Agenda item

Come along to find out more about potential sites for a Park and Ride site on the Ring Road, at the intersection of the B1363.

2.1       Paul Thackray from City Strategy at City of York Council described plans for a new Park & Ride scheme from the intersection of the ring road and the B1363. It is one of three new Park & Ride schemes. The others are an extension to the existing Askham Bar site which is currently small and oversubscribed and a site on the A59 opposite Wyvale.

2.2       The proposed Wigginton Road scheme is on a B road but at peak times this route carries as much traffic as an A road. There are four possible locations for the site, one in each corner of the interchange.

2.3       Sites 1 and 2 are to the north of the ring road and have the advantage of picking up traffic before the ring road. The disadvantage of these sites is that the Park & Ride buses would have to negotiate the roundabout. Site 2 also has a drought drain running through it. New signalised access will have to be built for all sites.

2.4       Sites 3 and 4 are on the south side of the ring road which means that the buses don’t have to negotiate the roundabout. Site 3 is also close to the railway which has potential for later development. Site 4 is closest to Clifton Moor Business Park and will have the least visual impact. It could have a secondary bus route around the area which would mean more journeys out of the city.

2.5       All four sites will provide a route to and from the hospital. From CYC’s perspective, sites 2 and 4 are the most attractive, but the decision will be made by the council executive.

2.6       The consultation process involves ward committees and, at the end of the month, a more detailed consultation with people within a 2km radius of the site, which amounts to approximately 2,000 properties. The planning application will be submitted in August, a decision will be taken in February 2010 and construction should begin in Autumn 2010.

Q. The sites are different sizes – is capacity an issue?

A. Yes, we want a site with capacity for 500 vehicles. Any site will be heavily landscaped and lit only during hours of operation.

Q. Where is the other end of the bus corridor?

A. The route will go from Wigginton Road, by Bumper Castle, Clarence Street and Lord Mayor’s Walk. The traffic lights will be phased in favour of the bus along the route, there will be a bus priority lane before the railway crossing and the bus will call the green phase on Crichton Avenue.

Q. How many journeys are you hoping to stop?

A. It could save 2,000 journeys.

Q. What about security arrangements?

A. There will be gold standard car parking, with CCTV and low landscaping. We have consulted with the Architectural Liaison Officer.

Q. Is there any variation in costs between the sites?

A. The costs are similar for all sites. It will cost £5-£6 million for each site, including construction and design.

Q. Are you worried about light pollution?

A. Lighting will be off out of hours of operation.

Q. Sites 1 and 4 would involve vehicles turning right across traffic.

A. Yes, traffic from the north would have to cross traffic via a signalised entrance.

Cllr. Hyman thanked Paul Thackray for attending the meeting and the minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and signed.