The first York Conservative Motion of the current council administration will seek to change the way the council deals with transport; stopping the war on the car user, prioritising disabled people with the reversal of the Lib Dem Blue Badge ban, progressing A1237 dualling, improving bus and cycling links to villages and ruling out a congestion charge.
If passed by councillors on Thursday the motion would lead to a more positive vision for transport in York across all user groups from disabled people being able to access the city centre again to ensuring government funding allocated for improving the A1237 is utilised and journey times cut.
Cllr Martin Rowley, Conservative Deputy Leader said ‘Residents have been clear that they are sick of the dysfunctional way the Lib Dems have dealt with transport in the city. For the last four years the Conservatives opposed road closures and inaction on road improvements, now with our motion we want to put down a marker to influence future travel and ensure residents are finally listened to’
Bishopthorpe Cllr Mike Nicholls added ‘Time and time again, village residents have told me they feel we need more investment in rural buses and cycle links to the city. But they also want to be able to drive into York and have been worried by Lib Dems and Labour saying in the past they are thinking about a York Congestion Charge, this motion if passed would stop such a charge’.
The full text of the Conservative Motion is below:
Getting York moving fairly
Council notes the transport problems in York from 2019-2023, caused by an administration clashing with itself and the damage that this has done to the council’s reputation amongst residents. Council believes it is vital that sustainable modes of transport including cycling and walking are prioritised but opposes a war on the car user. Council also believes inclusivity for all is paramount and that rural transport users need greater recognition and disabled people should be at the forefront of provision.
For the next four year administration, council asks the Executive to commit to:
- Look wherever possible to improve the cycle network, including better linking of villages
- Reverse the City Centre Blue Badge ban
- Rule out a Congestion Charge
- Address the stalled work on the dualling of the A1237
