What began as a bold, intriguing, and undoubtedly controversial experiment to tackle traffic congestion and improve the environment has ended in a bit of a messy shouting match.
Traffic restrictions on Lendal Bridge in York are to be lifted on Saturday. This comes after the legality of the penalty notices issued to erring drivers were called into question.
Critics of the trial, introduced by the Labour-run council, have often tried to claim that the whole city was against the bridge closure. That is certainly not the case.
YorkMix ran a ‘Lendal Bridge Week’ halfway through the six month trial, and found many shades of opinion, in favour and against. Read the pieces here.
Today, though, York has been reflecting on the change of plan. Here’s how…
Twitter’s verdict
I've just emailed @cityofyork Chief Exec (@Kersten1england) with a request to re-open Lendal Bridge. We've listened pic.twitter.com/S9xmGEhw7l
— James Alexander (@jmalexander1982) April 8, 2014
Please find a statement from City of York Council on #LendalBridge https://t.co/HJDlkTQlVm
— City of York Council (@CityofYork) April 9, 2014
IT'S over and no politician will try and close a york bridge 4 at least 20 years . Lendal bridge #lendalbridge http://t.co/TV0ZTnkcOw
— David Dunning (@daviddunninguk) April 9, 2014
“@BBCYork: NEWS: The leader of City of #York Council asks for #LendalBridge to be re-opened to all traffic from Saturday.” SENSE AT LAST
— Stephen ☩ (@RevStephenSorby) April 8, 2014
Finally, City of York Council decide to give us our bridge back. Thanks for the inconvenience. #muppets #lendalbridge
— Tris (@tris0023) April 9, 2014
Whatever the pros & cons of #lendalbridge closure it made for a quieter & more pleasant Bootham & Clifton.
— Ben Fuller (@politicsastar) April 9, 2014
I think I'm the only citizen of York that is sad about #lendalbridge being reopened to normal traffic. #cyclist #unpopularopinion
— Jessie 🙂 (@Jessie_D123) April 8, 2014
@adamtyork the council fell into the trap of thinking #lendalbridge was a row between political parties, when it was the public against it
— Phil Seymour (@announcerphil) April 9, 2014
Sad #LendalBridge evidence trumped by politicking and poor implementation of trial. Sets back tackling congestion in #York for years.
— Richard Bridge (@richardbridge7) April 8, 2014
This is how I feel now… #york #lendalbridge #whoop pic.twitter.com/QUZrktwiYm
— Sophie. (@MissSophie22) April 8, 2014
#lendalbridge – if over 2,000 drivers a a week got fined surely something very wrong with the signage? Council should refund ALL fines.
— Harrogate Chauffeurs (@hgatechauffeurs) April 9, 2014
How does closing a bridge increase hotel bookings, is it all the councilors spending the fines #yorkcouncil #lendalbridge #looknorthnews
— Chris Hilton (@bluegeum1) April 8, 2014
@CityofYork must pay back #lendalbridge fines. Not to do so is tantamount to theft. #York
— Nick Freeman (@TheMrLoophole) April 9, 2014
Yes! Finally! #lendalbridge is to re-open on Saturday! However I still want @jmalexander1982 resignation!
— Just Sam (@SublimeGirl85) April 9, 2014
Can't see that anything would be achieved by a resignation over #lendalbridge fiasco? Better that they stay, & learn from perhaps? #York
— Lisa (YorkStories) (@YorkStories) April 9, 2014
I have been a life-long #Labour voter but I will NEVER vote Labour again after @jmalexander1982 performance over #lendalbridge – total joke!
— Daniel Holland (@dhollandrn) April 8, 2014
@joncowap think we all know that @cityofyork will end up being forced to pay back #lendalbridge fines + on costs Ian Floyd will find cash:)
— Gwen Swinburn (@GSwinburn) April 9, 2014
We've got a traffic theme for todays playlist 😉 Any suggestions? https://t.co/WX4h8vd2lq #York #lendalbridge
— MOR MUSIC – YORK (@MORMUSIC) April 9, 2014
COYC should auction off the #LendalBridge signage. Would be a bit like having a piece of the Berlin Wall.
— Mike Tipping (@TippingsTipples) April 8, 2014
What are we all going to talk about once Lendal Bridge reopens? #york #lendalbridge
— Little Vikings (@LittleVikingsUK) April 8, 2014
- Read all our Lendal Bridge stories here