IT’S good to get confirmation from the council’s transport chief of the coalition’s official position on York’s traffic congestion; there’s no problem (The Press, September 21).

However, those drivers sat in frequent queues, particularly on the outer ring road and main arterial routes in and out of the city, will be incredulous to hear this news.

Business leaders who actually understand the impact of congestion on the local economy’s ability to grow will be equally nonplussed.

While Cllr Gillies has demonstrated honesty in saying he doesn’t think York has a congestion problem, he hasn’t shown the same honesty in his denunciation of the proposed Congestion Commission.

Stopping this was presented as being about preventing outsiders earning money telling York what it already knows.

We now learn it was actually because he doesn’t believe York has a congestion problem.

Being in power confers you the ability to do something to tackle the important challenges the city faces.

Choosing to do nothing is both a waste of time and opportunity and will only hold York back.

The poor air quality that’s causing health problems and upwards of an estimated 50,000 premature deaths nationally each year, of which York plays its part, demands action is taken now.

Cllr Janet Looker (Labour), Guildhall ward, Clifton Dale, York

 

WITH reference to recent reports on poor air quality in York (The Press, September 3), I feel the city has caused its own poor air quality and probably know how to help reverse the problem.

Here are a few reasons.

Stop-start unfit-for-purpose traffic light system, 20mph speed restrictions, chicanes, speed humps, badly sited bus stops and pedestrian crossings, bendy buses, closed roads, grass verges on narrow roads, ie Gale Lane, Water Lane, Burdyke Avenue etc.

J Martin, Windmill Rise, York