Air quality remains good, and pollution levels very low, on Gillygate and at other monitoring sites in the City.
Traffic levels are, however, higher than were recorded during lockdown 1 last spring. They are likely to increase further from Monday when there will be a general return to school.
It will be April before shops and offices reopen.
Council plans to reduce road capacity at the Gillygate/St Leonard’s Place/ Bootham junction seem ill timed and insufficiently thought through.
The plans could increase congestion by 30%. That would delay bus services including the vital park and ride links.
In the meantime, residents can monitor hour by hour pollution levels by clicking this link
Meanwhile we understand that the Council will delay its assessment of the effects of road closures in The Groves area.
A review was due in the spring.
They are right to delay as traffic volumes and movements have been untypical during the Lockdown period.
However, it does mean that a reassessment of some of the more questionable aspects of the scheme – such as contraflow cycle routes – will remain in place as traffic volumes and safety hazards increase.
There have been no queues involving deer or cattle in The Groves during recent months
Ageing and outdated traffic signals at the Crichton Avenue and Wigginton Road junction are set to be replaced from next week, by City of York Council.
Ageing and outdated traffic signals at the Crichton Avenue and Wigginton Road junction are set to be replaced from next week, by City of York Council.
Works are estimated to take around six weeks to complete and will start on Monday 8 February. Works were initially due to start in January, but were postponed due to the impact of lockdown.
New, more reliable, traffic signals will be installed on the junction of Crichton Avenue and Wigginton Road. Layout changes are being made to make the junction work more efficiently, this will include introducing new pedestrian crossings, extended double yellow lines on the ‘access road’, kerb line changes and removing the small pedestrian island on Crichton Avenue.
The new traffic signals will be cheaper to run and more reliable. It will also enable the new systems to link direct to the council’s Traffic and Control Centre, so that the Network Monitoring Officers can manage the flow of traffic better in busy periods by adjusting traffic lights to best suit traffic conditions.
To help minimise disruption work will be carried out from 9am to 4.30pm during the week and also will take place on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 4pm. Temporary signals replicating, as closely as possible, the current operation of the junction will be in place throughout the works.
During the works it is anticipated that there will be significant delays when travelling through the junction. Those using the junction are urged to plan ahead, allow more time for journeys on these routes and to consider alternatives and to use public transport where possible. Bus services will be operating as normal for the majority of the works but passengers are advised to visit the iTravel website for more information.
Some temporary footway closures will be in place to allow works to be undertaken, however, full access will be retained to all businesses and properties during construction and pedestrian and cyclist routes through the works will be clearly signed. Access to and from the Foss Islands foot/cycleway will be maintained at all times throughout the works.
To find out more about the scheme visit thiswebsite.
City of York Council will be carrying out essential roadworks on key roads in York including Hamilton Drive East, Huntington Road and Haxby Road throughout February and March.
City of York Council will be carrying out essential roadworks on key roads in York including Hamilton Drive East, Huntington Road and Haxby Road throughout February and March.
The following works are being undertaken:
Hamilton Drive East:
Works will take place overnight on Monday 8 February (weather permitting) between 7.30pm to midnight.
In order to carry out the work safely, the road will need to be closed for the duration of the works from, but not including, the junction of Holgate Road up to, but not including, the junction of Barbara Grove. The road will be fully open outside of works times.
Huntington Road:
Works will start from Monday 8 March for a period of two weeks (weather permitting) between 7.30pm to 5am.
The works have been split in to two phases to minimise disruption:
Phase 1 – Road closed from, but not including, the junction of Ramsey Close up to, but not including, the junction of Fossway / Haley’s Terrace. This work is scheduled Monday 8 March until Friday 12 March.
During phase 1 Bus Service 14 will divert via Heworth Green, Dodsworth Avenue and Fossway in both directions.
Phase 2 – Complete closure of the junction of Huntington Rd / Haley’s Terrace and Fossway. Somerset Road will also be closed. This work is scheduled Monday 15 March until Friday 19 March.
