Bishopthorpe News and Views

The Parish Council have for over a year been trying to get details of overall traffic plans and associated surveys associated with the Terrys Development with no success.  We have no general problem with the overall plans for the site but do not believe enough effort or thought has gone into the related traffic issues.

We believe the last survey of traffic travelling through Bishopthorpe was several years ago and conducted in August when the schools and subsequently people are generally on holiday.

I would like to thank the Micklegate Ward Councillors for arranging a public meeting with the developers on 2 July at the Racecourse. Our own Councillor John Galvin was also at the meeting but as he is on the Planning Committee is unable to contribute to the discussion. However it was most unfortunate that although invited there was no representative from City of York Highways/Transport Department. 

This was very disappointing for everyone as all questions raised were about traffic issues. The developers were unable to answer the questions but significantly had not even included Bishopthorpe on the map of their traffic routes to site - perhaps they felt they had to keep their heads down!

We felt we were getting nowhere with the traffic survey so the Parish Council has now decided to undertake our own.  This will be from Monday 7 July until Friday 11 July at 7:30 -9:30am and 4:30 - 6:30pm. We will be counting cars travelling to and from Bishopthorpe to York along Bishopthorpe Road.  This will be split between those travelling from Acaster Lane/ Main Street Bishopthorpe and those travelling along Church Lane (probably using Bishopthorpe as a "rat run" to/from the A64).

This will give us base line figures so we are able to build on these for the expected traffic to and from the Terrys Development thereby giving the full picture of the expected traffic density.  We are told that there will be well over 2000 new jobs created by this development and obviously this could have a major impact on the traffic flow through Bishopthorpe.

Currently, as you are fully aware, Church Lane is very busy as it has the Doctors surgery, the Church and an entrance to the Infant School on what is a narrow lane and if cars are parked 2 way traffic halts.  The junction with Bishopthorpe Road is also very sharp and vehicles are unsighted coming from Main Street.

We believe the majority of traffic should be directed to the site along Tadcaster Road, as specified by the developers, but we are unclear how they expect to achieve this objective.  The construction of a specific link road to and from the A64 connecting with Bishopthorpe Road is one solution but we are aware to allow the shops and pubs to flourish in our village some traffic must be allowed and in some instances encouraged to come into Bishopthorpe on race days.

Stewart Harrison

Chairman - Bishopthorpe Parish Council