TRANSPORT chiefs in York are set to be asked to start drawing up plans for how the city’s traffic problems can be tackled without forcing drivers to pay a congestion charge.

The possibility of introducing a London-style levy on motorists to raise money for schemes aimed at preventing York becoming gridlocked has been ruled out following a review of the issue by a City of York Council task group.

The authority’s approach is instead expected to concentrate on improving bus services and making cycling and walking more attractive alternatives to car use, with a final report on the situation due to go before the council’s executive shortly.

And officers are now due to get to work on compiling a “strategic transport package” based on the cross-party traffic congestion ad hoc scrutiny committee’s recommendations, including seeking Government funding for the necessary measures. The committee has recommended that improvements to York bus networks should be given the “highest priority”, with possible rail initiatives being placed at the bottom of the list because they are considered “expensive and lower benefit”.

But they also say “other innovative and creative ways” of dealing with congestion without introducing charging should be looked at in case the public spending straitjacket means applications for funding fail.

The transport task group’s analysis, which included a huge public consultation exercise, has said creating a new Park&Ride site at Wetherby Road, updating junctions on the Outer Ring Road and bringing a freight transhipment depot to York to avoid lorries having to enter the city centre could also be examined.