Statement: York outer ring road
| In response to last night’s meeting Councillor Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Transport and the Economy said:
“We welcome approval from the planning committee, which is a significant milestone and the latest step in the journey to dual York’s Outer Ring Road. “Our Council Plan lays out how it is a priority to mitigate the carbon impact of upgrading and dualling the A1237, reduce congestion and enable active travel. We will now work with renewed vigour to produce a Movement and Place Plan that matches the ambitions of respondents to our extensive transport consultation, and locks in the sustainable travel benefits that dualling the ring road can bring. “Throughout this process we have listened to feedback from residents, businesses and stakeholders. This resulted in some changes to the original application, including improved provision at crossings for cyclists, including those with larger cycles. “Currently, congestion on the Outer Ring Road takes time out of people’s days, harms the environment, impacts businesses and means people use other routes in the city centre to get around, impacting the air quality. “Our plans seek to tackle those issues by increasing capacity, reducing congestion, moving car journeys out of the city centre and improving active travel facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. “Just last week at an Executive meeting we considered the public responses to our big transport consultation as we work to develop our transport strategy. Tackling congestion, enabling future development and economic growth and improving active travel options will form a key part of that, which is why this project is so important.” “We look forward to working with the new York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and the Mayor, when they are elected, to make this a reality.” |