic (lower trunk) growth on some trees in the Cornlands Road/Tudor Road area.
Such growth can cause sight line problems for drivers.
The manager says the branches will be trimmed.
We’ve reported a similar issue with a tree at the junction of Cornlands Road and Askham Lane.
We also received a prompt response from Cllr Demise Craghill who has executive responsibility for housing in the City.
She was sympathetic to our complaints about delays in bringing empty Council houses back into use and promised to pursue two long standing issues in the Foxwood Lane area.
Lack of action to level potholes on the Morrell Court access road has now been registered as a formal complaint with the Council. The defects were first reported 6 months ago.
Elsewhere black bags have been left next to the recycling bins at the Acomb Wood Drive shopping area.
We have asked for them to be removed.
The Council has finally published the report which it says supports the decision to keep the southbound lane of the Bishopthorpe Road closed for at least another 2 months. The report became public yesterday (6th June) , some six days after it was tabled for a “behind closed doors” decision meeting.
It reveals that there is a lot of opposition to the Councils policy including a 1600 signature “on line” petition.
Both it and email representations were ignored by the Council.
No consideration was given to changing the hours or scale of the closure and no consideration was given to implementing a shorter diversion route.
There is no evidence that stakeholders – including traders and those living on the diversion route – were consulted about options.
The report talks about additional stores opening next week “resulting in increasing queue lengths”. It omits to point out that these are located on the west side of the road where properties have a forecourt.
Resurfacing works on Nunnery Lane will take place from Monday 15 June for seven nights, working between 7.30pm and 5am Monday to Friday only. This will mean an additional diversion for drivers, including buses, of around 1.5 miles via City centre streets.
With almost breath taking arrogance, the York Council has issued a statement saying that the closure of the southbound lane at Bishopthorpe Road shops will continue for another 2 months.
There has been no debate about other options and a large petition – which asked for the road to be reopened – has been ignored.
No report on the success or otherwise of what the Council describes as a “trial” has been published.
One of the earliest criticisms of the scheme was that the Council had failed to identify how the success or otherwise of the project would actually be judged. It simply referred, rather loftily, to social distancing and government policy.
In reality, the array of bollards has made little difference to social distancing while the contraflow bike lane has introduced another, unwelcome, hazard for cyclists. There has been no consideration of opening up parallel routes (Darborough Street/Cherry Street & St Benedict’s Road) which would at least have provided a much shorter diversion
Nor has the opportunity been taken, during a relatively quiet period, to test an off peak pedestrianisation of the shops area between 10:30am and 4:00pm. Such a scheme would also have aligned with the governments policies while also providing much more room for social distancing. The impacts both economic and on transportation would have provided some real food for thought.
Too late now though, as imminent road works in the Nunnery Lane area are set to cause even bigger traffic congestion problems with the bus services one likely early victim. Works on the nearby South Bank flood alleviation scheme (subject to a planning committee decision next week) will further add to transport woes in the area.
Not content with increasing pollution levels on Scarcroft Road the new diversion via the City centre will add over a mile to some journeys.
The Council says that residents can Email them with their views. The address is Bishrd@york.gov.uk
We doubt that many will bother. Rather the pressure for the Council to adopt an open and inclusive approach to decision making will mount. The Council leadership needs to move out of its bunker mentality and start to re-engage with the local community.
We saw in 2015 what happened when a particularly stubborn administration tried to force the Lendal Bridge closure on an unwilling population.
The same will happen again unless polices and attitudes change and change quickly.
Perhaps the actions that have attracted the most criticism during lockdown nationally have been those where politicians and senior officials have been seen to break their own rules. Several have been forced to resign although, at least, one has famously not.
Not surprisingly the words and actions of their local counterparts are also now under increasing scrutiny. Tomorrow some schools will reopen while those that have carried on educating the children of Key Workers can expect an influx of additional pupils. Opinions are mixed about the timing of this move and, indeed, the return of more people to their workplaces.
MPs have returned to Westminster albeit in a “social distancing” respecting way.
