Windsor House demolition plan falls at first hurdle

Residents warned the York Council that local roads in the Ascot Way/Kingsway West area were too narrow to accommodate heavy construction traffic.
Windsor House construction site

Despite these warnings, the planning committee approved plans for the demolition of Windsor House but failed to specify any highway improvements.

The foolishness of that decision was highlighted on Friday when two very large trucks made their way from the site onto Kingsway West.

They failed to observe the agreed one-way system forcing other vehicles to mount the footpath and verge.

The traffic plan – regarded by many residents as inadequate – was published on 8th May. (Click here to read).

It was clear yesterday that it will be impossible for construction traffic and other larger vehicles, like buses, to pass each other on the twisting roads.

Several other conditions were imposed on activities on the site (click here). Most have still to be implemented.

Car parking is now at an even greater premium with whole of the Windsor House/Lincoln Court site cordoned off.

The problems have arisen only a few days before residents will be given an opportunity to quiz contractors on their plans.

The “drop in” meeting will take place at the Hob Moor School Children’s Centre (Green Lane) at 3:30pm on Wednesday 5th June.

There is still no news on the Council’s plans to provide an alternative play facility to replace the Multi User Games Area which will be lost when construction work starts. It had been hoped that by now, permission would have been granted for a new pitch to be provided on the nearby Thanet Road Sports Area.

There is also a major question mark about the costs of the “Centre of Excellence for Disabled Children” which will be constructed on the Windsor House site. A Council meeting on 18th June (click) will hear that additional funds are required to sustain the project.

One way system odged on 28th May 2019
Meeting on Wednesday

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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