Issue - items at meetings - City Centre Footstreets Review Traffic Regulation Order objections

The purpose of this report is to consider the representations made following the advertising of amendments to various Traffic Regulation Orders in and around the city centre footstreets. The report also makes recommendations on how to progress the proposals.

RESOLVED:

That the following be approved:

(i) The ongoing development of disabled parking provision.

(ii) The implementation of a Traffic Regulation Order to remove Pay and Display parking bays and replace them with double yellow line in:

· Goodramgate (13 spaces)

· Blake Street (9 spaces)

· Lendal (9 spaces)

(iii) The implementation of a Traffic Regulation Order to remove the Pay and Display parking bays in Duncombe Place (8 spaces) and replace them with a single yellow line to prohibit parking Monday to Saturday at any time and on Sundays between 11am and 6pm.

(iv) The Implementation of a Traffic Regulation Order to make access into the Newgate Market area for loading only by permit holders.

(v) The implementation of a Traffic Regulation Order to permit cyclists to use High Petergate between Bootham Bar and Duncombe Place. However this is to be for a 12 month trial period and is to be subject of a further report in due course.

REASONS:

(i) To provide some improvement for disabled parking.

(ii) To remove intrusive parking in, and excessive travel by motor vehicles through the central area seeking the very limited on street parking.

(iii) As (ii above) but giving allowances to those attending church services by implementing a restriction of reduced severity in Duncombe Place on Sunday mornings.

(iv) allow the removal of street furniture, some of which is very expensive to maintain, repair or replace, in areas of historic importance, and begin the simplifying of the traffic regulations in the central area whilst reasserting the special nature of the pedestrian zone.

(v) trial measures to better inform future decisions on the operation of the footstreets

The Cabinet Member considered a report which presented the representations made following the advertisement of amendments to various Traffic Regulation Orders in and around the City Centre Footstreets and suggested recommendations on how to progress the proposals.

Officers addressed the comments made by Councillor Hyman as Liberal Democrat spokesperson for City Strategy as follows:

· The bollards at the Market will not be locked and if they do not work then other measures will be considered.

· Disabled parking road markings will stay in the position they are currently.

· The road train is not considered in the report.

· In regard to the horse and carriage, no problems had been reported to the Council but if a problem does arise then officers confirmed they would look into it.

· Signage at Bootham Bar would be reviewed at the end of the 12 months.

In response to the representations made by St. Michael Le Belfrey Church, the Cabinet Member asked if it was possible to put in place a set of regulations that that allowed parking up to 11am on Sundays. Officers confirmed that this could be done.

The Cabinet Member welcomed the proposals in terms of the original ambition that footstreets should be footstreets as far as possible. He commented that more and more vehicles have been using the streets in recent years and the traffic orders address that issue along with Re-invigorate York who are also seeking to de-clutter the footstreets. He recognised that a compromise was required in respect of Duncombe Place on Sundays.