Decision Maker: Chief Operating Officer
Decision published: 26/07/2024
Effective from: 28/06/2024
Decision:
Following an extensive
public consultation, the York Station Gateway received planning
(19/00535/FULM) and listed building consent on 4th February 2021.
Consequently, following the successful completion of a package (P1)
of utility diversionary works, the highways works packages (P2 and
P4) were tendered and awarded in summer 2023. Works on the P2
scheme began on site in October 2023 with a view to an instruction
to commence P4 works in autumn 2024 once land acquisition had taken
place and other funding conditions had been met.
During a project delivery update presentation to the York Access
Forum (YAF) on 22nd November 2024, issues were raised by the YAF
over the suitability of the scheme compliance with relevant
standards in the design of the scheme, regarding cycleways and the
choice of materials. The issues highlighted were particularly
related to comments from residents with reduced mobility, hearing
difficulties and the blind and partially sighted. The issues raised
comprised:
1. The geometry of the junction at the exit to the loop road
2. The signalised crossing at the York RI
3. The design, orientation and quantity of pedestrian crossings
over proposed cycleways
4. The quantity of bus stops, and location and orientation of bus
shelters
5. The choice and design of traffic signals
6. The colour and type of materials in cycleways and the public
realms
7. The quantity, location and type of bollards across the proposed
scheme
Subsequently, further issues were raised by the York Bus Forum
(YBF) on the proposal to maintain the quantity of bus stands at the
present four in either direction in the proposed scheme.
To address the issues raised, the project team organised a series
of consultation workshops with the Council’s Accessibility
Officer, YAF and YBF throughout January to March 2024 to agree
permissible changes to the design that could be made within the
available time given that works were already taking place on site.
These meetings were attended by accessibility and bus stakeholders,
together with Council highways officers and scheme designers. By
April 2024, design changes had been agreed and the project
designers began work on formalising the changes in the design and
in the preparation of updated construction information.
The output from this engagement and workshops delivers an updated
scheme that proposes improvements to the layout of the Highway and
Public Ream, incorporating recognised best practice and compliance
with all relevant national guidelines.
The proposed updates to the permitted layout are itemised in
Appendix 1 (to be read in conjunction with updated general
arrangement drawing in Appendix 2) to this decision paper but are
summarized as follows:
1. The geometry of the junction at the exit to the loop road
The YAF identified that the exit to the loop would cause issues to
blind and partially sighted residents owing to a road crossing
followed by a further cycleway crossing. The configuration was
thought to be excessive as it would force pedestrians to cross two
rather than a single trafficked space. The junction layout was
amended to provide a single carriageway lane at the junction and
the provision of an uncontrolled crossing and continuous footway.
The impact of this change is the potential reduction in junction
capacity and increased queuing on the RI loop road at the junction,
especially if Queen Street is queueing from Blossom Street.
2. The signalised crossing at the York RI
The existing arrangement proposed a Y-shaped junction crossing in
front of the York RI that was envisaged to facilitate movements of
cycles and pedestrians. This arrangement proved contentious with
both YAF and with the Council’s own signal engineers. This
cycle crossing position and alignment has been updated to remove
Y-shape crossing and ensure that it is in accordance with current
regulations. The revised arrangement partially restricts cycle
movements travelling south across the crossing and turning right
onto Queen Street and travelling towards Blossom Street when
compared to the previous arrangement. The new arrangement may also
adversely impact queuing on Blossom Street.
3. The design, orientation and quantity of pedestrian crossings
over proposed cycleways
The YAF identified several uncontrolled pedestrian crossings that
owing to their non-perpendicular orientation could cause
difficulties for all pedestrian users. It was also suggested that
there were an excessive number of crossings causing confusion and
slowing down the movement of pedestrians. The updated design
rationalizes the quantity of crossings and where possible has
sought to square up crossings in several locations. To increase the
visibility of crossings a bollard is proposed on opposing corners
of the entrance to the crossing.
4. The quantity of bus stops, and location and orientation of bus
shelters
In the original design, bus shelters were located adjacent to the
curb, open to the rear. The YAF explained that this orientation
would cause access issues for most users, whilst the YBF suggested
that it would also be more difficult for bus drivers to negotiate.
In the updated design, bus shelter locations and orientation have
been relocated to the back of the footways, open to the front, and
shown with an updated flag and feeder pillar position.
