Crowded York streets present challenges for Council and traders

City centre streets have been particularly busy over the half-term holidays. Although this is good news for the local economy, some conflicts have reemerged for the first time since the end of the pandemic.

Davygate

The Council has said that the road works on Petergate and Lendal will extend now for another 2 or 3 weeks.

The access path on Petergate remains single file only and is inaccessible for some types of wheelchair.

That is disappointing

Elsewhere cycle parking spaces have been at a premium. The need for better facilities has been generally accepted for some years now but a solution remains illusive.

But the elephant in the room remains the election promise of some new Labour Councillors who want to allow vehicular access, (Blue Badge holders) into some footstreets.

They refused to say which streets they meant before the elections but some charities – who claim to be representative of the views of people with disabilities – have since said that they “want access and parking in line with the 2019 arrangements”.

In 2019 blue badge parking access was allowed on

• Goodramgate (between Deangate and King’s Square)
• King’s Square
• Church Street
• Colliergate
• Blake Street
• St Helen’s Square
• Lendal

Other streets, including St Sampsons Square, Coney Street and Davygate, were already part of the core foot street zone by 2019.

Irrespective of any views that might be held on terrorist threat levels, the simple fact is that many streets, including Davygate and Church Street, are now so crowded with pedestrians that any vehicle movement represents a hazard. The most vulnerable are young children and, ironically, those using mobility aids.

We doubt that there is a compromise that will suit everyone. However, a system which requires a kerbside parking space to be booked in advance, would at least control the number of vehicles “touring” the pedestrian area in search of a vacant space.

Railway Museum seeks approval for changes to Leeman Road car park

The museum is seeking to reconfigure and surface the car park at North Yard -with access from Leeman Road – & with the erection of cycle shelters, road train shed and associated landscaping works

The proposed layout can be viewed by clicking here

Although in itself the planning application may not be controversial, it may prompt more comment from candidates in the upcoming local elections. Analysis by them of the York Central project has been noticeably lacking so far.

While many of the financial aspects of the regeneration project are outside looal control, widespread conerns have been expressed about access and transport arrangements.

Labour were campaigning for 24/7 access along old Leeman Road – which will become a cul de sac under current plans – for pedestrians. A proposal resisted by the Railway Museum. Improvements to the riverside alternative path have been promised. However these are flawed at least for cyclists who face a pinch point at the Scarboroigh bridge. The alternative pedestrian routes are longer albeit they use purpose designed and therefore safer paths.

The further the project goes, the more diffcult it becomes to design in alternatve access routes. If a “sky brdge ” linking Leeman Road to south Esplanade were to be a future option the local access points need to be safeguarded. Same for any pedestrian/cycle tunnel. Both would be very expensive options of course.

It seems only the Conservatives have had the courage to call out the, frankly ridiculous, plan to make the Leeman Road tunnel “one way”. Designing in conflict and cnogestion would be a new low for the York Council.

NB. The tunnel will be closed to traffic for several days over rhe next few months as roadworks take place.

Similarly the wall of silence continues on proposals for improvements to the Wilton Rise/Chancery Rise access route. At the moment we are stuck with an aging footbridge which is inaccessible for wheelchair users and awkward, in the extreme, for many cyclists.

There seems to be no sense of urgency in addressing these issues.

Click to read 2020 article

York City Centre access improvements update as £10,000 to be spent on festive “wraps” for security barriers

A report to City of York Council’s Customer and Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee has set out the progress being made to support York as a safe, thriving and accessible city centre.

Separately the Council has asked “Make it York to “provide cosmetic wraps for the Xmas counter-terrorism barriers to improve the city centre experience” The wraps will cost £500 each and will affect 20 barriers at a total cost of £10,000.

In November 2021, the Council’s Executive made decisions to give effect to Police counter terrorism advice. The advice, since reiterated by security experts and Police, was to make the City Centre as car free as possible and install Hostile Vehicle Measures, in order to reduce risk to life caused by the possible use of vehicles as a weapon in the most heavily pedestrianised streets.

