AP Cox asked ‘where traffic will go’ during the Micklegate Bar trial closure and the station forecourt revamp (Letters, December 5). He cited extra pollution as a reason for not proceeding with these schemes, and wrote of a ‘missed opportunity’ to create a link road through part of the Nestlé site. He claimed that this would ‘ease congestion’.

Mr Cox may rest assured that our council planners and highway engineers work in close harmony, to assess the impact of planned developments. The ‘traffic must flow’ mantra expressed by Mr Cox suggests that the council must bend over backwards to try and accommodate whatever level of demand exists for car use.

In fact the opposite is true. Reducing road capacity causes beneficial behavioural change in car use, including multiple trips combined, car sharing, and use of City Car Club.

More priority measures for Park & Ride, cycling and walking encourage modal shift. Those who need to use a motor vehicle can do so more easily. More information can be found on the iTravel York website.

Like most urban local authorities on the planet, York has recognised that we cannot build our way out of congestion with new roads. Hence our local transport plan has further reductions in car dependency at its heart. Next year’s local elections will be of interest. Let us see how many candidates promise to deliver the impossible dream of an urban motoring paradise.

Paul Hepworth,

Windmill Rise,

Holgate, York