Yellow lines being painted on Kings Square

Kings Square

From this week, City of York Council will be introducing parking restrictions on King’s Square.

Businesses and retailers in the area have been sent details of the changes, which aim to reduce the levels of inappropriate and sometimes dangerous parking occurring in the square.

The Executive Member for Transport approved proposals to review traffic management in the footstreets, including King’s Square, at a Decision Session on 12 November.

More information about this is available here.

This work will include a review of access for Green and Blue badge holders. The timeline for considering the issue and formulating clear recommendations will go back to the Executive Member for Transport in the coming months.

However, due to the level of vehicle activity and parking which is currently occurring, the council has listened to businesses, retailers and residents’ concerns and is taking more immediate action now.

Works are set to take place from tonight (weather permitting) which will see the authority introduce double yellow lines in King’s Square. The legal traffic order is in place and the painting of lines will bring restrictions into immediate effect.

This will not prejudice the review of traffic access in the footstreets, but will mean that parking is not allowed at any time except for disabled badge holders who will be able to park for three hours, providing they do not cause an obstruction. Loading/unloading will still be able to take place before and after the pedestrian hours of 10.30am and 5pm.

For more information about the parking changes please contact highway.regulation@york.gov.uk

Kings Square parking chaos

No sooner had the agenda for Thursday’s meeting, which will discuss changes to the access arrangements in the City centre, been published than concerns were raised about linked issues.

Kings Square

In the main concerns related to the volume of traffic illicitly accessing roads through the area. Most noticeably the Monk Bar, Goodramgate, Kings Square route which seems to be widely misused.

The situation has got worse since the repaving of Kings Square with the Council apparently deciding against reintroducing parking restrictions (in case the yellow paint spoiled the appearance of the new paving).

The result has often been chaotic.

Kings Square

Today contractors seeking parking space before working on the new “Santas Grotto” found vehicles parked despite no parking cones having been put out.

At least one car had received a ticket but others had not.

Clearly sorting out this mess needs to take priority for the Councils limited resources.

One suggestion is that street furniture (e.g. seats) be located to stop parking although this would not stop vehicles parking on the Barnitts side of the square.

Yellow lines and regular enforcement are probably the only solution

Kings Square knees up Saturday June 14th

Retailers, businesses and street performers are staging a one-day festival on King’s Square to celebrate and welcome residents and visitors to enjoy the new-look public area.

One of York’s most popular squares, King’s Square is the first scheme to be transformed through the Reinvigorate York initiative.

During the one-day festival retailers will be offering a special store discount, free samples and other treats.

Entertainers and street performers from far-and-wide including international stunt acts, escape artists and knife jugglers will also be joining regular performers to mark the occasion.

For more details about the scheme including full FAQs please visit http://www.york.gov.uk/reinvigorateyork

Archaeological team unearth evidence of the medieval church on King’s Square.

City of York Council’s archaeological team has unearthed evidence of the medieval church on King’s Square.

The discovery was made following works, which started last week, to repaved the square.

The Council say, “It is hoped that the important discovery will not cause any delays to the scheme, as the time taken to carry out the archaeological dig will be added to the existing schedule in March, for the second phase of works”.

The investigations will start next week and, if further evidence is found, could determine if there is a need for the team to carry out any more detailed further excavations.

Last week the Daily Mail led a campaign of criticism of the Council forir approach to conservation in the Shambles area.