Kate HeslopA new £22 million park and ride initiative has got the go ahead in the recent Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.
City of York Council have announced that they will now be speeding up plans to a replace a park and ride site situated at Askham Bar and build a new one on the A59 near Poppleton.
The plans are part of Access York, a City of York Council proposal which aims to make our city a more accessible place to live and visit. It is worried that the increased cost of rail travel could be a deterrent for those planning to visit York.
If all plans go ahead in terms of funding, the sites could be open to the public in summer 2014. The sites have already received planning approval subject to certain conditions being met.
The Access York project will also increase the number of parking spaces, from 3,750 to 5,350, with Askham Bar increasing to 1,100 spaces and Poppleton Bar set for 600 spaces. The scheme will also include bus priorities along Boroughbridge Road and an upgrade of the A59/A1237 roundabout.
It is estimated that the plan would take approximately 300,000 cars off York’s road, reducing both congestion and fuel emissions from car traffic in the city centre. Anybody who has endured a rush hour drive in York will welcome the prospect with open arms!
