Could York's city centre car ban be implemented two years early?

One of York's MPs has called for the city to ban cars from its centre two years ahead of schedule.
Could York ban cars from the city centre sooner than planned?Could York ban cars from the city centre sooner than planned?
Could York ban cars from the city centre sooner than planned?

City of York Council already plan to introduce a car-free zone within the city walls by 2023 - but York Central's Labour MP Rachael Maskell believes that implementing it now would help the area's economic recovery post-lockdown.

She has criticised the council for approving planning applications for several new car parks just outside the walls while simultaneously pledging their support for greener travel.

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Ms Maskell argues that the lack of traffic seen in York during lockdown - and the resulting increase in cyclists and pedestrians - proves how a car-free centre can still attract people while being a safer and more pleasant environment.

She believes that rather than reduce footfall if customers were forced to park further away from shops, restaurants and bars, the quieter streets could actually lure more people into the city centre and encourage spend in the struggling hospitality sector.

"We need to make it a reality. York has some of the most polluted areas of the country, and there are 15 locations that breach air quality guidelines. In lockdown, we realised how amazingly quickly these changes could actually be made - but now traffic is returning."

Ms Maskell does not drive when in her constituency, preferring to walk into work from her home.

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"We've got the new electric bus fleet, but we need more funding to support active travel, and more ambition from the council, even if steps are being taken.

"They have recently signed off six new car parks close to the city centre, They grasp the concept of becoming cleaner, but what they are doing will attract more cars. We will regress. There is even an offer on the table for more free parking.

"Instead we need to be investing in cycling, e-bikes, electric scooters. York is flat and really suited to cycling, but we are not where we should be - particularly with a Liberal Democrat/Green Party coalition council."

Ms Maskell described previously-announced plans for the car ban in two years' time as 'confused' and 'conflicted', and it is not clear how far the boundary would extend.

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York City Council have still not released definitive information about what the proposal would entail, such as the radius of the planned car-free zone, its hours of operation, how it would be enforced and if any vehicles would be exempt. They declined to do so when contacted by The Yorkshire Post.

"Some of the big car parks are outside the walls. The city centre is actually very small - it needs to go beyond the walls and include the feeder routes. The new York Central development (where the House of Lords could relocate) has plans for car parks on the edge. It will just push the gridlock into a different place, and we cannot cope with more traffic."

She also points out that in York's industrial heyday, many workers who could not afford cars would cycle to the chocolate factories and railway works that brought wealth to the city.

"Everyone knew that when the buzzer went at the end of the shift, the bikes would come pouring out. But then cars took over and now we are paying the price.

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"York has lovely clean, green routes along the river - if you walk or cycle along them you can value nature and it is much better for your mental health.

"I have been in conversation with traders about their concerns over footfall. There are some examples in London where the transition has been made and it has actually boosted business, as more people stop and shop locally. It's really helped their economies.

"We need to bite the bullet. Lockdown showed us what we can achieve, and we should never go back to how things were before."

However, York City Council deputy leader Coun Andy D'Agorne said any conversations with the public about transport options would be an extension of a pre-pandemic consultation process, suggesting that the ban is not likely to come into force any earlier than the originally proposed date of 2023.

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“Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic we have sought to increase York’s already substantial pedestrianised foot streets under emergency powers to support the economic recovery of the city. Alongside this we have launched our Big Conversation, to get the views of residents and business about what they want to see happen.

"Any permanent changes will follow on from a wider review and detailed consultation with York’s residents, business and visitors. This is in accordance with the council’s decision made in December 2019 rather than an immediate response to the Covid-19 outbreak.”

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