So why have the City’s democratic institutions not been revived? Apart from a couple of anaemic virtual Q & A sessions, local leaders seem to have preferred to issue the occasional policy edict.
They have seemed reluctant to submit to scrutiny.
The Councils scrutiny and audit functions – led by opposition Councillors – have been ineffective for many years, with participants trying to score political points while exploring their own self interest obsessions.
Never has there been a greater need for challenge than now when residents have so many real concerns about what has happened and what might happen if a second wave of COVID infections hits the City. Other areas are already making preparations
It seems extraordinary that City bosses can order teachers and children back to the classroom while they themselves hide behind the safety of virtual reality meetings. While the need for full scale Council meetings may be small at the present time, there is an urgent requirement for all decisions to be preceded with good quality, informed reports. Residents should be able to hear the arguments for and against controversial decisions like the Bishopthorpe Road contraflow cycle lane.
Some Council services have actually improved during lockdown.
Street cleaning standards are high and pothole reports are being dealt with more quickly. This, though, has tended to highlight the awful state of many carriageways and paths – in itself the most likely reason (together with path obstructions) why many, who have taken up walking and cycling in their leisure times, may now return to their cars.
There has also been an increase in the number of long term empty Council houses with some homes having become dumping grounds. The repair and re-letting service needs to get into gear. They can follow the lead of those estate agents who have successfully adapted to incorporate social distancing into their processes.
Whether some Councillors actually “get this” is unclear. They recently publish a letter saying that they estimated “that there would be over 700 (coronavirus) deaths in the City by October”.
So far there have been 126 deaths at York hospital, with a similar total in the local community.
If another 500 deaths are expected, why on earth are we relaxing the lockdown?
The Council is using social media to promote cycling as a way to get to work when the lock-down ends. Many workplaces, offices and shops are expected to reopen during the next fortnight, putting added pressure on a compromised public transport system.
Cycling – particularly at this time of year – may be an option for some people.
But there is little evidence that the Council is addressing everyday barriers to cycling
These days foot-pads aren’t the biggest threat.
The contraflow cycle lane installed on Bishopthorpe Road is an unnecessary hazard. Inexperienced cyclists trying to use it may indeed be intimidated, making them more likely to use other transport modes. (There is an alternative, quiet, route via Vine Street)
Meanwhile on the Tadcaster Road cycle path “social distancing” signs have appeared near the railway bridge. Fair enough, if a problem has been identified. Clearly more families are now walking or cycling to the Askham Bog nature reserve although social distancing on that site is also problematic.
Yet scarcely 300 metres further along the cycle path, its width is now reduced to less than 1 metre. Overhanging branches and weed growth are to blame (the weeds are actually now breaking up the bitmac surface) ..
A relatively easy issue to deal with but, despite reports to the Council, no work has been undertaken.
Better news further down Tadcaster Road with highway resurfacing works now ahead of schedule. The smoother carriageway surface is much safer for users of 2 wheeled transport.
There was some excitement last week when the government announced extra funding to tackle “pothole” repairs. The top line figure bandied around was an increase of £5.6 million.
That would have effectively doubled the York Councils highway repairs budget.
It turns out that this included already committed grants which have already been allocated to cover this years repairs programme.
The actual new money increase is £1.8 million.
Even this is not additional money. As the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation has now made clear, it is simply expenditure being re categorised.
It is not the first time that a government has announced the same spending decision on multiple occasions.
Still a substantial sum but, to put it into context, last year the Council spent £1/2 million just repairing one street (Stonegate).
The sooner the Council comes up with proposals – including the use of funds delegated to wards – for the resurfacing programme for this year the better.
Roads will only get busier as the virus threat recedes and people get back to their more normal lifestyles. Road closures and subsequent delays later in the year could impede the City’s economic recovery.
There must be a sense of urgency
The work to replace the gas main near the junction of Blossom Street and Holgate Road were completed on schedule. Traffic has been flowing easily this weekend.