During phase 2 Bus Services 5/5A will divert via Haxby Road and Link Rd in both directions (not serving Haley’s Terrace or Huntington Rd). Bus Service 14 will divert via Heworth Green, Malton Rd, Elmfield Ave, Monkton Rd and Byland Ave in both directions (not serving Huntington Rd between Monkgate roundabout and Byland Ave junction).
In addition to the above, kerbing and drainage works will take place on Monday 1 March for a period of five days working 9.15am – 4pm. These works will be carried out under local traffic management, will not affect access/egress and the road will be open as normal. Parking will be suspended in sections to enable us to carry out the works.
Haxby Road:
Works will start from Monday 22 March for a period of five nights (weather permitting) between 7.30pm – 5am.
In order to carry out the work safely, the use of a full road closure from, but not including, the junction of Walpole Street up to, and including, the junction of Rose Street will be necessary whilst works are taking place.
The bollards at Fountayne Street and Vyner Street will be removed during the hours of works to allow residents access and egress via Wigginton Road.
Bus Services 1, 5 and 5A will divert via Lord Mayor’s Walk, Monkgate and Huntington Road.
In addition to the above, kerbing and drainage works will take place from 15 February for a period of five days working 9.15am – 4pm.
During all of the above schemes, road closures may be necessary 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.
If on-street parking is suspended residents have been notified in advance. Parking may be suspected during the hours of the works for the full duration, but specific access requirements can be arranged by speaking to the site Traffic Management Operatives, who will coordinate with residents (and business requirements) around the ongoing work operations.
The contractor will be operating under social distancing guidance wherever possible due to the current Covid-19 restrictions.
Emergency services will be permitted through the works at all times. However, please note that cyclists will be required to dismount and push their bikes along the footways.
As with any construction work, there is likely to be a certain amount of disruption and inconvenience to the public. However, the contractor will at all times try to keep any disruption to a minimum.
For more info about current roadworks in York visit our website.
A Council media release today confirms what many feared. The Tadcaster Road carriageway is going to be dug up again only 3 months after it was resurfaced.
Resurfacing work was completed in June
The carriageway is currently in excellent condition and contrasts markedly with the condition of most other roads in west York.
But it seems that the Council jumped the gun when they undertook a £600,000 resurfacing scheme earlier in the summer.
The government announced a £5 million improvement budget in July only weeks after work on the road was completed. The government was responding to a bid that the York Council had made earlier in the year.
It is likely that taxpayers will want to know a lot more about how this blunder happened.
The Council media release issued today says,
“One of the busiest roads in York is set to benefit from a £5million government funded road improvement scheme.
City of York Council was successfully awarded funding from the Department of Transport’s Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund.
The funding will enable to council to improve large sections of drainage along this route which will reduce localised surface water flooding. The work includes the delivery of additional pedestrian crossings and will ensure the road is maintenance free for the next 10 years.
The authority has been proactively working with all the major utility companies, water, gas, electric, phones, to coordinate their future work. During this process it became apparent that Northern Gas Networks (NGN), were due to carry out major work in 2023. Working in partnership they have brought this work forward to 10 October 2020 ensuring minimum disruption for residents and commuters. The council works are scheduled to start in January 2021.
Cllr Andy D’Agorne, Executive Member for Transport, said at City of York Council, said:
“It’s excellent news that our bid for £5million to upgrade Tadcaster Road to reduce localised flooding has been reviewed by Government and is now in approved. This will deliver much needed improvements to one of York’s busiest routes.
“Our primary goal is to ensure these works are coordinated with utilities companies so that the level of disruption for residents, businesses and visitors is reduced as much as possible.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Wasn’t part of Tadcaster Road resurfaced earlier this year? Yes, the council bid to government for a scheme on Tadcaster Road. The council received confirmation in March that it was unsuccessful and would not receive funding. Therefore the council resurfaced a section of Tadcaster Road as it was in need of urgent repairs between The Horseshoe and St Aubyns Place. However, in June the council was then awarded the £5million funding to improve large sections of drainage along Tadcaster Road which will reduce the risk of localised surface water flooding.
