Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers back councillor’s call for change to York station traffic system


TRANSPORT chiefs could be set to overhaul a controversial one-way traffic system at York station.

Councillors will tomorrow debate calls for changes to the system around Tearoom Square, beside the Model Railway and short-stay car-park.

Siân Wiseman, Conservative councillor for Strensall, says she has received many complaints from car users, taxi drivers, cyclists and pedestrians about the current system.

At tomorrow’s full meeting of City of York Council, she will table a motion asking ruling councillors to look at changes.

York Taxi Association today backed Coun Wiseman’s calls, claiming the restructure of the traffic system in 2006 had led to congestion and confusion.

Vice-chairman Stuart Robertson said: “All of the taxi trade is up in arms about that area.

“We said to the council at the time that this would not work, before they had spent a penny. We outlined problems that would occur for traffic and passengers, and it has all come to pass.”

Coun Wiseman’s motion states: “The entrance and exit onto Station Road are confused, congested and therefore cause difficulties for all road-users attempting to negotiate this area.”

She said: “I have found this frustrating myself and have had pedestrians complain to me, cyclists complain to me, and certainly taxi drivers complain to me.

“They find it quite difficult to get in and out and, because it’s their livelihood, I feel we should be addressing the issue again.”

The council’s transport chief, Coun Steve Galloway, said because the current scheme had been in place for more than a year, the ruling executive would be happy to support an “operational review” of its effectiveness.

He said any necessary refinements would be considered, and said the council was already in discussion with the station’s operators, National Express East Coast, on a number of transport-related issues.

“These include access arrangements from Leeman Road and the need to improve cycle route and cycle parking facilities at the station,” he said.

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