Agenda item

Sir Ron Cooke will share about the progress of Reinvigorate York. This initiative was set up to enhance and restore the city centre’s public spaces, improve traffic and pedestrian flow and increase its tourism, retail and cultural appeal.

3.1    Sir Ron Cooke, Chair of York Civic Trust spoke about Reinvigorate York initiative with help of PowerPoint presentation.

3.2    The initiative was launched to breathe new life in to the centre of York. City of York Council's Cabinet teamed up with Sir Ron Cooke - chair of York Civic Trust and York's Local Strategic Partnership ("Without Walls") to lead on an ambitious new initiative to improve and enhance the quality of the city's public spaces.

3.3    City Centre Design Group was set up in order to produce a protocol for new design in the city centre.  With reference to the design protocol, the Group will oversee all new design and maintenance decisions in the city centre in terms of strategy, specific detail, and coordination.

3.4    City of York could become world heritage site, as it meets all the criteria, however international competition is growing tougher and some degradation of York’s environment quality has occurred in recent years. The initiative will work to reverse that degradation. This year whole nation will focus on York during the Queen visit and York 800 celebrations. This opportunity should be used to get things right.

3.5    The initiative will also look at economic development of the city, not only tourism. Examples of where improvements could be made were presented to the meeting.

·        Existing street furniture, such as seats should be replaced by good quality ones and good maintenance should be ensured.

·        Removal of litter bins from the city centre in Brussels has proven successful in decreasing amount of litter. Similar scheme should be implemented in York.

·        Same style decorated street lamp posts.

·        Tiled pedestrian crossings.

·        King’s Square public realm enhancement.

·        St. Sampson’s Square and Parliament Street public realm enhancement.

·        Deteriorated pavements enhancement.

·        Fossgate New Foot Street.

·        Piccadilly junction improvements.

·        Duncombe Place public realm enhancement.

·        New CYC Offices

·        Improved on street parking regulations for the city centre.

·        Removal of unnecessary road signs.

·        Removal of unnecessary bollards.

·        Parking payment on exit from the city centre.

·        Introduction of Wi-Fi.

·        Make use of vacant space above shops. Those could be converted to flats.

3.6    Local Development Framework, Detail Study of Historic Core, Movement and Accessibility Framework, Foot Streets Review   documents were created and appropriate use has to be made of them. 

3.7    Reinvigorate York have formulated policy that consists of the following four themes:

·        Restoration, refurbishment and enhancement.

·        Changes to the traffic of the inner city.

·        Encourage development of cultural and retail businesses.

·        Major projects.

Residents were given opportunity to raise questions.

Q       Could something be done about double yellow lines? In some areas they are barely visible.

A       Double lines were put down and never repainted again. We envisage that in pedestrian’s only areas double yellow lines will be removed, as there will be no parking.

Q       In the current economic climate resources and manpower should be used more wisely.

A       That is a good point.

Q       Could you look at the alleyway leading from Coney Street towards the river? It is not accessible due to security reasons currently. 

A       That will be looked into, as it is great opportunity for boats parking. The boats company involvement is crucial here.

          Guildhall and Mansion Yard sites form great opportunity for additional access to the river bank.

Q       Marygate will be closed from May to July. It will impact the mooring site. Is there a possibility to open additional mooring site somewhere else?

Q       What are the city centre parking and access time limits for delivery vans?

A       The foot streets review is currently taking place. The proposal is to extend the pedestrians only access time to 10am. Inner city has to have daytime deliveries; however there is a discussion about possible transhipment scheme that would enable lorries to stop at Park& Ride site and small vans taking the delivery to the city centre.