Northern Gas Networks have recently informed the council they have plans to carry out major works to their service at Tadcaster Road by 2025. The council was not made aware of these works before the section of Tadcaster Road between The Horseshoe and St Aubyns Place was resurfaced earlier this year. Whilst it is not an ideal situation, the Council would rather sacrifice a small part of the works that have been undertaken already rather than risk the digging up of the major £5 million scheme in a few years’ time for the Northern Gas Networks scheme.
Latest air quality monitoring information published on the Council dedicated web site confirms that pollution levels remain at low levels in the City. Even historic hot spots like Gillygate are recording the lowest recordable level of NO2 pollution.
Latest figures in York
The Council provides a weekly commentary on air quality
The Council has not published traffic level information recently but a national study by theTravel Technology Forumsuggests that vehicle use is at about 80% of pre lockdown levels. HGV movements have returned to February levels. Bus services are running but with reduced usage.
National transport use trends
Cycling activity has fluctuated. Figures suggest that use is sensitive to weather conditions. Relatively few choose to cycle in wet weather and this may result in a further decline as winter approaches.
The latest COVID restrictions may also further reduce the number of journeys being made in the City.
The introduction of street closures in places like the Groves has had little impact on journey times. Alternative routes remain lightly trafficked.
Around 20% of the workforce remains economically inactive. This may change when the governments furlough scheme comes to an end.
In turn any general return to work, and the reopening of city centre offices, may further test the transport system in City.
Face masks will have to be worn in shops from today. It remains to be seen how effective this government policy will be.
What is now clear is that some of the impulsive decisions taken a couple of months ago, at the peak of the pandemic by the York Council, have not met the test of time.
Tinkering with traffic systems without proper consultation or impact assessments was always a recipe for failure.
Crucially no attempt was made to define how success would be measured.
So how have they fared?
Bishopthore Road lane closure
This was intended to provide queuing space for shoppers. It was claimed that it would make social distancing easier.
Critics pointed to new hazards for cyclists on the contraflow lane, increased congestion & pollution on alternative routes and a missed opportunity to trial an off peak pedestrian area (10:30am – 4:00pm) approach.
The results have been disappointing with the alternative Nunnery Lane/Blossom Street/ Scarcroft Road suffering for increased congestion. Bus services have been adversely affected. There has been short cutting through residential areas like St Benedict Road where parking is also now a problem
There is little footpath queuing on the east of the shopping area. The forecourted shops on the other side have adequate space although bollards have reduced flexibility.
Verdict – scrap it
An ill considered scheme which missed the opportunity that part time pedestrianisation might have offered.
Fortunately there have been no accidents involving cyclists yet, although northbound traffic levels remain below average (as they do across the whole of the highway network)
Reduced social distancing requirements (now one metre rather than two) and the introduction of face masks should lead to this trial being abandoned. A more thorough consultation on the options for the Bishopthorpe Road area could then take place.
Bollards have not improved social distancing on Bishopthorpe RoadProblems with car parking and short cutting through the St Benedict’s Road area
Foss Bridge
One of the general traffic lanes across Foss Bridge on the inner ring road was repurposed for cyclists (southbound) . The lane had been coned off while maintenance work on the bridge was carried out in the early spring.
Most cyclists opt to use the riverside off road path. Comparatively few choose to use the inner ring road.
Verdict – retain and consult on its future
There has been little congestion on this section of the inner ring road although general travel patterns are not expected to return to pre COVID levels before September.
The cycle lane has been obstructed on occasions by delivery drivers, taxi pick ups etc. so the solution is less than perfect.
Vehicle numbers on this section of the inner ring road greatly exceed the number of cyclists
Monk Bar car park disabled spaces
The Council allocated 40 spaces at the Monk Bar car park for blue badge holders when additional access & parking restrictions were introduced in the City centre (e.g. Goodramgate). A “free” taxi service link to the rear of Kings Square is offered. The decision – like several others – was taken by the Councils acting chief executive with no prior consultation.
Blue badge holders can park on single yellow lines and park free of charge at Council car parks.
The little used taxi service is costing taxpayers £354 a day.
It appears that no attempt was made to assess the demand for disabled parking spaces at Monk Bar or for the taxi link. The Council didn’t specify the use of low emission vehicles on the taxi contract
Typically no more than five blue badge holders are parking at Monk Bar at any one time. The remaining general parking spaces are being increasingly used but the car park has yet to reach the full occupation levels seen before the pandemic. The Council has also recently allocated more on street parking spaces for blue badge holders in streets like Duncombe Place.
