RESIDENTS are to be consulted on the introduction of four 20mph zones in York after money was made available for the scheme.

Coun Steve Galloway, City of York Council’s executive member for city strategy, has agreed to allocate nearly £10,000 to create 20mph zones in the Holly Bank area, Westminster Road, Low Poppleton Road and Millfield Lane.

The zones will only be introduced if the majority of people who respond to the consultation are in support of them and no significant practical objections are raised.

Coun Galloway said: “The highest priority is being given to those roads with a record of accidents.

“This has resulted in a recommendation that four streets be progressed to the formal consultation stage on whether a 20mph limit should be introduced.”

Coun Galloway also approved a prioritised list of petitions and requests for similar measures in other parts of the city and agreed to carry out a poll in the summer to get residents’ views on the introduction of a city-wide 20mph zone.

Meanwhile, a new cycle lane is to be trialled on one of York’s busiest roads after Coun Galloway gave his backing to the proposal.

The metre-wide inbound cycle lane will be tested in Gillygate to see if it improves safety.

Coun Galloway decided to defer the decision on trialling another cycle lane along Museum Street and across Lendal Bridge after the police, cycling organisations and other councillors raised concerns.

He said he would wait to see whether or not the advisory lane in Gillygate was respected by motorists and whether cyclists considered it to be effective.