Wetherby Road roundabout improvements – public consultation results published

The Council has revealed that 170 responses were received to its consultation on the design of the new Wetherby Road/A1237 roundabout.

In a report to a meeting taking place next week, officials claim that “as far as possible” the final design takes into account public views.

Officials highlight the following specific changes

  1. Proposed widening of the footway on the southern side of the
    B1224 to provide shared pedestrian/cycle route standard to
    enable users to cross at surface level to the B1224 heading
    west (see para 13 above)
  2. Proposed maintenance lay-by incorporated into the roundabout
    island
  3. Increase in provision of landscaping around the junction and
    on the roundabout island

The main issues raised by residents were:

  • The roundabout should include designated pedestrian / cyclist
    facilities
  • Spending money on this roundabout, and all the other roundabouts, is deemed “a waste of money”
  • Additional signing / road markings are required to ensure that
    vehicles merge in turn as part of the upgraded roundabout
    proposals
  •  The A1237 should be dualled
  •  The scheme is a good idea

A full list of the views expressed can be viewed by clicking here

The improvement is expected to cost £3.6 million

If approved, work on the roundabout is expected to start in June.

Separately from the roundabout scheme, work is progressing on providing an off road cycle/pedestrian link from Rufforth to Acomb

York praised for pothole filling by independent cycling group

The York Council is the best in Yorkshire when it comes to filling in potholes. It came 19th in a survey of cyclists who rated the performance of 214 local authorities nationwide.

Not only was York in the top 20, but the Council had responded to the largest number of reports (1362) in the area.

It has filled in 89% of the reported potholes

“The Fill that Hole” website – run by Cycling UK – says that “the table ranks highway authorities according to hazards reported through FillThatHole.org.uk, and shows which authorities are best at fixing their road defects and reporting back to us.

We encourage highway authorities and hazard reporters to let us know when a road defect has been fixed. They can do this by replying to the emails we send them, using the contact form, or registering for an account and requesting to be associated with their authority”.

Hazards can be reported “on line” by clicking this link

Best rated with 100% filled in was Islington in London. Worst was Blaenau Gwent which apparently hasn’t managed to fill in any of the 20 potholes reported in their area.

North Yorkshire was ranked at 82 having added 24% of reports. Leeds at 178 had managed to fill in only 12% of potholes.

When the current icy conditions are over, it is likely that several more potholes will open up.

Hopefully residents, local Councillors and MPs will report any problems promptly.

A map of current hazards can be viewed by clicking here

Map of current pothole hazards in York

 

Bus servics 3. 4 and 9 return to Railway Station route

According to the First website there are changes to the diversion put in place to avoid the Lendal Gyratory roadworks

 From Sat 3rd March

Lendal Gyratory

From Saturday 3rd March, there will be revisions to the diversions for the roadworks on Lendal Gyratory.

This is because the roadworks are moving to the Station Avenue/Leeman Road junction and what was planned to be the most disruptive phase of the roadworks has now finished and did not cause as many issues as anticipated.  However, the gyratory will not be able to cope with all services returning to normal.

Services 3, 4 and 9

  • Will revert to normal running

NB. Apparently 3s and 4s are back to their normal route to serve the Station today (Thursday)

Services 59 and 66

  • Remain on current diversions

These diversions will remain in operation until further notice but may change again as we assess the extent of the disruption.

So which roads are open in York and where can I find a salt bin?

The York Council provides an “on line” map which shows public service locations. These include the primary and secondary road gritting (salting) routes which are mainly the major bus routes. click here to view (then click “street car”e on the map index and then pick the service you want to see)

The Council also provides an update service on Twitter @yorkgritter

In addition the map shows the location of self help salt bins and the areas covered by VOLUNTEER snow wardens. The latter do their best to keep local paths open but not all neighbourhoods are covered..

Salt bins do not fill themselves so, if you see an empty one, then please report it to the Council  on York 551550 or “on line https://www.york.gov.uk/reportproblems

 

Pupils asked: ‘Should you sack your chauffeur?’

Pupils in York are being asked ‘should you sack your chauffeur?’ as part of a drive to improve pedestrian safety at school gates.

Dringhouses, Hempland and Westfield primary schools are piloting the scheme and are holding short assemblies to launch it this week (w/c 26 February).

The children will be shown examples of poor driving habits, illustrated in a lighthearted way, but with the intention that they will help to encourage their parents to drive and park more considerately.

Currently, the council receives frequent and numerous complaints about unsafe driving and parking outside schools. This partnership approach with schools aims to involve young passengers to encourage their drivers to behave in a more responsible way around the school, making it safer and more pleasant for everyone.

In addition, parking awareness road sign characters will be loaned to the schools and located to best influence driver behaviour. The campaign will be supported by monitoring and enforcement against illegal and inconsiderate parking.

If the pilot proves successful, it will be rolled out to other primary schools areas where inconsiderate driving and parking have been identified as a particular concern.

