REGARDING the controversy surrounding the new road layout at Clifton Green and the subsequent involvement of Westminster Road, I have a simple solution.

Make the new layout one-way with two lanes sharing from the exit of the slip road running down the side of the green and finishing at the traffic lights, one lane turning left on to Shipton Road and the other turning right into Bootham.

Traffic from Shipton Road and Water Lane wanting to go over Clifton Bridge can travel a few yards further up the road towards Bootham and turn right into the entrance to the slip road at Clifton Green, exiting from the slip road to go over the bridge as traffic from Bootham already does.

A tin of paint is all that is required to solve both problems, everyone is happy, including the cyclists.

CM Ritchie, Alwyne Drive, Shipton Road, York.


* CP Hird, of Haxby, denounced the build outs, grass verges and traffic islands, recently added along Fulford Road (Readers’ Letters, September 14). He claims these slow down traffic flows, which creates pollution.

But these measures give priority to those who are willing and able to contribute to traffic reduction and air quality improvements, by using alternative travel modes. That, in turn, will create road capacity for essential car travel. It will also help public transport, servicing and delivery journeys to be more efficiently accomplished. There seems to be a wide range of specious arguments by those who are wedded to car use, and who vigorously defend their perceived “right to drive”.

The number of traffic lights, closure of rat-runs and reallocation of road space are equally condemned. But buying a car, will not automatically propel their owners to the front of York’s transport users hierarchy.

Many sensible suburban residents have accepted this, and car share to Park&Ride or get the bike out of the garage, for peak time travel.

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, York.


* WHY doesn’t Councillor Steve Galloway bite the bullet and give the small stretch of road in Water End back to its rightful owners, the road tax-paying motorist?

They drivers could once again turn left into Shipton Road, thereby freeing up the road for those wishing to turn right.

The problem for Westminster Road residents and the worsening traffic jams back to Boroughbridge Road would be solved.

You created this havoc, Mr Galloway, by trying to please a tiny minority of cyclists who use this route, and who in any case were already riding on the existing pedestrian footpath.

Instead of trying to fix the problems you have magnified the problems by dabbling in 20-mile-per-hour speed limits, chicanes, build-outs etc. Why not admit it has never worked since it was implemented, and return it to the status quo?

This must be resolved before you embark on another cycling fiasco in Beckfield Lane, thereby creating more furious residents whose opinions don’t seem to count.

Mrs W P Carter, Marston Crescent, Acomb, York.