SO, those entrusted with controlling the traffic flow in our beloved city have come up with the old chestnut of closing Lendal Bridge (The Press, April 27).

I can imagine the discussion: “I have it! Let’s reduce the number of city bridges across the river by 25 per cent in chronically congested York. Then we can continue our ambition to turn it into the world’s largest theme park.”

They will, of course, eventually get their way – when did common sense ever prevail with our traffic “managers?” (Clifton Green cycle lane, anyone? Or traffic lights on the A19 roundabouts, even at 3am).

I have a question for them: why don’t you go the whole hog and close Ouse and Skeldergate Bridges, too? Tourists won’t see the gridlock in the outskirts, so it doesn’t matter. Go on – you know you want to!

Kevin Benson, Lavender Grove, York.


• HAVING thought so for a considerable time, now the world knows the lunatics really are running the asylum.

It is said actions speak louder than words, so how about all the sane residents opposed to this insane plan blockade Lendal Bridge to buses and taxis if and when it is implemented?

Peter Newton, Montague Street, York.


• AFTER reading the unbelievable idea our so-called leaders of City of York Council have had, namely closing Lendal Bridge to certain classes of vehicles, can I be allowed to give them another idea, just as crackpot?

Take all your speed bumps from around the city melt them down and use them to fill in all the potholes.

Must go now as they are coming to take me away – hopefully along with the council, too.

Les Coverdale, Wigginton, York.


• IS THERE a connection between the announcement to close Lendal Bridge to most traffic and the close proximity of the new award-winning council offices? I hope both councillors and bureaucrats will not be exempted from the regulations.

Richard Gray, Hunters Way, York.


• THE biggest problem with restrictions on Lendal Bridge is that this is the main access route to the station from east of the river where most York people live.

Buses and cycles are not appropriate with heavy luggage and taxis are not always available or reliable. So any future essential railway drop-off or pick-up by private transport will involve a tortuous roundabout journey, which itself increases congestion and pollution elsewhere in the city.

Of course this will not bother the “Gang of three” in the ‘Commisariat’ too much because they all live west of the river and as the council headquarters have now shifted to West Offices those at the apex of power won’t be inconvenienced quite like the bulk of the proletariat.

John Jones, Sand Hutton Manor, York.


• WHEN Labour promised to reverse the Clifton Green junction alteration, and subsequently honoured its pledge, I thought that at last we have a council which is are not rabidly anti-motorist.

Now, after reading about the Lendal Bridge proposals, I realise that this lot are even worse than the previous incumbents.

So it’s out-of-town shopping for me now – perhaps even another town, and I’m sure I won’t be the only one.

Oh, for an independent councillor who supports motorists. They would definitely get my vote in the next election. If I were 20 years younger I would stand myself.

Paul Gledhill, North Lane Dringhouses, York.


• I WOULD like to register my opposition to the proposed closure of Lendal Bridge. What a ludicrous idea!

Surely it will only serve to congest traffic towards the Clifton/Bootham area which already suffers a considerable amount of traffic jams.

How on earth are people meant to travel across the city without making their journeys twice as long due to the detour required and hence, the amount of vehicular/petrol use doubled impacting the environment additionally?

If cars are to be banned, why do taxis have the privilege to access the route – if anything all cars should be denied access if the pedestrian/tourist population is to benefit?

From reading various York forums, an overwhelming percentage of citizens think the proposal is a ridiculous and money-wasting venture on behalf of the council. I urge that the idea be seriously reconsidered as the evidence against it far exceeds any advantageous impact to the city and its people.

J Millward, Fellbrook Avenue, York.


• WHEN the trial begins in August, have the leaders of this fair city decided which bridge, Ousegate or Skeldergate, the banned cars and motorbikes will be detoured to in order to cross the river to make double congestion for them?

Or will they have to go round the bypass to get to the other side?

First they give the go-ahead for the Germany Beck development and all its dire possibilities of more flooded houses, and now this. What they should be doing is looking at the Piccadilly entrance to the city to develop and make attractive to residents and visitors.

Mrs M Robinson, Broadway, York.


• I AM absolutely sick of this council dictating what the people who live, work and travel around the city want and need.

This latest suggestion to close Lendal Bridge to traffic shows that, like the last Labour Government, they are out of touch and don’t care what the citizens want.

They have announced this with no public consultation, which shows how they hold the taxpaying citizens in contempt.

Does the council really think this will stop people from using their cars? People need to use their cars for many reasons and despite this council’s hatred of motorists, already shown in the Local Transport Plan, we won’t stop driving.

Therefore all motorists will do is eventually find another way round, causing more chaos elsewhere. Water End, Leeman Road, Lord Mayor’s Walk, Clifton, Clarence Street – all will become a nightmare and they are the ones who will be responsible for the added chaos, congestion and higher emissions.

Plus how can they justify £170,000 on a trial when they are cutting essential services?

Anything that affects the citizens should be put to them; our needs should be listened to and then put to the vote – this is democracy.

Judith Morris, Moorland Road, York.