Need for ambition (From York Press)

Need for ambition

10:14am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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I think we can all agree that “York is rightly famous for its history, and that its medieval road network was not designed for 21st-century traffic”.

However, City of York Council’s consultation on Tackling Traffic Congestion In York does not appear to take notice of this fact.

The consultation states that “if nothing is done by the year 2021, traffic levels are forecast to increase by 28 per cent above 2005 levels”.

But it then presents four scenarios, which cater for traffic growth in the range eight to 21per cent.

I strongly believe the target should be zero traffic growth, at most, to be achieved by much-improved provision of alternatives, including rail, bus, cycling and walking, together with policies to guarantee that travel by public transport within the city is competitive, in terms of travel times and costs, with use of the private car.

This is vital in order to address the environmental impacts of traffic; local air pollution from traffic already reaches or exceeds EU standards at peak times in some locations, traffic noise dominates many areas and, as a global historic city, York must demonstrate a serious effort to reduce overall CO2 emissions.

Where are the policies to encourage zero and low-emission vehicles and electrically-powered public transport?

None of the four scenarios presented in Tackling Traffic Congestion In York is sufficiently ambitious.

I understand that transport plays an important role for any city; what we need is a transport system that recognises the constraints of the existing medieval city while enhancing the accessibility of York for all, rather than simply attempting to meet forecast travel demands.

I urge the council to reconsider the options for the future presented in this public consultation.

Colin Sherwood, Clifton Place, York.