Gill Williams, headteacher of Dringhouses Primary School, said: “Inconsiderate and dangerous parking and driving during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times is a constant problem for our school.   There are road markings outside school to deter cars from parking close to the school gates, however a small minority of parents still choose to park on these lines or use the entrance to the school gates to drop off or do a U-turn.  It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured.

“We very much welcome this new safety initiative and hope that, by engaging the children in a fun and creative way, the importance of road safety awareness will be raised.”

Site clearance at Wetherby Road roundabout starts

Marks milestone in £38m scheme to reduce journey times on outer ring road

The start of a £38m scheme to reduce journey times on York’s Outer Ring Road move a step closer next week as site clearance works start at the Wetherby Road roundabout.

Public consultation on the design  of the new roundabout only finished on 2nd February. The results of the consultation have yet to be reported to any Council committee.

Nevertheless the Council have issued a statement saying, “It is the first of seven roundabouts on the Outer Ring Road set for major improvements, including wider entrances and exits and improved pedestrian and cycling facilities.

The council is undertaking site clearance work, ahead of the main construction planned to start in June, to avoid impacting on nesting birds.

This will include removal of existing hedges and saplings along the highway boundary to facilitate the widening of the roundabout and approach roads.

Replacement hedging and saplings will be planted along the line of the new highway boundary as part of the main roundabout construction scheme”.

Last few days to have your say on city centre bike racks

Residents have just a few more days to give their views on potential sites for new cycle racks in the city centre.

City of York Council have worked ‘in tandem’ with York BID to identify 18 potential new sites for cycle racks.

Residents and other regular users of the city centre have until Wednesday 28 February to give their views at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CYCNewCycleParking
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Modern bus on number 4 route today

Most modern looking bus in York since underrated ftr scraped.

A modern double deck bus is being used in the City at the moment. It replaces some hybrid models which have been sent to Ireland for modification.

It was operating on the number 4 route earlier today.

The new bus is understood to be a Wright Streetdeck. It has stop/start technology to reduce carbon emissions.

It achieves Euro 6 emissions standards.

All aboard the new Routemaster - it's big, red and made in Britain

Controversial New Routemaster bus in London. Hybrid technology but now overtaken by “all electric” vehicles. Problems with high temperatures on the top deck and now doors stay closed on “jump on fall off” rear platform

The latest Streetdeck model uses some of the technology which was deployed on the London Transport “New Routemaster” a couple of years ago.

Wrights says that  “The ride characteristics of the new StreetDeck are excellent thanks to advanced axle and suspension systems.”

“An improved airflow throughout both salons has been achieved, along with reduced solar gain in the upper saloon. Whilst improvements in areas such as cab door lock design, wireless bell pushes and revised hand pole fixings illustrate the attention to detail that has characterised the whole product development programme”.

 

York Council asks for comments on changes to Fossgate traffic flows

 City of York Council is asking for opinions on recent efforts to reduce traffic on one of the city centre’s busiest and best loved streets.

Last September, the council made Fossgate a pedestrian priority zone, except for access and cycles from 8am – 6pm and reversed the flow of traffic on an experimental basis.

Much of the traffic using Fossgate before the changes was breaking traffic regulations by using the street at times when general traffic was prohibited. The aim of the traffic flow reversal was to reduce the number of vehicles in this busy pedestrian area.

With the trial reaching six months on 17 March, the council’s executive member for transport and planning can decide whether to make the arrangements permanent after taking into account any objections.

If you have an opinion on the changes which you would like the executive member to consider when making the decision on whether the experiment should be made permanent, contact highway.regulation@york.gov.uk before 4:00pm on March 17 with your name, contact details and details of your objection or reasons for support.

If the decision is taken to make the arrangement permanent, the council will work with the local community to develop the designs for the layout and signage in the area for delivery later in the financial year.
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Transport for the North invites York’s views on Strategic Transport Plan

Transport for the North has commenced a thirteen-week consultation on its Strategic Transport Plan for the North, inviting people’s views at an event being held in York next week.

Senior Transport for the North representatives will be visiting York as part of a dedicated session to outline the plan’s recommendations, advise on what this could mean for York and the surrounding area and invite questions and feedback that people may have.

The drop-in consultation is open to everyone and is an opportunity for members of the public to formally submit their feedback on the plan which will be analysed and fed into the final Strategic Transport Plan before its release later in the year.

Event schedule:

4pm – 5pm: Presentation from Transport for the North representative and Q+A

5pm – 6pm: Drop-in Q+A

6pm – 7pm: Presentation from Transport for the North representative and Q+A

The event will be held at National Railway Museum from 4pm – 7pm on Monday 12 February.

The thirty-year plan, which was released in draft on Tuesday 16 January, is the first of its kind and outlines how transport connections across the North of England need to be transformed by 2050 to drive growth and close the economic gap between the North and the rest of England.

Transport for the North’s public consultation runs until 17 April 2018 with similar engagement events taking place across the North. A final version of the plan will be published later in the year and submitted to the Government for ministerial consideration.

Find out more by visiting www.transportforthenorth.com.

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