Evening Press Leader

In their desire to tackle one of York's worst traffic bottlenecks, city councillors were led up a cul-de-sac. They brought in consultants Oscar Faber, on the sound principle that a fresh pair of eyes might see a new solution to this old problem. As it turned out, one of Oscar Faber's main recommendations was radical - but totally unworkable.

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. Not in this case, however. The only possible outcome of the proposed ban on right turns from Gillygate into Bootham was chaos.

It would have forced motorists off the main road and along rat-runs, bringing danger and noise to residential side streets. Hold-ups would have increased, costing businesses more time and money.

This bizarre idea should never have been taken seriously. The Bootham-Gillygate interchange is one of the main routes in and out of York. It cannot be wiped off the map.

The force of opposition to the plan seemed to take the council by surprise. It should not have done. A little over two years ago the authority proposed building houses on Marygate car park off Bootham. This, too, provoked consternation, and a 20,000-signature protest petition. The message should have been clear then: too many firms and residents rely on this route for it to be treated as a planners' playground.

Having decided to scrap the right-turn ban, councillors are now left considering what to do next. The traffic snarl-ups are too severe to be ignored.

Any new scheme will be limited by the space available. That is why the bus priority lane was also a non-starter. This might have boosted the council's park and ride but it would have seriously hindered motorists, including those travelling within York.

A single, revolutionary answer to the congestion probably does not exist. But there are small, crucial improvements that the council can make now. It should begin by making bus timetables more widely available. Such a step-by-step approach to tackling congestion will gain support from the residents most affected.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.