While the initiative was well intentioned, the Council hopelessly misjudged the demand for the service.
Verdict – revise the scheme
The number of reserved spaces can be reduced and the taxi link abandoned. Consultations can take place with disabled group representatives and traders on other options. These might include a “home to city centre” subsidised taxi service for the disabled where costs are recompensed when goods are bought.
Monk Bar blue badge spaces unusedNarrow access path at Monk Bar car park. No provision made for social distancing (see Maygate below)
Marygate car park
Around 40 parking spaces have been cordoned off. The Council claimed it was to allow cyclists to avoid joint use of the footpath (which links Scarborough Bridge to Bootham Terrace). In turn this helped to maintain a two metre social distancing zone.
The scheme was criticised when proposed because if failed to assess the effectiveness of the obvious alternative (encouraging cyclists to use the internal car park service road) which would have involved the loss of only one parking space.
There were bigger problems on other routes from Scarborough Bridge both at the north (Marygate) end of the bridge and crucially at the station itself. A narrow tunnel connects the shared cycle/footpath to Bootham Terrace.
The introduction of one metre social distancing guidelines and the use of face masks will reduce any health threat.
Observations at the car park suggest that the cycle route through the parking spaces is very little used (with some cyclists opting to use the service road anyway).
The car park has been busy on occasions but has not yet reached capacity. This may change if August is as busy as it has been in the past
Verdict – amend the scheme to allow cyclists to use the car park service road.
There is no Coronavirus heath justification for routing cyclists through car parking spaces. The break in the perimeter fence can be retained – and one place bollarded off – to allow access via the service road to Bootham Tce and Almery Garth. A ramp to St Mary’s – promised but never delivered – would be a useful for both cyclists and disabled buggy users.
The Council should sort out an acceptable route for cyclists wishing to access the route from Scarborough bridge to Lowther Tce (long term plans for the station frontage remodelling need to recognise this demand)
Conned off section on Marygate car park is little used by cyclistsNo cycling when you reach the station
One additional positive Coronavirus test result has been added to the government stats. This brings the cumulative total to 902.
There has been one additional Coronavirus related death in a York care home during the last week (26/6/20) according to ONS published figures
There have been no additional deaths at York Hospital Trust sites
Council expenditure on marketing hits £350,000
The Councils expenditure figures for June have now been published. All accounts for amounts exceeding £250 can be viewed byclicking here.
Taxpayers will be taking a particular interest in the amount being spent on COVID-19 related marketing.
The total has now reached £354,326.65 since February.
City centre signs
This includes ££68,659.00 spent in June.
By far the largest supplier was the York based marketing company “Ideas Group” who were responsible for the Councils post pandemic PR strategy. This included some of the signs that can be seen round the City centre.
They submitted bills for £43,000 in June.
Libraries reopening
Many of York’s libraries and reading cafes have reopened. Those wanting to borrow books must make an appointment before visiting.
Museum opening plans
York Castle Museum and York Art Gallery will both open to the public again on August 1st. According to the York Museums Trust the Yorkshire Museum will remain closed.
The Merchant Adventurers Hall coffee room will be reopening on Thursday 9th July.
Minster School
The authorities have confirmed that the Minster School will close permanently from the end of its summer term.
Hand sanitisers
The York BID has installed hand sanitiser stations on some streets in the city centre
Park and Ride
The Askham Bar park and ride site – which reopened at the weekend – was very quiet today
Better bus services announced by First York from this weekend
First have issued notifications of the following service changes
Askham Bar Park & Ride has now re-opened; services will operate every 15 minutes at weekends, every 10 minutes Monday-Friday during peak times and every 15 minutes throughout the day.
Timetables
From Sunday 12th July, the following changes will take place to help with safe, socially-distanced travel for necessary journeys. Full details of the changes and timetables can be found in the‘Forthcoming’ section of our timetables page.The changes are being made to help manage continued capacity restrictions on buses due to social distancing as further lockdown measures are eased.
