Agenda item

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the Committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings. The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Friday 17 March 2023.

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Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

During coronavirus, we made some changes to how we ran council meetings, including facilitating remote participation by public speakers. See our updates (www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy) for more information on meetings and decisions.

It was reported that there had been 10 registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Gwen Swinburn noted that she felt highways related decisions had not been brought to the Transport Decision Session. She asked that a metal railing be installed on Monkgate to make it safer for pedestrians. Finally she asked for clarification on legal status of the tarmac work the Council had undertaken on Springfield Close which was private land.

Cllr Melly outlined her disappointment in both the report on the Acomb Road scheme and the lack of progress in the Active Travel Programme.  She raised concern that the Leeman Road closure was going ahead despite work to improve the riverside path not being completed. Finally she enquired as to why Hospital Fields Road was having Active Travel work undertaken when it scored lower other areas that were not being worked on.

Cllr K Taylor raised concerns regarding the riverside path which did not have funding assigned to complete all improvements outlined for the route, which was a key route into town for residents losing access through Leeman Road. He also raised concern that the Council recommendations would not solve issues on Acomb Road.

Kate Ravilious raised concern that the Council’s active travel scheme were not following the Councils own LCWIP. They raised concern that the Council was biding for millions of pounds for schemes over which it expected to be assigned and were delivering some schemes which didn’t improve cycling. Noting that Hospital Fields Road was not in the Council’s top 10 priorities they asked that the Council drop the scheme and prioritise elsewhere.

Lucy Steels-Walshaw part of Leeman Road Residents association. She thanked Ward Councillors for their help and noted concern that access to the city centre was not being improved for Leeman Road Residents who would lose their road into the city. She welcomed improving lighting and CCTV on the riverside path but was concerned the Council did not present a plan B should the Council not receive sufficient funding to finish improving the path.

Joanna Gawthorpe highlighted the work undertaken at Acomb Road School to promote active travel. She highlighted concerns about safety for pupils attending the school currently and asked for improvements to area to make it safer to walk and cycle.

Zenia Chapman raised concerns that the Council’s recommendations regarding Acomb Road would not make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. She highlighted that poor pay had prevented the employing of a new crossing officer. She noted her concern that it would take a child being harmed by traffic for sufficient action to be taken.

David Finch Chair of Fiends of Leeman Park outlined that the riverside path was important but was left out of the York Central project, despite this he noted that the inspector expected the Council to improve the path as part of the work being done for the York Central project. Therefore he noted his disappointment that he felt the Council had reduced plans for improving the path and asked that for assurances that the Council would deliver all the improvements to the path even if its bid for funding was unsuccessful.

Louise Woodruff speaking regarding the Acomb Road Scheme noted there had not been a Crossing Patrol Officer for two years and didn’t expect the role to be filled due to poor pay. She asked for school warning signs to be installed in the area and that a 20 MPH speed limit be introduced like around other schools.

Lynette Mills speaking on behalf of the York Cycle Campaign outlined that the campaign felt the Council had failed to improve active travel in York and had failed to use allocated funding. They noted that Hospital Fields Road was not identified as a priority in the Councils LCWIP and that funding should be allocated to areas identified as higher priority.