A DECISION on whether a traffic lane should be reinstated at a controversial York junction could be brought forward, following Labour’s election victory.

City of York Council officers were originally due to compile a report on the possibility of reintroducing the left-hand filter route at the junction of Water End and Clifton Green by September.

But Clifton councillors called for it to be ready earlier after claiming the lane’s removal two years ago, as part of a scheme to create more cycling space, had caused major traffic problems and led to nearby residential streets becoming rat-runs.

Coun James Alexander, who will officially become council leader this week, said he wanted the report by highways officers to be tabled before September.

Coun David Scott said: “Myself and my two fellow Clifton councillors have written to the members of the council’s new cabinet asking them to take urgent action so the left-hand turn can be reinstated at the junction.

“We have received an assurance from the leader of the cabinet that he and the member for city strategy, Coun Dave Merrett, have already had discussions about changes to the junction. He has rejected delaying the decision until September as being too long a delay.

“We have also asked them what measures can now be taken to help the residents of Westminster Road and The Avenue with the continual rat-running which has blighted their road since the junction was changed.”

The council’s previous city strategy chief, Steve Galloway, ruled out bringing back the left-hand lane last December, with the estimated cost of doing so put at £35,000. However, Coun Scott said officers who were subsequently asked to take another look at the junction had told him the bill would be between £8,000 and £10,000.

His fellow Clifton councillor, Helen Douglas, said: “Before the election, we were told the previous Liberal Democrat administration would not consider making a decision on this junction before September at the earliest, but we have now secured a commitment and action on this and we will continue to press for our election pledges to be honoured.”

Coun Alexander said: “At my first meeting with the council’s chief executive, Kersten England, after the election, I raised the issue of Clifton Green and the need to reinstate the left-hand lane.

I have asked for options to come forward to the cabinet before September.”

York Press: The Press - Comment

Time for a fresh look at this lane

ENCOURAGING cycling as a healthy, green form of transport in York should be easy, you’d think. Far from it.

Few issues have provoked quite so much anger and recrimination on the letters pages of this newspaper as the war of words between cyclists and motorists. And nothing has crystallised that animosity quite so much as the Clifton cycle lane.

Introduced in 2009 at a cost of more than £500,000, the lane was unquestionably good for cyclists. Yet it provoked outrage among many motorists, who blamed it for causing huge bottlenecks at the busy junction where Water End meets Clifton. Local people also complained about their streets being turned into rat-runs.

There was talk last year of reintroducing a left-hand lane for motorists, with a cycle lane running down the middle. That was rejected on the grounds of expense – it would have cost £35,000, transport bosses said – and safety.

Earlier this year, however, prompted by opposition Labour councillors, officers agreed to investigate whether it would be possible to reintroduce the left-hand filter lane for motorists, this time without the cycle lane.

Now they are in power, Labour appear to be making this a priority. They want a report setting out options ready before September, and claim the changes can be made for just £8,000 to £10,000.

If that’s true, this is at least worth investigating. It would certainly be popular with motorists. Just don’t expect it to go down well with cyclists.

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