However further road works on Nunnery Lane (and Tadcaster Road) are starting in June prompting calls for the trial lane closure on Bishopthorpe Road to be terminated.
The closure, ostensibly to free space for “social distancing, has prompted opposition from residents who point to higher pollution levels on alternative routes, cyclists who feel their “contraflow” route is unsafe and motorists who have been facing a 1 mile detour plus higher journey times.
Bollards placed along the edge of the footpath have actually made social distancing for pedestrians more difficult in places.
Lack of consultation with residents has been highlighted as a major concern, while the decision to coincide the closure with road works taking place on the detour route caused particular anger.
The scheme has led to a petition being gathered which calls for the scheme to be abandoned. It has already gained 900 signatures.
It can be found by clicking here http://chng.it/7KrqTHQGBp
Some commentators have said that the impulsive decision may put the case for creating a part time foot street at the Bishopthorpe Road shops back by a decade or longer.
Public antipathy had a similar effect following the failed Lendal Bridge closure 4 years ago.
The Council persisted with that project long after it became clear that it was ill judged and, indeed, ultimately proved to be unlawful.
Resurfacing works will take place from Wednesday 20 May between 9.00am and 5.00pm, for 4 weeks, working Monday to Friday only.
In order to carry out the work safely, phased lane closures will be in place from the junction of Middlethorpe Drive to the junction of Knavesmire Road whilst works are taking place
The resurfacing works will take place from Wednesday 10 June for up to 4 nights, working between 7.30pm and 5.00am, Monday to Friday only. A full road closure from, but not including, the junction of Lawrence Street up to, but not including, the junction of Morrison’s will be necessary whilst works are taking place.
In addition to the above, we’ll be carrying out kerbing and drainage works on Monday 1 June for a period of 7 days working Monday to Friday, from 9.15am to 4.00pm. These works will be carried out under local traffic management, will not affect access/egress and the road will be open as normal.
In order to carry out these works safely, a number of measures will be taken.
Staff will use ‘stop and go’ traffic control boards whilst works are taking place to manage lane closures, together with the use of a lead vehicle convoy system to guide traffic past the works at a safe and constant speed. This is to ensure that adequate health and safety is maintained for both local residents, the travelling public and the contractor
Site staff will be on hand to advise and assist residents about any access restrictions once the works are ongoing
All on-street parking in the working area and within close proximity to the works will be suspended at these times, although any specific access requirements may be arranged by speaking to the site traffic management operatives, who will co-ordinate with residents’ and businesses’ requirements around the ongoing construction operations. This will not affect access for residents or businesses and the road will be open as normal
Bus services will be running as normal, and although there may be slight delays as a consequence of the works, this will be kept to a minimum
Emergency services will be permitted through the works at all times. Please note that cyclists are advised to dismount and use the adjacent grass verges.
Refurbishment and maintenance works are scheduled to take place on Blue Bridge, over the River Foss, from Monday 18 May for up to eight weeks.
This will include general painting and repairs to the bridge parapet railings, the removal of old paintwork and steelwork repairs. In order for these works to be done safely, the bridge needs to be removed from the site.
A temporary scaffold walkway and bridge will be installed to allow pedestrian and cyclist access whilst the works on Blue Bridge are being undertaken.
There will be two brief closures (of up to 15 minutes each) during this time, to allow the bridge sections to be lifted out and returned into position. This will take place towards the start of the project and towards the end.
The width and overall length of the temporary bridge will be similar to the existing Blue Bridge. We’re asking residents to allow plenty of space between themselves and others in order to reduce the possibility of groups meeting along the restricted width of the temporary walkway.
The works themselves will take place between the Blue Bridge Lane and New Walk (i.e. along the River Ouse riverbank side).
It is possible to avoid this area by traveling via Fishergate for both pedestrians and cyclists.
The width dimensions of the temporary bridge will be similar to those of the existing bridge, but with a ramp to access the bridge from one side. Cyclists will be able to use the temporary bridge which will be flat, unlike the existing bridge which rises to a peak.
The River Foss navigation will not be available for access to river craft for the duration of the works.