The permitted scheme approved by the Local Planning Authority
showed a relocated bus interchange moved from outside the York
Station portico to occupy a redeveloped area of the Inner Ring Road
in front of the arches in the City Walls once occupied by the Queen
Street Bridge. The general arrangement drawing submitted showed an
indicative 5 number bus stops on either side of the Inner Ring Road
(see Figure 1).
Figure 1 – Permitted Scheme (attached as document)
It is stressed that this arrangement submitted to the LPA by the
designers was indicative only, with the final arrangement for the
bus laybys to be determined and agreed by The Council’s
Public Transport Team in due course in consultation with bus
partners.
The length of the proposed bus layby measures 85m (excluding layby
tapers) on either side of the road. In the existing arrangement,
although on the station side of the road there is a unique 3 + 1
bus stop arrangement, on the City Walls side, the existing bus
layby arrangement measures 82m (excluding layby tapers). The Public
Transport Team has determined that as a bus stop must be a minimum
of 18m to comfortably dock at a bus stop, that 4 bus stops of 21m
in length is the optimum for the proposed provided length (see
Figure 2 attached as document).
Figure 2 – Bus Stop Lengths
Further guidance on the design of bus stops can be found at
https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-stop-design-guidance.pdf which
recommends considerably longer lengths than the 18m minimum length
bus stands typically proposed by City of York Council. The TFL
guidance is accepted as the standard and recommended to all
authorities on the DfT’s Bus Centre of Excellence website
(https://www.buscentreofexcellence.org.uk/). The proposed scheme is
broadly comparable in length to the existing scheme and to increase
the number of stands would cause significant bus congestion and
raise safety and accessibility concerns.
The loop road package at the Station Gateway scheme delivers a
further 3 bus stops which will contribute to future enhanced
capacity. The Public Transport team is currently working with bus
operators on which services should be transferred to the Loop Road
stops, to further optimise future service delivery.
In planning terms, a decision to formalize an 8-bus stop
configuration is a non-material change. A decision is required as
to formalize the bus stop configuration outside York Station to 4
stops on either side of the Inner Ring Road with a further 3 stops
on the Loop Road. However, we will be enlarging the 4 stops on
either side, to increase the waiting passenger capacity by
20%.
5. The choice of traffic signals
The YAF requested the inclusion of pedestrian crossing countdown
timer aspects to be installed on traffic signals. However,
subsequent conversations with the Council’s traffic signals
team and scheme designers ruled out this option as the proposed
puffin crossing were regarded as the safest and most appropriate
and are standard across the city. Whilst puffin/nearside traffic
management is the Council’s Traffic signals team’s
preferred option, which align with signal crossings across the
city, Council is prepared to trial the use of the countdown timer
signal on York Station Gateway. We believe this may reflect a
longer-term preference, aligning with the new local transport
strategy, which was approved by the council executive in July
2024.
6. The colour and type of materials in cycleways and the public
realms
Granite setts is the proposed material for cycleways and pedestrian
crossing in the consented scheme. However, YAF members challenged
this choice believing it is not appropriate from an accessibility
standpoint owing to the lack of colour contrast between adjacent
materials. Although, the technical specification for the proposed
materials conformed to guidance values for contrasting Light
Reflectance Values (LRV), the YAF proposed alternative materials.
After much debate, the project team agreed that a pigmented (i.e.,
coloured) tarmac would be the best option. The recommended colour
has now been agreed as green with YAF, which complies with LTN 1/20
guidance. Artist impressions of this colour, as well as terracotta
(which was also considered) and the proposed granite, are shown in
Appendix 2 of this paper. This decision was further supported
through more recent feedback from charity Wheels for Wellbeing and
RNIB.
7. The quantity, location, and type of bollards across the proposed
scheme
In the consented scheme, there are two bollard types proposed:
those to secure the front of the station from Hostile Vehicle (HVM)
attacks, and those to prevent unlawful parking. Owing to
obstructions caused by bollards, YAF proposed that where possible,
any unnecessary vehicle parking deterrent bollards be removed from
the scheme. In reviewing the scheme, the project team has sought to
rationalize the use of parking bollards. The YAF accepted that the
number of HVM bollards could not be reduced, removed, or
relocated.
Though not an accessibility issue, this paper also seeks a further
decision on the manufacturer choice of bus shelter to be installed
in the scheme.
