Agenda item

To advise the Executive Member of a petition presented to Council, earlier this year, calling on the Council to make representations to improve the bus service between South Bank / Bishopthorpe Road areas and the City Centre.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member agrees to:

i)              Note the content of the petition and inform the lead petitioner of the outcome of the report.

ii)            Support the following options:

a.     Consult on making changes to the operation of Queen Victoria Street and Balmoral Terrace through traffic management measures to assist the progress of buses through the street (for example by installing formal passing places or by converting the road into a one way street from Bishopthorpe Road towards the Knavesmire).

b.     Examine the potential for more effective enforcement measures to improve bus priority in the City Centre.

c.      Discuss redistribution of the route 11 timetable with First Group, giving particular consideration to delays in the City Centre and at the Heworth end of the route.

d.     Continue to proactively seek possible frequency improvements in conjunction with the developers of the former Terry’s factory site.

REASON:                  Council officers are working to further promote, sustain and develop the local bus network in South Bank and along Bishopthorpe Road. These measures would all, potentially, improve the quality of service offered to residents in the area.

Consideration was given to a report, which referred to a petition presented to Council making representations to improve the bus service between the South Bank/Bishopthorpe Road areas and the City Centre.

Officers confirmed that currently two public bus services operated in the area;

• Route 11 (Bishopthorpe – South Bank – City – Heworth)
• Route 21 (Colton – Acaster Malbis – Askham Bar – South Bank – City)

Ward Members pointed out that these routes served a significant number of elderly people and questioned the possible re–routing of the Nos.11 service along Nunnery Lane. They had also raised concerns regarding the reliability of this route, which First Group had put down to highway obstructions. It was confirmed that Ward Members had subsequently not suggested any changes to the Officer recommendations.

The Executive Member confirmed that he was happy to support Ward Members views at this stage although he felt that there may be some resident resistance to any proposals to reduce car parking space availability.

The following options are presented for the Executive Member’s consideration to improve the reliability of the service:

a.     Consult on making changes to the operation of Queen Victoria Street and Balmoral Terrace through traffic management measures to assist the progress of buses through the street (for example by installing formal passing places or by converting the road into a one way street from Bishopthorpe Road towards the Knavesmire).

b.     Examine the potential for more effective enforcement measures to improve bus priority in the City Centre.

c.      Discuss redistribution of the route 11 timetable with First Group, giving particular consideration to delays in the City Centre and at the Heworth end of the route.

The following options are presented for the Executive Member’s consideration for the enhancement of the services:

d.     Give consideration to enhancing the frequency of either service 11 or service 21 through an open tendering process.

e.     Continue to proactively seek possible frequency improvements in conjunction with the developers of the former Terry’s factory site.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member agrees to:

i)                    Note the content of the petition and inform the lead petitioner of the outcome of the report. ¹.

ii)                  Support the following options:

a.     Consult on making changes to the operation of Queen Victoria Street and Balmoral Terrace through traffic management measures to assist the progress of buses through the street (for example by installing formal passing places or by converting the road into a one way street from Bishopthorpe Road towards the Knavesmire).

b.     Examine the potential for more effective enforcement measures to improve bus priority in the City Centre.

c.      Discuss redistribution of the route 11 timetable with First Group, giving particular consideration to delays in the City Centre and at the Heworth end of the route.

d.     Continue to proactively seek possible frequency improvements in conjunction with the developers of the former Terry’s factory site. ^2.

REASON:                  Council officers are working to further promote, sustain and develop the local bus network in South Bank and along Bishopthorpe Road. These measures would all, potentially; improve the quality of service offered to residents in the area.