Issue - meetings

This report provides a description and analysis of key findings arising from the York Coach Strategy Update (2008) and recommends that a detailed examination is made as to the feasibility of coaches using bus lanes in York.

Options

A.     To retain St George’s Field in the short to medium term as a coach-parking site so that use can be monitored in order to establish whether the site is a suitable long-term option.

B.  Use St George’s Field as a temporary coach park with a view to relocating coach parking in the medium term, primarily to Park and Ride sites as these are the recommended option in the study.

C. Progress work on examining the feasibility of allowing coaches to use     bus lanes.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised to

(i)       Approve Option A to allow coach parking to remain at St George’s Field in the short term but note that there are advantages in coaches parking away from the City centre, as far as possible, in the future; 

(ii)               Approve Option C for Officers to investigate the feasibility of the use of bus lanes by coaches but stress that any proposed changes must guarantee no worsening of stage carriage and park and ride bus performance;

(iii)      Agree to Officers investigating the possibility of introducing restrictions on coaches parking free of charge on roads such as Knavesmire Road;

(iv)      Note that the City has no objections in principle to coaches using Park and Ride sites with their passengers using these bus service links to access the City centre. Instructs Officers to survey local businesses like the Designer Outlet Centre for their views on this option whilst also bearing in mind this possible demand when designing the 3 new park and ride sites scheduled to be constructed in the City.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:   (i)To allow York to offer quality facilities suited best to the visitor demographic that will enable the city to strongly compete with other destinations for coach trade.

(ii)                         (iii) (iv)To enable Officers to carry out feasibility assessment of allowing coaches to use the bus lanes, restrictions on coach parking and survey local business on their views on coach parking.

Members considered a report, which provided a description and analysis of key findings arising from the York Coach Strategy Update (2008). This study had been commissioned to update the information gathered in a previous 2003 report, in order to provide current information with regard to implementing the city’s coach strategy.

The report had highlighted a number of issues two of which were that drivers had a preference for a central coach park together with improved coach facilities. Other findings discussed were the retention of St George’s Field as a coach park in the short to medium term and the need for a detailed examination as to the feasibility of coaches using the bus lanes in York.

Members expressed some concerns regarding:

·        Desirability of coach parking in the centre of York and the possibility of moving this to the Park and Ride sites;

·        Use of bus lanes by coaches and the potential impact on traffic;

·        The issue of indiscrimination parking of coaches on Knavesmire Road;

·        That there was still a need for facilities for coach drivers;

·        Affect on existing Park and Ride users if coach parking moved to Park and Ride sites;

·        Need for clear ‘signing’ of a safe walking route from St Georges Field car park to the city centre.

Consideration was then given to the following options:

A.     To retain St George’s Field in the short to medium term as a coach-parking site so that use can be monitored in order to establish whether the site is a suitable long-term option.

B.  Use St George’s Field as a temporary coach park with a view to relocating coach parking in the medium term, primarily to Park and Ride sites as these are the recommended option in the study.

C.            Progress work on examining the feasibility of allowing coaches to use        bus lanes.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised to

(i)       Approve Option A to allow coach parking to remain at St George’s Field in the short term but note that there are advantages in coaches parking away from the City centre, as far as possible, in the future; ^1.

(ii)               Approve Option C for Officers to investigate the feasibility of the use of bus lanes by coaches but stress that any proposed changes must guarantee no worsening of stage carriage and park and ride bus performance;^2.

(iii)      That the possibility of introducing restrictions on coaches parking free of charge on roads such as Knavesmire Road be investigated;^3.

(iv)      That the City has no objections in principle to coaches using Park and Ride sites with their passengers using these bus service links to access the City centre. Instructs officers to survey local businesses like the Designer Outlet Centre for their views on this option while also bearing in mind this possible demand when designing the 3 new park and ride sites scheduled to be constructed in the City. ^4.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

RESOLVED:That the advice  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38