Residents of a York street say they are incensed that the council has done nothing for 12 years to address their serious road safety concerns.
The Skeldergate Residents Survey Group say that buses use Skeldergate to turn around for their next journey more than 300 times a day.
“None stop or service the street. The buses are either empty or carry few passengers,” said a group spokesperson.
They have conducted a survey of Skeldergate residents which found:
- 23 people had either had an accident or a near miss when walking, cycling or driving on Skeldergate
- 42 had witnessed such incidents.
- 71% wanted to see a reduction in the number of buses using Skeldergate.
The spokesperson said: “Diesel and heavier electric buses travelling at speed and bouncing over speed bumps cause both environmental and structural damage to property and road subsidence.
“A current case of roof ridge re-pointing is likely to become an insurance claim against City of York Council when completed.
“Exposure to exhaust fumes, noise and vibrations is damaging residents’ health. Poor air quality forces residents to close all doors and windows as buses frequently queue along Skeldergate waiting to access Bishopgate Street.”
No action
The group says ward money has been allocated for repairs and the removal or replacement of speed humps but no action has been taken.
An alternative route, which would see a new bus gate on Coppergate to allow buses to turn round via Piccadilly, “seems to have been delayed or ruled out”, the spokesperson said.
“The new city centre traffic plan proposal also contained a solution – a bus turning circle at the railway station,” they added.
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“This now seems to have been delayed for two years or scrapped altogether.”
Residents invited councillors to meet with them at Middleton Hotel last week. Labour’s Cllr Pete Kilbane and Tony May, environment committee chairman of the York Civic Trust, went to that meeting.
The spokesperson said: “We are astounded by the current council’s lack of interest considering their overt political commitments to the green transition and driving sustainability locally – it’s time for them to walk the talk rather than taking the bus!
“The completion of flood works on Terry Avenue will once again see an influx of families on bicycles accessing Rowntree Park leading to a dangerous and potentially lethal mixing with buses.
“It is therefore in the interest of all York residents to call on the council to take action to bring an end to the environmental and social damage caused by the buses. ”