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.

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