Bid for inquiry in new road junction row at Clifton Green, York (From York Press)

Local residents say introduction of cycling facilities at Clifton Green caused traffic problems in nearby streets

10:54am Saturday 8th August 2009 in News By Gavin Aitchison , gavin.aitchison@thepress.co.uk

THE battle lines have been drawn in the row over a controversial roads shake-up in York, as city leaders consider launching a full-scale inquiry.

At the Guildhall next week, councillors will debate the £500,000 revamp of the Clifton Green junction and related traffic problems in nearby streets.

Local householders and politicians say City of York Council botched the introduction of cycling facilities in the area, and say action is needed to stop motorists using Westminster Road and The Avenue as rat-runs.

But their critics insist the scheme must be given time before being judged, while one has blamed private school parents for exacerbating the problem by driving into the neighbourhood in 4x4s at rush-hour.

Paul Hepworth, of the Cyclists’ Touring Club in York, said: “There seems to be a preponderance of parents bringing their offspring by private car, which includes a significant proportion of SUV type 4x4 vehicles.”

Mr Hepworth was among various people consulted about whether to launch an inquiry into the work at Clifton Green, completed in the spring, and the resultant complaints.

The old left-filter lane was given over to cyclists, leading to tailbacks for cars turning from Water End to Shipton Road.

Next Wednesday, the council’s economic and city development overview and scrutiny committee will look into the problems, after Labour leader David Scott submitted a “councillor call for action”.

Coun Steve Galloway, the council’s executive member for transport issues, said changes to the traffic light system had eased the problems in recent weeks and said it should be “given time to settle down”.

The city’s former cycling champion, Coun Joe Watt, who resigned in April, citing unease with a number of transport projects, including that at Clifton Green, welcomed the review.

But his successor, Coun Andy D’Agorne, said council officials should look at a raft of issues across the city, not just Clifton Green. He said local councillors had not exhausted all options for tackling the problems.