Today marks the half-way stage in the six-month trial of new traffic rules on Lendal Bridge. Mark Stead asked four interested parties for their views. Have your say below.

WILL PEARSON, business manager for First in York
“We fully support City of York Council in its implementation of the Lendal Bridge trial and will continue to do so over the coming months. From our viewpoint, the punctuality of our buses has seen a sustained improvement since the beginning of this trial and this is good news for our bus customers in York.”

BILL BROLLY, secretary of the Independent Taxi Association which represents hackney carriage drivers
“I think it’s absolutely first-class. Fares for many journeys have come down by a couple of pounds because there is less waiting and running time, and we have cut between ten and 15 minutes off a journey between York Station and the hospital because of less traffic in Tea Room Square, Station Road, Exhibition Square and Gillygate. We can get there and back quicker, and from that point of view it’s made things a lot better.”

SUSIE CAWOOD, head of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
“We have received a great deal of negative feedback about the Lendal Bridge closure. Businesses from York and the wider region have overwhelmingly expressed huge concern over the council’s decision to close one of the arterial routes into the city. It is vital all businesses are given support to thrive and grow, not hindered by idealistic and unreasonable transport strategies.”

KATE MCMULLEN, head of Visit York
"We are pleased that ways to improve the city-centre environment for all are being investigated. Visit York has seen a mixed response so far from tourism businesses and visitors, some saying they welcome the changes, others saying their business has been affected. We remain concerned about the longer-term impact of fining visitors who have inadvertently used the bridge when closed. Reducing the number of fines being issued is our greatest concern and we’d like to see measures to address this."

What are your views on the trial? Have your say below.