Lendal Bridge fine refund report published

Labour say onus will be on motorists to claim

Traffic on Lendal bridge after closure

Traffic on Lendal bridge after closure

The report on if and how the York Council will refund the fines that it raised unlawfully against motorist using Lendal Bridge has been published. Click here to read it.

The Council has also issued a media release saying

Following approval at Cabinet, an announcement as to the opening of the application process will be made shortly through the council website and the council’s normal communication channels.

In order to protect the council against the risk from fraudulent claims a simple application process is currently in development and it is anticipated that this will be launched in the coming weeks.

Whilst the council appreciates that those affected by this process will wish to make their application at the earliest possible date, payments will only be made when requests are made through the official application process and contacting the council prior to the opening of the process will not be necessary or assist in any claims.

Given that many of those fined did not live in York (or even the UK) it would be scandalous if the Council did not agree to write to each telling them of their right to reclaim the fine.

Council to decide Lendal Bridge refund policy on 5th August

The York Councils Cabinet will decide whether – and on what basis – to refund fines imposed during the Lendal bridge trial when it meets on 5th August.

This will be a month after one Labour Councillor claimed on TV that the Council had already decided to make the refunds – and to withdraw its appeal against the traffic adjudicators judgement.

How quickly refunds will be made following the meeting is still anyone’s guess.

Lendal Bridge legal battle costs taxpayers £700 a week

 

Labour run York Council’s legal battle over traffic restrictions on Lendal Bridge and Coppergate has cost taxpayers £700 a week, according to figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats.

Lendal Bridge sign

 

At the end of March a Government Traffic Adjudicator ruled that the council had “no power” to issue fines on Lendal Bridge or Coppergate. Since then, York Council has been contesting the Adjudicator’s ruling on both the schemes.

However, last week the council said it was dropping the Lendal Bridge appeal and only continuing with the Coppergate challenge.

 

The Lib Dems can now reveal that so far the council has spent £11,330 on the legal battle, with the figure set to continue to rise as the Coppergate row rolls on.

The revelation comes at a time when Labour are refusing to say when their proposal to repay the fines unlawfully imposed on drivers using Lendal Bridge will be refunded.

Despite claims made on TV and in Council media releases that the Council had decided to repay the fines, it emerged at the last Council meeting that no such decision had been made.

A meeting to discuss the proposal – and a move to withdraw the Councils appeal against the traffic adjudicators decision – was promised “shortly” but has still not yet been scheduled.

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Abbey Street Res Parking consultation agreed

Residents living in Abbey Street are to be consulted on the introduction of a Respark scheme.

Amongst the issues reported by residents were :

  •  Amount of non resident commuter parking taking place
  • Parking for matches at Bootham Crescent
  • Refuse wagons obstructed by badly parked non-resident vehicles
  • Concerns over emergency access
  • Damaged vehicles on street

NB Given the recent controversy n the Press it is interesting that none of the present Clifton Ward Councillors bothered to respond to consultation on the plan.

Indeed the only response was from the  LibDem spokesperson!

Changes to parking on Malton Avenue and Irwin Avenue planned

The Council is to introduce a Residents’ Priority parking zone for Malton Avenue and Irwin Avenue to operate Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

An area of limited parking on Malton Avenue is being provided to allow parking by non-permit holders for a maximum of 2 hours during the same time period.

The decision follows a ballot of residents in which 73% supported the proposed restrictions.

Nunthorpe Crescent area to get Respark scheme

The Council are to implement a ResPark zone covering Nunthorpe Crescent, Nunthorpe Gardens and Nunthorpe View.Behind closed doors logo

When consulted the views of residents on the desirability of the scheme were evenly balanced with many saying that any restrictions should apply only to Mon – Fri (9:00am – 5:00pm)

The Council appears to have made a mistake in failing to record the views of Ward members and other Councillors when publishing annex D to its decision notice

 

 

 

20 mph speed limits in East York nodded through

Delegated decision taken by temporary Director behind closed doors.Behind closed doors logo

Residents have long given up hope that common sense would prevail and that this programme would be shelved at least until the impact on accident levels in west York was more fully understood.

In other City’s the introduction of 20 mph limits has coincided with an increase in the number of serious accidents on  affected roads.

Only a handful of residents responded to the formal advertisement of the traffic orders.

The new Council, when elected next May, will have to decide whether to pull down the 20 mph signs.

Any increase in accident levels is likely to make this a high priority.

 

Inspired by the Tour de France? Join a free guided ride in York!

If the Tour has inspired you to dust off your bike and go for a ride British Cycling is running a series of free bike rides to get you pedalling this summer.

Sky ride

This summer is all about cycling, as the Tour de France came to York, and yellow fever has well and truly griped Yorkshire.

There are rides for everyone with three different levels on offer – you certainly don’t need to be a pro rider to take part! There’s something for everyone – whether you’re building your confidence or looking to stretch your legs on a cycling challenge.
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Labour save York Cabinet flops

……as Labour vote down Acomb regeneration proposal

Labour managed to get enough of their members into the Council chamber tonight to avoid the ignominy of having two Council members sacked from their Cabinet positions.

Cllrs Alexander and Merrett had been widely blamed for the failure of the Lendal Bridge trial with the latter having promised to resign if the Councils action had been proven to be unlawful.

Opposition members pointed out that the withdrawal of the Councils appeal against the traffic adjudicators judgement was an admission of guilt.

Labour were however forced to admit that no decision on refunding fines had actually been taken and their spokesman would only say that a meeting to discuss the proposals would take place “shortly”.

Both the responsible Council member (Levene) in a TV interview, and an official Council Press release issued on Tuesday, had claimed that the “Council had decided to refund the Lendal Bridge fines”.

Both those claims have now been proved to be untrue.

Cllr Levene also said that he didn’t know how much it would cost to refund the Lendal Bridge fines.

Labour went on to vote down proposals to introduce an ambitious regeneration programme for the Acomb Front Street area.