Andy D'Agorne

Much to the annoyance of the Tories who are pinning their electoral chances on it, plans to 'dual' the northern outer ring road look set to run into the sand after a second consultants report has shown it wouldnt get government approval as the idea is again assessed as representing 'poor' value for money. The report to the city Executive on Sept 23rd updates one with similar findings in 2005 that was largely ignored by the 'Future York' inquiry by local business interests. 'Future York' called for the road to be widened in order to solve the city's failing economic prospects, largely on the basis of the views of business leaders rather than any empirical evidence that it would cut congestion.

The consultants again suggest more lanes at the junctions as the most cost effective option to increase the capacity of the whole network. Here is the Green Party press statement issued tonight:

Greens hail ditching of dualling plan

A report to the Council Executive released today has confirmed what the
Green Party and many other groups have been saying for years: dualling
York's outer ring-road would be a waste of money as well as being a social and
environmental disaster.

The report examines options ranging from current planned improvements
through to the building of a new relief road on the north side of the existing ring road.
Each was examined against transport policy and traffic impacts. The results
were absolutely clear: dualling any section of the ring road is not worth the enormous cost.

The option recommended is to carry out highway improvement works on most of
the junctions on the northern ring road. Andy D'Agorne, leader of the Council's
Green Group, says, "The recommended option comes in at £42 million. This is
still a huge expense, and mainly brought on by the overdevelopment of
housing sites around the city (which given the current climate may not be built for
years)."

If the bid were to be successful the Council would still have to pay over
£5m of the cost itself, and take on much of the risk of unexpected project overruns.

"Even if the £42m scheme doesn't go ahead, the Council proposes to
spend £1.5m in project development costs. When you compare these figures to
the £3.6 million we got to be a Cycling Demonstration Town, it's clear spending money on the
ring road is worse value for money that if we were to invest the same funds
in cycling and public transport measures"

The report acknowledges the key fact that reducing congestion will almost
certainly generate more car trips[1], and that road space in the City
Centre must be given over to more sustainable forms of transport if the capacity
of the ring road is increased[2]. Also recognised is the fact that the greater
speeds allowed by junction improvements will cause problems for pedestrians
and cyclists and tend to result in worse collisions[3]. But as Councillor
D'Agorne notes, "as usual,the report fails to acknowledge climate change
impacts and failed to carry out a proper carbon footprint study before submitting
the report."

However Cllr D'Agorne welcomed the fact that the recommendation
acknowledges the need for improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists at the junctions,
especially for those communities in Earswick, Rawcliffe and Huntington cut off from
the city by these busy roads.

"The only long-term solution is to make alternatives to the private car
more convenient and attractive", says Councillor D'Agorne. " Whatever the current congestion problems, we should
be spending money on alternative transport modes which will be more
valuable to the city's economy in the future than roadspace on the ring
road."


[ENDS]

Notes for editors -
Report references:
1 - Paragraph 42, pg. 11
2 - Paragraph 46, pg. 11
3 - See Annex 3



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