At that time the Executive recognised the access impacts of such a decision, particularly on blue badge holders and committed to adopt actions as part of the “Strategic Review of City Centre Access Action Plan” – to improve and support access in and around the footstreets, and a ten year vision – “My City Centre Vision” – to support an accessible and thriving city centre.

The progress report shows that a growing number of commitments contained in the Action Plan have now been delivered. Completed actions include:

• The delivery of disabled bays, with all those approved at the Executive Member Decision Session implemented, except at Blake Street which is dependent the placement of Hostile Vehicle Measures
• Additional specialist advice on a broad range of access issues has been obtained, through a contract with access specialists, MIMA, being appointed by the council to lead on a number of actions including the pavement café guidance review
• Permanent access officer recruitment is set to be completed shortly
• Investment in York’s Shopmobility scheme
• Investment in the Dial-&-Ride service
• Improvements in access to disabled toilets in the city centre with £244,000 funding from Changing Places secured to deliver improved facilities over the next three years
• Eight new dropped kerbs have been added in Stonegate with existing ones refurbished on Colliergate and Church Street and further works being delivered on Fossgate with works in Low Petergate, Blake Street and Lendal in the Spring.

Various further measures are set to be led by the access officer and consultants. These include, development of York Standard for accessibility, coproduction on possible vehicle and service options for a city centre bus shuttle, amongst other longer term actions.

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Access to Hob Moor better this summer – less overgrowth

Perhaps because of the attention given to the barriers following a false start when modifying the Hob Moor cycle by pass, lanes, the rest of the infrastructure is in better condition this summer.

Last year the two of the Hob Moor access points were obstructed by vegetation. This year, the disabled “RADAR” access gates are largely free of obstructions.

We have taken the opportunity to cut back bramble branches and also to lubricate the locks (which are in good condition).

A coat of paint wouldn’t go amiss while other infrastructure on the path such as direction signage remains in poor condition.

It seems that the path still hasn’t been added to the weed treatment schedule. The section behind Windsor Garth (below) remains overgrown with nettles and other weeds.

Path missed off weed treatment programme?

The absence of cattle from the moor – they recently returned to the North Lane pasture – resulted in the Council mowing the moor. . This may be bad news for some wildlife including ground nesting birds.

It is a real shame that the extended cattle grids , which are aimed at preventing cows from escaping though the cycle lane – weren’t provided before the pedal catcher plinths were removed.

The Council hopes that by retaining the shoulder pads that motorcyclists will be discouraged from entering and damaging the moors eco system.

So far, we have heard no complaints about motorcyclists disturbing the peace of neighbouring residents.

Parts of Hob Moor have been mown.

City centre access row rubbles on

A report is being presented to a meeting next week which details objections which have been made to the Council proposal to ban all vehicles from the pedestrian areas between 10:30am and 7:00pm.

Last year the Council confirmed that “Blue Badge” holders would be excluded.

The Council consulted on whether any other vehicles – other than blue light services – should be able access the zone. Exemptions were suggested for “dial a ride” and refuse collection vehicles (emptying litter bins etc).

Some of the strongest objections to the plan have come from people who actually live within the pedestrian area.

They describe the traditional 5:00pm end for the foot-streets hours as barely practical while a 7:00pm finish would problematic. One quotes an incident when an emergency plumber had to be summoned to deal with a raw sewage leak.

While the aim behind the Council plan – to deter terrorist activities – is laudable, we don’t believe that the consequences have been thought through.

There are technology systems available now which would allow the allocation in real time of designated kerbside spaces for accredited blue badge and essential repair vehicles.

Access routes and timings could be authorised using an online process with enforcement by ANPR cameras

105 Walmgate

NB The Council is likely to consider a “final mile” sustainable delivery solution for the City centre at its next meeting. The proposal could involve establishing a distribution hub from which final deliveries could be made by electric vehicles, bikes and trolleys. Details here The distribution Hub would be located at 105/107 Walmgate.