In York, many bus shelters are currently supplied and maintained by
a company known as JCDecaux as an advertising concession, including
those shelters located to the front of York Station. It is the
project team’s understanding that in considering re-awarding
the current contract with JCDecaux, The Council was unable to
justify making a direct contract award is now carrying out a
competitive tender. This process will not be completed within the
Station Gateway project timescales. Consequently, this will result
in the removal of the existing four shelters at the station on
completion of the existing contract if it is not renewed.
The York Station Gateway scheme requires eight number new bus
shelters to be installed in autumn 2024. Following prior work
carried out by the Public Transport Team, a bespoke high quality
shelter design had been agreed with a company known as Etesian
Green (see Appendix 6). This has been proposed for the Station
Gateway scheme as an alternative to the JCDecaux shelters. It is
the project team’s understanding that these shelters would
cost £18,000 each, and a total of £144,000 for the
eight shelters. The project team is happy to accept this proposed
shelter and the project consultants, Arup, and delivery contractor,
Sisk, have confirmed that this shelter is suitable for installation
at the site.
There is a 12-week lead in period for the delivery of the Etesian
Green bus shelter and the contractor has factored this into its
programme. The contractor can procure the shelters on The
Council’s behalf although a management fee will be
applied.
A decision is required as to whether to proceed with an instruction
to the contractor, Sisk, to procure and supply the Etesian Green
bus shelters for the York Station Gateway scheme at a sum of
£144k + fees (circa £20k). The cost of the shelters
will be covered from the schemes existing funding resources.
This decision paper seeks five decisions as follows:
1. Accept the proposed geometrical and junction design changes to
the permitted scheme so that an instruction can be provided to the
Package 2 delivery contractor to construct the updated
design.
2. Accept the proposal to maintain the current number of bus stands
in the proposed scheme as 4 stops in either direction plus three
new stands on the proposed loop road but increase waiting passenger
capacity of bus shelters by 20%.
3. Accept the proposed Etesian Green shelter to be installed across
the site to allow Package 2 delivery contractor to place an order
for this product.
4. Accept the proposed changes to the materiality of the permitted
scheme so that an instruction can be provided to the Package 2
delivery contractor to order and construct the updated layout using
these materials, including the decision to substitute granite sets
in the cycle way to a green-coloured tarmac.
5. Accept the use of countdown timer traffic signals as a pilot
scheme, on York Station Gateway.
Wards affected: Micklegate Ward;
Lead officer: James Gilchrist
Decision Maker: Chief Operating Officer
Decision published: 12/07/2024
Effective from: 12/07/2024
Decision:
The resident who applied for a disabled
parking bay on Long Close Lane has reported there is consistent
abuse of the bay by non-blue badge holders and this is preventing
the resident from using the bay.
Any requests for Blue Badge parking bays in residential areas are
initially introduced as advisory bays, to provide the facility on
street in a more efficient way. The bay is not enforceable if non
blue badge holders park in them, so the bay is then not useable by
Blue Badge Holder.
It is proposed to undertake the statutory consultation for the
advertisement for the addition of the Blue badge Parking Bay into
the Traffic Regulation Order, so enforcement of non-blue badge bays
can occur.
Decision:
Advertise a traffic regulation order change to include the current
advisory disabled parking bay on the Traffic Regulation Order, if
approved non blue badge holders parking in the bay could be
enforced and help to resolve the abuse currently taking
place.
Wards affected: Guildhall Ward;
Lead officer: James Gilchrist
Decision Maker: Chief Operating Officer
Decision published: 12/07/2024
Effective from: 12/07/2024
Decision:
The families of two deceased residents
contacted us to advise the disabled parking bays are no longer
required, and requested we remove them.
The bays are located on Alma Terrace and Sutherland Street, the
removal of the bays will require an amendment to the Traffic
Regulation Order (TRO), to remove the bays from the Order.
Approval is requested to undertake the statutory consultation to
advertise an amendment to the TRO for the removal of the
bays.
Decision:
To remove disabled parking bays from the Traffic Regulation
Order
Wards affected: Fishergate Ward; Micklegate Ward;
Lead officer: James Gilchrist
Decision Maker: Chief Operating Officer
Decision published: 12/07/2024
Effective from: 12/07/2024
Decision:
Two recent developments have created an issue
regarding unrestricted parking on Mansfield Street. There is a
section 106 agreement in place for the development, as there were
concerns within the planning that the development would create a
parking issue on the street.
