BIGGER roundabouts on the northern ring road costing £34 million will increase road space but fail to make any real impact on delays.

The evidence is in the council report approving this programme.

Before and after studies for the A59 roundabout completed only three years ago show average peak delays reduced from 15 minutes to 12 to 13 minutes, but local traffic levels are now 30 to 40 per cent higher than before the work started.

What are the implications for the rest of York’s highway network that is not being “upgraded”?

What about the impact from new traffic generated by York Central and the British Sugar site if we don’t plan 21st century alternatives to the private car?

The original 2008 outer ring road regional funding bid by the Lib Dem council, stated: “This combines city centre measures to encourage modal shift with capacity improvements on the ring road. To lock in the benefits … it is proposed to reallocate (city centre) road space to more sustainable modes.”

One such measure was “a dedicated public transport spine through the city centre, with Ouse Bridge designated for bus and taxi use only, linked to the existing restricted access route of Stonebow and Coppergate.”

Bigger roundabouts without all the identified city centre measures prioritising public transport, walking and cycling will just result in bigger traffic jams.

Cllr Andy D’Agorne, Green Party, York