City Services
Service 1 – there will be changes to early evening services, and late evening services will be operating to a revised timetable (up to every 30 minutes). Sunday daytime services will be increased to run up to every 20 minutes during busy periods.
Service 4 – there will be changes to early evening services, and late evening services will be operating to a revised timetable (up to every 30 minutes). Sunday daytime services will be increased to run up to every 20 minutes during busy periods.
Service 5/5A – minor timetable changes will be occuring. The 22:00pm and 23:00pm from Strensall will now operate at 21:50pm and 22:50pm respectively, and the 22:55pm from Acomb will now operate at 22:45pm.
Service 6 – there will be changes to early evening services, and late evening services will be operating to a revised timetable (up to every 30 minutes) for the majority of the late evening period. Services will leave Clifton Moor during the evening at 00/30 minutes past the hour, and from Campus East at 15/45 minutes past the hour. Sunday daytime services will be increased to run up to every 20 minutes during busy periods.
Service 10/10A – service timetable has been updated to reduce the amount of time spent waiting at bus stops, due to the current reduced traffic levels.
Service 11 – these buses will run every 30 minutes for the majority of the day.
Service 11S – this service will not operate.
Service 12 – these buses will run every 30 minutes for the majority of the day.
Service 200 – this service will continue to operate 3 early morning services.
University Services
Service 66 – evening and Sunday services will be increased to every 40 minutes.
66A, 66X – will not operate. Alternative journeys will be provided by Service 10, 10A and 66.
Service N66 – will not operate.
Park and Ride Services
Service 2A – service frequency will be increased to every 10 minutes for the majority of the day Monday – Saturday, and every 12 minutes during Sunday daytime. Evening frequency will be restored to every 30 minutes.
Service 3 – will not operate. Alternative journeys will be provided by service 12 between Askham Bar Tesco and York.
Service 7 – service frequency will be increased to every 10 minutes for the majority of the day Monday – Saturday, and every 12 minutes during Sunday daytime. Evening frequencywill be restored to every 30 minutes.
Service 8, 66A, 66X – will not operate. Alternative journeys will be provided by Service 10, 10A, 66.
Service 9 – service frequency will be increased to every 10 minutes for the majority of the day Monday – Saturday, and every 12 minutes during Sunday daytime.
Yorkshire Water have removed the road closed signs from Tudor Road. It is now accessible to all traffic although the bus services have not yet been rerouted.
One of the footpaths remains closed.
Yorkshire Water continue to work in the area on connections for the nearby Lowfields development.
There have been no more Coronavirus deaths at York Trust Hospitals. The cumulative total remains at 213.
There have also been no more positive lab test results (17/6/20). The last positive result was on 2nd June which saw the cumulative total number of cases rise to 462. This has been the longest sequence of negative results in the City since the pandemic began.
Public Toilets
In addition to reopening existing public toilets, the Council is providing additional trailer facilities at St Sampson Square and Parliament Street.
Tourism recovery plan published
Welcome to Yorkshire has published a plan detailing how it expects the critical visitor economy to revive over the next few months. The plan can be read by clicking here. The proposals include a “Song for Yorkshire project to help celebrate the civic pride in our county”. There will also be a Welcome to Yorkshire Gift Card
Bus Grants
The Council has annouced how it will allocated government bus grants.
City of York Council has been awarded a total grant of £59,970 for the 12-week period commencing 17th March. The grant can only be used to support operators of council-tendered bus services and any unused grant must be returned to the DfT. The grant will be apportioned as follows:
ConnexionsBuses: £5,210.67
East Yorkshire Buses: £20,204.35
First York: £3,096.69
Transdev: £24,750.91
York Pullman: £6,707.38
Older residents trial new interactive games technology
Care home residents wanting to keep more active and alert through lockdown are trialling a new interactive light projector.
Those who can’t welcome visitors during the pandemic are enjoying this technology, and trying out new activities to support their physical and emotional health.
Older people, especially those living with dementia, are experiencing the brightly-coloured shapes and games which are projected onto tables, bed coverings, walls or floors. Playing and interacting with them can help improve co-ordination, stimulate responses and raise levels of social and physical activity.
