Well fancy that!
A draft of Labours new Transport Policy for York – which was scheduled to be discussed at an Executive meeting on 13th June – has been shelved until the July meeting – well after the General Election has taken place.
No explanation for the delay has been given although many commentators expect the controversial plans, which include closing roads and car parks in the City, will damage Labours electoral popularity.
After 4th July, at both City and regional level (and maybe nationally too) Labour will have free rein to reveal and implement their more extreme policies.
The next elections aren’t until 2027.
Earlier 28th May 2024
“Whatever you do, don’t mention the war”
York Councillors are in full retreat now as they desperately try to avoid saying or doing anything that might rock the boat in the run-up to the General Election.
Therefore, a raft of potentially tricky decisions are being kicked into the long grass. They will reappear in calmer times after 4th July.
These include
- Petition Improving Cycling Facilities on Wentworth Road
- Response to the Petition entitled “Reopen The Groves Roads”
- Response to the Petitions to Resurface Foxwood Lane and Corlett Court
- To acknowledge receipt of a petition to review road safety around Fishergate Primary School
- Tadcaster Road Parking Bays
- Tranby Avenue Parking Problems
The common denominator for these issues is that residents raised them – indicating at least a prima facie case against the Labour Council’s policies and performance.
All should have been dealt with weeks, if not months, ago.
But perhaps one landmine remains.
The Local Transport Strategy is due to be decided on 13th June 2024. Delayed so as not to influence the Mayoral elections at the beginning of May, it is now long overdue.
Resources, including those intended for LTP funded maintenance work for 2024/25, have to be allocated. So, the basis for decisions must be clear.
There is more than a sneaking suspicion that the most controversial parts of Labours plan (road and car park closures) will continue to be hidden under a mountain of euphemisms.
We will see next week.
York News Focus 