Wards affected: Guildhall Ward;
Lead officer: James Gilchrist
Decision Maker: Chief Operating Officer
Decision published: 09/07/2024
Effective from: 05/07/2024
Decision:
At Executive meeting in January 2024 Executive
approved a Waste Policy and at
full Council in February 2024, as part of the budget, Executive
approved the introduction of a garden waste subscription scheme for
city.
The garden waste service in York is currently delivered to 66,000
households. A garden waste subscription scheme has been developed
and as part of the development of the scheme, the Council has
established terms and conditions to outline how the scheme will
operate. As a result of this change, it is necessary to update the
Waste Policy to reflect the introduction of a garden waste
subscription scheme across the city.
The garden waste subscription scheme is being launched in July 2024
with the operational ‘Go Live’ set for Monday 5th
August 2024 onwards. The Council will write to the 66,000
households who currently receive the garden waste service and
residents will have the opportunity to subscribe to the garden
waste subscription scheme if they so wish and pay a subscription
fee. There are other options available to residents as they can (i)
share a garden subscription with a neighbour (ii) purchase a
discounted home composter so they can compost at home or (iii) take
garden waste to the household waste recycling centres
(HWRC’s), free of charge.
To reflect the introduction of the garden waste subscription
service, Waste Services need to seek authorisation for the terms
and conditions of the scheme and to amend the Waste Policy to
reflect the updated section(s) of the Policy. Only the section(s)
that refers to garden waste and bins for garden waste will need to
be updated.
It is proposed that these changes are made with effect from Monday
8th July 2024.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: James Gilchrist
Decision Maker: Director of Customer & Communities
Decision published: 09/07/2024
Effective from: 08/07/2024
Decision:
To approve the award of the Healthwatch York
service to York CVS for the period 1st August 2024 – 31st
July 2028
For the provision of services as outlined in the supporting
report.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Pauline Stuchfield
Decision Maker: Director of Customer & Communities
Decision published: 08/07/2024
Effective from: 03/07/2024
Decision:
The Director of Housing and Communities
approves the YFAS changes as set out in this decision notice and in
the supporting report.
This is an officer decision made in consultation with the relevant
Executive Members and will be noted at the next available Executive
Member Decision Session.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Pauline Stuchfield
Decision Maker: Director of Customer & Communities
Decision published: 05/07/2024
Effective from: 03/07/2024
Decision:
Ward Budget pending decisions are delegated to
the Director of Customer and Communities on the recommendation of
ward members as per the attached report .
Recently recommended schemes to be approved are attached at the
Annex to the report.
Wards affected: Bishopthorpe Ward; Clifton Ward; Fishergate Ward; Fulford and Heslington Ward; Haxby and Wigginton Ward; Rural West York Ward;
Lead officer: Pauline Stuchfield
Decision Maker: Corporate Director of Place
Decision published: 28/06/2024
Effective from: 27/06/2024
Decision:
York Station Gateway Project – Package
2.
Permanent closure of the City Walls between Station Rise and
Micklegate Bar for a further 4-week period until high-risk activity
- piling works are complete and Health and Safety measures have
been put in place.
The extension to the closure is required owing to unexpected ground
conditions which required further design to the piling, and
equipment breakdown delaying the piling works.
The 4-week closure allows safety measures to be installed, enabling
the walls to be opened safely from Friday 26th July 2024, or
earlier subject to a further risk assessment.
Decision - Implement Option 3. Whilst further closure is
unfortunate public safety is a priority and I note work to find a
solution to allow access is planned for the summer holidays.
Wards affected: Micklegate Ward;
Lead officer: James Gilchrist
Decision Maker: Corporate Director of Place
Decision published: 28/06/2024
Effective from: 17/06/2024
Decision:
There is sufficient evidence to meet the
statutory test under s53 (3) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act
1981 to make an order to record a public restricted byway over
Priest Lane as shown on the map (see separate attached
document).
Decision: Agreed to make an order to record a public restricted
byway along Priest Lane but take a neutral stance towards the
confirmation of the order in the event it is referred to the
Secretary of State.
Wards affected: Osbaldwick and Derwent Ward;
Lead officer: James Gilchrist