A COUNCILLOR claims a major route into York risks gridlock because of a lack of sustainable transport proposals under York’s final draft Local Plan.

Andy D’Agorne, a Green councillor for Fishergate,says the plan will be ‘unsound’ without further action to tackle congestion on the A19 Fulford Road.

He was speaking out after lodging an objection to Imphal Barracks, situated on the road, being allocated for a major housing development in the plan, following the announcement that it is set to close in 2031.

He said there was an absence of adequate sustainable transport plans to cope with the travel demands from a proposed new ‘garden village’ of 3,339 new homes near Elvington, the 655-home Germany Beck scheme in Fulford, which already has permission, and the 769 houses proposed at the barracks.

He said Local Plan documents said the increase in morning and evening peak inbound traffic delays in Fulford Road was predicted to be the worst in the city, with a 23 per cent to 31 per cent increase in travel times on 2016 levels within just over a decade.

“This takes account of Germany Beck but is before taking into account any additional traffic to the barracks site,” he said.

“As it stands, the final draft Local Plan fails to ensure adequate alternatives to the private car and has no serious plan to prevent gridlock” he said.

“York’s major new development sites should be the opportunity to secure sustainable features including modern transport networks – thousands of electric cars might cut pollution but will have no impact on congestion.

“The Local Plan should be the opportunity for us to think big and look at options such as a light rail system to link the new developments to the South of York with the University and City Centre, potentially continuing as tram train out to British Sugar site and Poppleton and north east to Haxby and Strensall.”

A spokeswoman for Conservative council leader Ian Gillies said the administration did not wish to comment on individual Local Plan submissions at this time.