Andy D'Agorne

Front at Hove

Our local MP has just issued a press release suggesting that he would support York in bidding for the latest round of government funding for cycling. Last time York didnt even try to become one of the current 'demonstration towns' getting funding. Some are starting from a very low base such as Derby, Aylesbury and Darlington, but others are notable as being locations with Green Party councillors - Brighton and Hove, Lancaster, Norwich. York could be a real challenge to achieve the objective of 'doubling cycling by 2012' but the biggest hurdle I can see is the lack of political will to take cycling seriously, compared to the money being spent on park and ride and traffic management such as roundabouts and extra traffic lanes.

Some excellent work has been done in the city with very little staff resources, so that most schools now have covered secure cycle parking and school safety zones outside (though some are regularly ignored by school run parents delivering their offspring) What would really make a difference though would be something bold around a new development such as Hungate, declaring the whole area a 'cycle priority zone' with serious promotion in partnership with the developers to promote cycling to new residents and council staff moving into the new council offices. If you are keen to see York recover its reputation as a cycling city then talk to your councillor about pushing for us to make a bid for this money, however difficult it might be for us to justify being a priority - without it the overall trend for spending on new cycle provision in York is downwards while the obstacles and traffic just get worse.   I have already suggested to the Leader that this needs to be put on the agenda of our LSP (Without Wall Board) since bids require active support of health and education partnerships. In terms of exercise and developing independent travel for young people, safe cycle routes are an excellent investment and I will be pushing for York to make that leap back into the forefront of sustainable travel that it is currently losing ground on.

The next ward meeting will be on February 5th at 7pm at St George's School when we will be GIVING AWAY various things to help you to be green - compost bins jute bags, water savers for your cistern etc. Before that we will be holding special meetings and displays - Mon 28th at Fulford Social Hall and Wed 30th at the Danesgate Centre (was Fulford Cross School). After that there will be a display in the window of an empty shop near Fields Fayre opposite the Fulford Arms until the deadline of FEB 8th. If you havent been sent a questionnaire go to www.york.gov.uk/consultation to find the online version (one for residents and one for non residents)

The ward meeting will have a presentation from David Webster about the planned radical changes to improve sustainable transport on Fulford Rd, though the main exhibition and meeting will be the week before on Wed Jan 30th at the new Danesgate Centre Fulford Cross. The exhibition will be there from 2pm- 7pm with a formal meeting 7pm-9pm. There will be a leaflet and questionnaire to every house, as well as on the council website and on buses running down the route. This is THE BIG chance to get better facilities for cycling and walking on the main road that cuts through the middle of the ward. It is a once in a decade or more opportunity.. the deadline for your comments is Feb 8th so please do check out the meetings or website and make your views known. Anyone who uses the road can comment, if it is your route to school, to bingo, to your friends house, to your hairdressers!

Overall I think the changes are long overdue. I am not convinced that we need so many pedestrian crossings, and especially think we should not replace a zebra with a bleeping traffic light controlled one which is likely to cause more delay for pedestrians or motorists at peak times than civilised road use respecting the highway code. I think parking near to shops should be for a 30 min maximum during the weekday, to ensure it is used by shoppers not those avoiding car park charges. And I think that we should do our best to keep most of the trees but provide some segregated off road cycleways where there is a wide pavement and few side roads or houses such as in front of the Barracks. This will be even more important if the vehicle lane on the road is narrowed to provide a bus lane in the opposite direction. Bus lanes in at least some places are needed to speed up the park and ride buses and discourage those car commuters who could as easily park at the Designer Outlet. These changes need to be in place as soon as possible, so that they are there when new residents in the Barbican development, Hungate etc are looking at their travel options along Fishergate/ Cemetery Rd/ Fulford Rd and the inner ring road.   

In October City of York council agreed to press ahead with a deal to enter a partnership with N Yorkshire CC for a 25 yr PFI  funded waste treatment plant. So far no site or technology has been decided, although this should move a step closer in 2008. Recycling rates have increased to 40%, although the roll out of kerbside collection has slowed as the terraced streets and flats (13% of households) present more difficulties. However by Dec 2010 government legislation requires all properties to have at least two categories of recyclates collected - so why is it that our target has been set at only 46.3%for 2009/10 and the same for the following year? Could it be that recycling facilities will be cut once the new treatment plant comes on stream, demanding more of our rubbish to burn? What is the economics of separating out rubbish by hand when there will be a shiney new plant that takes everything and burns anything combustible?

If we are to have a treatment plant, the site is likely to be remote from major centres like York, where the waste heat could most efficiently be used. Sheffield, for all its lack of recycling, does at least have the incinerator close to the city centre providing heat through underground pipes to offices, shops and a leisure centre. So will the villagers of Tockwith welcome the idea of waste heat and 'Energy from Waste'? I wonder!

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Posted by: andydag    in: Dealing with our waste