IN RESPONSE to Ian Foster (Letters, July 28) who states that “Displaced traffic has to go somewhere” when roads are closed or re-prioritised.

Is Ian suggesting that the same levels of motor traffic will always inevitably be with us?

Or is he prepared to consider that York can achieve what successful traffic policies have achieved in many other European cities?

Artificial priority for multi-occupancy cars, public transport and cycling, coupled with peak time road pricing, have been very effective at reducing the demand for many urban car journeys.

York’s current local transport plan recognises this, and seeks to further reduce car dependency around the city.

Let us hope that our newly-elected and re-elected local politicians are prepared to let this heavily influence their decision making.

After all, no-one can magic York out of its travel woes, nor can any city build its way out of congestion.

Perhaps Ryedale’s recent refusal to help out with York’s housing needs will focus minds on redeveloping York’s local brownfield sites.

These can be well served by all forms of transport, rather than being car dependent.

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, York

 

MANY opinions have been aired recently about 20mph speed limits, and the coalition executive has now ruled existing residential restrictions are to remain, while the outlying villages ‘roll-out’ is halted.

Councillors state it would be too costly to dismantle existing signage – good money after bad.

However, it could be done overnight, and at no expense to the council or taxpayer.

Under supervision, known metal thieves, Gypsies or tinkers could be tasked to uplift all poles and signs; signage taken to bona fide scrap metal merchants - Clancey’s of Murton; all proceeds retained by workforce. Job done.

Such speed limits must remain outside schools, but modified to copy those in Scotland.

Sensibly they mount the 20mph limit on a white backing board with an amber light attached under which in bold lettering is displayed: “When light flashes”. This light is operated by school staff, and only when school is in session.

Why should a motorist in York when passing a school on an August Bank Holiday Monday at 10am slow to 20mph when the little darlings, and indeed their teachers, are thousands of miles away enjoying their hot holidays abroad?

The canny Scots have applied a sensible compromise, which ought to be introduced here.

Geoffrey Widdows, East Mount Road, York