York council accused of creating traffic chaos during major roadworks

Motorists are being faced with even greater traffic tailbacks through York while a series of resurfacing schemes and junction improvements are carried out before the new highways budget kicks in next month.

Capital funding for highways in the city in 2012/13 is being slashed by £500,000 as York Council has to make £19.7m in cuts across all its services over the next two years amid the Government’s austerity drive. Council chiefs are also faced with a battle against time to get the city prepared for the Queen’s high-profile Maundy Thursday visit on April 5.

The leader of the council’s Tory opposition, Coun Ian Gillies, claimed there had been a lack of planning to ensure disruption is being kept to a minimum.

He said: “There does not seem to be any collation of information, and it would appear the road schemes are being carried out in an arbitrary manner.

“While it is obviously good news that road improvements are being made, there is no excuse for the amount of disruption that is being caused. The work is simply being shoe-horned in before the new financial year starts.

“The Labour administration made a pledge to get York moving, but quite the reverse seems to be happening.”

A programme of works spanning a fortnight began on Monday on one of the city centre’s main roads, Clifford Street, while carriageway improvements and resurfacing will start on Hull Road next week.

The second phase of an overhaul of one of York’s busiest roads, Blossom Street, started last week. And the council confirmed yesterday that the latest scheme will see essential carriageway resurfacing works carried out on Bootham Row next week.

The head of network management, Dave Carter, claimed major roadworks are co-ordinated “as far in advance as possible” to minimise disruption. But he admitted York’s compact road network will lead to “some unavoidable disruption”, and stressed improvements needed to be carried out ahead of the main tourism season.