Plans to invest £1.7 million in enhancing a well-used riverside path in York are set to take a major step forward next week.
At an upcoming decision session on 11 March, the Council’s Executive Member for Transport will be asked to approve moving forward with detailed design and construction of the riverside path between Jubilee Terrace and Scarborough Bridge.
This meeting follows extensive consultation with the local community, with over 1,000 responses received from two engagement exercises.
The most recent consultation revealed that 85.6% of respondents were in favour of the proposed design.
Key features of the plan include creating separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians, improving lighting for safety, adjusting the road layout on Jubilee Terrace to better serve pedestrians and cyclists, and formalising Blue Badge parking.
Additionally, the project includes raising the path to reduce the number of days it becomes inaccessible due to flooding.
Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport, commented:
“This is a well-used path, and we are dedicated to improving it for both current users and those who have expressed interest in using it once the changes are made.
“As part of our local transport strategy, we aim to make walking, cycling, and wheeling easier and more accessible in our city. This project is a key example of our efforts to achieve this goal.
“We are extremely grateful for the valuable feedback from the local community, which has helped shape the design. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with them as the project progresses.”
National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman also praised the initiative:
“It’s great to see York advancing a high-quality network to support more people walking, wheeling, and cycling.”
He feels that by preparing the streets for active travel and ensuring that routes are safe and accessible, it allows people more options for getting around.
He added, “Listening to the local community is vital in creating spaces that work for everyone.”
The funding for this project comes from a £1.1 million grant from Active Travel England, focused on improving the riverside path, with additional contributions from both the local council and the York Central programme.
Recently, the council has been conducting riverside embankment surveys to assess their long-term stability.
Following a review of this area, the Executive Member will also be asked to approve the start of a separate project, to evaluate the need for remedial work to improve the embankment’s stability, ensuring the path remains accessible for years to come.
The full report will be discussed at an upcoming decision session, with documents available for public viewing online.
The session will also be broadcast live and available to watch on demand.