‘Think again’ on York congestion commission

York Council’s cabinet will have to review the proposal after Liberal Democrat, Conservative, Green and Independent Labour councillors joined together to force a rethink.

The Labour-run authority had proposed the setting up of a cross-party commission led by the former chairman of infrastructure consultancy giant Arup to look at how the city tackles congestion in the wake of the furore around the trial closure of Lendal Bridge to private cars.

But opposition groups questioned the estimated £135,000 cost and the timing of the initiative just weeks before campaigning begins for city council elections in May.

The proposal initially approved by the cabinet was ‘called-in’ by the Conservatives and Lib Dems and at a committee meeting last night councillors voted for it to be reconsidered with a recommendation the idea be put on hold until after the elections.

Lib Dem group leader Coun Keith Aspden said: “I am pleased that following our call-in the plans for a £135,000 congestion commission have been sent back to the Labour cabinet. Members of the cross-party scrutiny committee raised a number of legitimate concerns about the proposals and recommended that a decision on how to progress is taken after May’s elections.

“The Lib Dem Group support a cross-party approach to tackling traffic issues, but we need to ensure any new committee offers value-for-money, commits to realistic outcomes and directly involves the residents and local businesses who use York’s roads every day.

“The Labour leader says £135,000 is ‘not a lot’ of money. However, at a time when Labour are cutting funding for swimming pools, community centres and road repairs they need to show that their plans to tackle congestion are cost-effective and they are not just setting-up a £135,000 talking-shop.”