With school holidays in full swing, and the astronomical price of fuel, one would think the usual terrible traffic congestion within York would be lessened. Not so.

During the evening rush hour, the Hull Road out of York is nearly always at a complete standstill.

The problem seems to be exacerbated by the traffic lights, both at Grimston Bar and outside B&Q, which will only allow through a small handful of vehicles travelling along the A1079 out of York.

It is clear to see, especially at the B&Q lights, that the phasing is biased towards those vehicles travelling into York, and for traffic turning out from the Osbaldwick Link Road.

This has the dangerous result of gridlock around the Field Lane roundabout, tailing back towards both the city centre and the university.

Even when the traffic further up the dual carriageway has moved forward towards the Grimston Bar junction, the small gap it has

left is then filled by vehicles doing a U-turn from the Park & Ride, and from the Osbaldwick industrial estate.

This means that when the B&Q lights are at green, traffic already on the Hull Road travelling out from York is unable to make any progress for several light changes.

Being stuck on that short stretch of road most days of the week, unable to move for relatively long periods of time, is no fun!

This is a complete waste of precious fuel, and causes huge amounts of unnecessary pollution and frustration to all those caught up in the jams.

Is there not a better way of phasing and coordinating both sets of lights that would allow traffic travelling out from York on the Hull Road to flow more smoothly and efficiently?

F Jones,

New Building,

Main Street,

Heslington, York.

Updated: 10:28 Monday, August 15, 2005