High Petergate replacement lighting column

The meeting will also consider whether to repair or replace a historic lamp column that has been damaged by vehicle collision.

It is thought to be the last remaining historical cast ornate columns of this nature in York city centre possibly even the wider York area

The Minster Gates lamppost has been in place for around 120 years.

The Council’s Conservation Officer says, “

The Minster Gates lamppost is an irreplaceable historic asset as a sole surviving example of early electric street furniture. If it was made in York it has additional significance. It contributes to the character and appearance of a site of the highest heritage sensitivity. Specialist assessment has confirmed that restoration of the lamppost is possible, but it is highly specialised and hence expensive. Every effort should be made to repair the existing fabric and reinstate the lamppost because replacement with an alternative design would not preserve the heritage values of the asset.

The meeting is being recommended to authorise the repair (rather than replacement) of the lighting column at a cost of £33,000. Some – possibly not all – of the cost would be recovered from the insurance policy of the vehicle responsible for the collision. The street light would be relocated a short distance to a less vulnerable position and would be protected by a bollard.

Acomb Moor footpath problems continue

Its over 4 months since Councillors told residents that a blocked Public Right of Way (PROW) would be reopened . The access to Acomb Moor from Foxwood Lane had been via a stile for over 20 years.

It gradually fell into disrepair and the Council declined to stabilise it.

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  Foxwood Lane old access

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An application to define the route as a PROW was submitted in late 2018 and supported by the Council some 12 months later.

Shortly afterwards the tenant farmer blocked the access with a large tree trunk. He went on to plant crops in the field (for the first time in over 25 years).

Local residents agreed to use a footpath route which skirted around the outside of the field and this has become a well established exercise route during the lockdown period.

Unfortunately an assurance from local Councillors – that the tree trunk would be moved to allow for single file pedestrian access – was not fulfilled. As a result an new access point has now been forced near the Askham Lane junction.

Of more concern, many walkers are now trying to climb a 5 bar metal gate. A potentially hazardous activity for the elderly and infirm.

There are other points on the route which have also fallen into a, potentially hazardous, state of disrepair.

There are easy and relatively cheap solutions to this problem. The Lockdown period has simply reinforced the importance of informal walking routes near the City.

The Council should act now to make these footpaths accessible and safe.

York’s accessibility information in the palm of your hand.

National disability organisation, AccessAble is launching a free app to give visitors and residents of York high-quality accessibility information they can access whilst out and about.

Long-term partner of City of York Council and provider of detailed access guides, AccessAble have created a new mobile app which aims to transform the quality and availability of accessibility information.

The app provides detailed access guides to 10,000s of places across the UK and Ireland. Crucially each guide is created by locations having been visited by an AccessAble surveyor and local people with accessibility requirements, who can collect over 1,000 pieces of information for just one venue.

The app itself can display facts, figures and photographs as well as step-by-step descriptions of what accessibility is like at a particular location. Users can create their own account and save favourite places and filter their preferences depending on their accessibility needs.

Find out more at www.AccessAble.co.uk

Positive response to Bellwood estate concerns

Landlords promise quick action

Dumping

Access Housing, who manage Foxwood’s Bellhouse estate, have promised quick action to deal with residents concerns.

We reported yesterday about growing concerns about litter, dumping, overgrown hedges and other issues which are blighting the estate.

Now Access have promised that there will be a tidy up starting on Wednesday (12^th March).

A part time caretaker is being engaged to undertake this type of work.

Contractors will be brought in the cut back hedges and smarten up the planted areas. It is hoped that the verges will also be edged.

Action is promised to improve the play area on Linnet Way.

The estate manager for the area is Jo Caveney. She holds a fortnightly surgery for residents and can be contacted on 0345 678 0573 (Email: joanne.caveney@accentgroup.org )