Congestion could be diverted elsewhere due to a proposed York traffic scheme, undermining its aim to speed up buses opposition councillors have warned.
Cllr Stephen Fenton, transport spokesperson for City of York Council’s Liberal Democrat opposition, said they feared the proposed Rougier Route could push traffic out to the Lendal and Skeldergate bridges.
Conservative group leader Cllr Chris Steward said a private traffic ban through the Rougier Street-George Hudson Street corridor looked like a stick to beat motorists with.
Council Labour transport spokesperson Cllr Kate Ravilious said the proposals aimed to deliver more reliable, convenient and attractive bus services.
It comes after council officials said the 18-month trial of the scheme would begin in January, subject to a decision of its executive on Tuesday, 7 July.
Rougier Route scheme
The £2.35 million Rougier Route aims to speed up bus journeys and free up roads for those who need to drive.
It is set to see private traffic barred from driving from Rougier Street along George Hudson Street to Micklegate.
The route would remain open to buses, cyclists and emergency services vehicles with restrictions in place from 7am to 11pm daily, with Blue Badge holders and hackney carriage drivers exempt.
Measures would also be in place to ensure Bishophill residents can drive to and from their homes.
A new one-way loop would send private traffic from Rougier Street and along Tanner Row, Toft Green and Micklegate to the junction with George Hudson Street.
A bus lane would run southbound along George Hudson Street with a ‘bus gate’ in place from the road’s junction with Micklegate to the latter’s junction with Skeldergate and North Street.
Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Cllr Fenton said everyone wanted to see more reliable buses but they believed there were risks with the scheme in its current form.
Cllr Fenton said: “A key issue for us is the risk of traffic being diverted onto other routes which would make buses using them less reliable and undermine the overall purpose of the scheme.
“Liberal Democrats believe that the best way to reduce city centre through traffic, improve bus reliability and create more space for cycling and walking, is to dual the outer ring road.
“We will continue to hold the Labour council and Labour Government to account for delivering this scheme.”
Conservative Cllr Steward said it was vital that the scheme is run as a trial and it is stopped if it fails.
Cllr Steward said: “An incredible 41.5 per cent of York residents in the consultation did not believe the scheme, which effectively clears most of the traffic from the roads, will improve bus reliability.
“The council is effectively rushing to spent Bus Service Improvement Plan money provided by the Government, rather than truly considering how it can be best spent.
“Unfortunately, this looks just another Labour stick to beat the motorist rather than a carrot to improve things with public transport.”
Green activist Andy D’Agorne said the scheme was now set to be trialled months before May 2027’s local elections.
He added the scheme also faced being suspended during £1.9 million repair works on Lendal Bridge set to take place next year.
The former councillor, who served as transport executive member when his party led the council with the Liberal Democrats, said: “That will clearly disrupt the benefits of the scheme and make it harder to give the operation a fair trial period.”
Council officials have said the trial will be kept under review and aspects of the scheme can be changed if necessary.
Labour transport executive member Cllr Ravilious said the scheme aimed to break the vicious cycle of slower buses leading to less passengers and higher fares.
She added the council’s evidence suggested Rougier Street to Micklegate route was the place to do it.
The executive member said: “The only way improvements we’ve already made to buses will work is if they can get through the traffic.”
