Agenda item

Council officers will report on the review of the new arrangements and listen to your concerns.

6.1       Cllr Taylor gave an introduction to the topic. They are aware that there are a number of problems with the changes made, but people are asked to remember that this is a huge project, and not yet complete.

6.2       David Webster, Project Manager, talked through the recently completed safety audit on the Fulford Road alterations. Some of the main findings included:

6.3             Difficulties for cyclists exiting the Hospital Fields Road junction.

6.4             Between Hospital Fields Road and Fulford Cross, there is confusion over where bus and vehicle lanes merge. Also there are concerns about turning into and out of Maple Grove, Imphal Barracks and the Aldi/Iceland car park.

6.5             The section near Fulford Cross is currently incomplete because a gas main was discovered while working on the site. The gas company has been ordered to fix the issue, but this has not yet happened.

6.6             It is not obvious where the shared-use facilities on the eastern and western side start and end. There are also issues with some cyclists travelling too fast.

6.7             Some general concern and confusion about the use of puffin crossings. Residents who are unfamiliar with how to use them can email toby.knight@york.gov.uk and request a leaflet.

6.8             Some of these problems can and are being addressed with rather painless quick fixes. Any major alterations would require a report to be prepared and submitted to the council. There would also be a significant cost.

6.9             Cllr Taylor pointed out that there are also many benefits to some of the changes made. The plans were not knocked-up overnight. Council officers, council members, the contractors and local residents were all consulted (although the public consultation perhaps could have included more properties), and the problems now experienced were not foreseen by anyone.

Residents made the following comments. Council officers made note of these and will take them away and analyse along with other feedback received:

Q         Traffic speed has increased since the changes. This has made crossing the road at Broadway junction more difficult.

Q         A proper crossing, instead of a traffic island, is required near the supermarkets.

Q         The scheme is awful for cyclists. It makes Fulford Road the most dangerous road in York for cycles; especially with the increased traffic speed. Off-road cycle lanes are required. Turning right is dangerous all the way along the road.

Q            Changes may be expensive, but I have personally witnessed 3 near misses. How long must residents wait until the problem is fixed?

Q         Traffic is being backed up all the way into town due to the changes by the supermarkets (turning into and out of the car parks).

Q            Regular bus user. Have spoken with all the drivers; none of whom like the bus lane by the supermarkets or feel that it has improved travel time.

Q         Taxis travel far too fast on the bus lanes. Turning into Maple Grove, taxis and bikes can be obscured by larger vehicles. Would like the filters back.

Q         Why aren’t the entire stretch of bike lanes painted green? There are also too many signs.

Q         How do visually impaired people cross by puffin crossings? There is no noise made when the green man appears.

Q            Crossing the road to Iceland as a pedestrian is made dangerous as cyclists travel through area where pedestrians wait.

Q         Does the council want people to cycle on the road or not? We are getting mixed signals. Cycling on the road is more efficient, but is now made extremely dangerous.

6.10            Jonathan Tyler noted that council officers will return to report back at the October ward committee meeting, giving an indication of what the next steps might be.