Free parking to be axed on busy York road with cycle lane plan

City of York Council has come up with the plan to create a continuous cycle route from the Iron Bridge on Holgate Road to the junction with Acomb Road.

It will see some parking spaces lost, and some restricted to residents only, but the council's transport boss has reprieved a few spots on the road for the sake of businesses nearby.

Cllr Ian Gillies, the executive member for transport and planning, approved the overall scheme at a public decision session yesterday.

Green councillor Andy D'Agorne had spoken at the meeting asking for wider cycles lanes at some points, and urging the council officers to make sure cycle logos are put on the right place in the road to warn people in parked cars to look out for cyclists.

He added: "This may be beyond the scope of this current programme but I feel the real need is for cycle lanes on Holgate bridge itself."

Representations also came from St Paul's Church, who asked for longer parking periods on the remaining parking bays, so people could use them to visit the church.

Cllr Gillies also spoke of concerns from a hairdresser's and York Bridge Club, which rely on the on-street parking for customers. He asked transport staff to leave the parking bays outside of those venues out of the changes, until the organisations have had chance to speak to the council about their concerns.

Tom Blair, transport projects officer for the council, said in a written report that the parking changes had been supported by local residents in a consultation, although there was opposition from owners of guest houses along Holgate Road.

He said the spaces were currently used by people who did not live in the area, and said: "Officers’ view of the uncontrolled parking on this side of Holgate Road by commuters and shoppers is that it undermines the council’s transport strategy.

"Uncontrolled parking of this nature does not encourage the use of the council’s Park&Ride sites, and leads to further congestion and pollution."