Final submissions on York ban
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• The public inquiry into York City Council's plans to extend the city centre's lorry ban (CM January 31) is now hearing the last of the
evidence.
Last week the hearing heard objections from more than 60 city-centre businessmen who fear they will lose their livelihoods. Some of them are threatening to move to greenfield sites outside the city if the ban extension goes ahead.
The Freight Transport Association is leading the representations against the ban. FTA Northern Regional Controller Bob Cross told the hearing that the Council had all but abandoned concern for the delivery firms which help the city to thrive as a tourist and shopping centre: "York cannot be a city for pedestrians alone," he said. Cross described the proposals as a "totally unbalanced scheme which does not make reasonable provisions for deliveries." The FTA is calling on the Council not to ditch the proposed order, and instead to extend the accessonly zone to include three streets instead of the proposed 27.
"The area encompassed by the Council's proposals include more than 450 shops and department stores," continued Cross. "It is inconceivable to the FTA that the council could contemplate that all or a vast majority of deliveries to such a diverse and extensive city centre could be completed by 10.30am." The hearing is expected to be wound up this week, but it could be several months before a final decision on the ban is made by the council.