Minutes

A drop-in surgery took place from 3.00pm so that residents were able to view plans of the Terry’s development and ask questions directly from the developers and architects and speak to local councillors.

Cllr Julie Gunnell welcomed everybody to the meeting and introduced the panel of councillors and Grantside representatives. Cllr John Galvin – elected member for Bishopthorpe Ward was also in attendance and residents from Bishopthorpe and Acaster Malbis were invited. It was noted that Cllr Galvin would not be able to comment on the planning issues raised as he is on the Planning Committee and this could result in a conflict of interest. Members of Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Committee had also been invited but had declined the invitation.

Cllr Dave Merrett apologised that the Traffic Management Plan was not available for scrutiny at the meeting as had been intended. He, therefore, gave an outline of the specific traffic measures proposed based on the information received by councillors from council officers:

·        Campleshon Road / Bishopthorpe Road junction – Signals will be installed and the approach roads to the junction will be widened to include double entry lanes. This element of the plan will involve removing the entitlement for parking along the approaches including Bishopthorpe Road.

·        Scarcroft Road / Bishopthorpe Road junction – the existing signal controller will be improved along with altered pedestrian crossing phases.

·        Knavesmire Road / Tadcaster Road / Mount Vale junction – the junctions in and out of Knavesmire Road will both become 2 way access and will include a bus gate and bus lanes on Tadcaster Road north bound to the south of St Georges Place.

·        St Helens Road / Tadcaster Road junction – it is impossible to change the physical structure of this junction so the signal controls will be improved and queuing traffic will be relocated southwards to Moor Lane Roundabout.

·        Moor Lane Roundabout will be signalised and will have a two lane approach on the Tadcaster Road approach.

Q. Concern was raised that traffic at peak times is already congested along Tadcaster Road and the bridge. The resident was very keen to see the Traffic Management Plan and requested that councillors defer the planning committee date until residents had had a full opportunity to view the Plan.

A. The developers are pressing for a decision on the planning application. Members agreed to ask the planning committee to defer looking at this application until residents had been able to view the Traffic Management Plan in more detail. This was subsequently stated as not possible by Planning Officers but objections submitted up to the date of the hearing would be reported to the Committee. (Cllr Fraser) [Note: the application was further deferred with the latest date being 28^th August 2008]

A. City of York Council have commissioned a traffic modelling system called SATURN. The traffic generation data that Grantside produced was passed to Halcrow. (Grantside)

Q. Concern was raised that the plan includes removing parking spaces along part of Bishopthorpe Road near the Campleshon Road junction. Where are those residents supposed to park their cars?

A. Part of the proposal is to restrict parking on one side of Bishopthorpe Road to accommodate two lane traffic and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Cllr Sandy Fraser welcomed everybody to the meeting and introduced the panel of cllrs and Grantside representatives. Cllr Dave Merrett gave an outline of the specific measures proposed in the Traffic Management Plan as written above under Point 2 with the additional comment that:

·        Grantside Ltd will provide a shuttle bus service that runs from the Askham Bar Park & Ride site to the Terry’s development site and on to the train station.

Cllr Fraser informed the meeting that Cllr John Galvin would be unable to comment either way on the application as he is a member of the relevant Planning Committee and this would compromise his position. Members of Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Committee had also been invited but had declined the invitation.

Residents were then given the opportunity to ask questions:

Q. Could any of the new traffic lights be part-time, i.e. only in use during peak times?

A. This could be considered during the process. (Grantside)

Q. What are the implications for Bishopthorpe village?

A. The Traffic Management Plan is designed to make it easier for traffic to travel along Tadcaster Road, rather than go down Sim Balk Lane. The traffic along Tadcaster Road should be free flowing. (Grantside)

A. The Traffic Management Plan is based on traffic projected to 2010 and is designed to cope with additional traffic from the former York College site development. (Grantside)

Q. Concern was expressed that the traffic management proposals would have the opposite effect along Tadcaster Road. Is the data used for the Plan based on historical data?

A. Historical data has not been used. Current data has been used to give a baseline position now and the calculations are based on the baseline position and theoretical data for the effect of the current planning uses in the future using the National Planning Calculation. (Grantside)

Q. When the Traffic Management Plan information becomes available for public scrutiny, will there still be time for residents to comment on the application.

A. This is unlikely as the application is due to be considered by committee on 24^th July. (Cllr Fraser) [Note: subsequently deferred for a month].

Q. Concern was expressed that Grantside did not appear to know where particular locations are during  the earlier question and answer session. As this development is being done to make a profit, what will the cost be to local tax payers for road improvements?

A. This question cannot be answered as it would involve referring to a lot of technical financial information. (Cllr Galvin)

A. City of York Council fund highway improvement measures through the Local Transport Plan which attracts central government funding so there would not be any direct local tax cost. (Cllr Merrett)

Q. How will pedestrians living in the Mount Vale area be able to cross Tadcaster Road?

A. Traffic islands will be installed. (Grantside)

Q. What will the widening of Mount Vale entail?

A. One tree would have to be removed but parking conditions will remain the same. (Grantside)

Q. What is the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.