WHILE watching the webcast of City of York Council’s recent full meeting, I noted a hackneyed phrase used by Councillor Joe Watt, that “traffic was flowing” recently at a city road junction, because its traffic lights were blacked out by a fault.

In that situation, I would not wish to be a mobility restricted pedestrian or a mum with a baby in a buggy, who needed to cross the road at that point.

Joe also wheeled out his “traffic must flow” mantra at a past scrutiny meeting. Is he suggesting that a local authority must always try to accommodate whatever level of demand exists?

It’s only thanks to the radical policies of past Labour and Lib Dem administrations that York has managed to stabilise peak traffic levels.

That’s why our present Local Transport Plan sensibly seeks further reductions in car dependency. It will ensure that those who genuinely need to use a car, can continue to do so.

Priority infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists(including couriers), bus and taxi users plus car sharing and city car club short-term hire, will all play a vital role. That’s the way forward, rather than the impossible dream of a motorists' paradise in York.

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, York.