The York Cycle Campaign has submitted a formal objection to the Environment Agency’s planning application to build flood defences for Clementhorpe on highway safety grounds. Our main focus is on the data which strongly suggests the proposed diversion could cause at least 20-30 cyclist casualties over the 18 month construction period.
As we have long stressed, we are not against the flood defences themselves. But as an organisation campaigning to make cycling in York safer, we cannot condone any proposed development that would clearly put cyclists in York at increased risk of injury and possibly death. We do not believe that enough time or consideration has been given towards the major disruption to cyclists and pedestrians, both locally and across the city, that will occur as a direct result of the proposed plans.
We have therefore objected to the Environment Agency’s planning application (ref: 19/00570/FUL) on the grounds of unacceptable highway impacts, or as our objection makes clear, paragraphs 108 and 109 of the National Planning Policy Framework. You can read our objection in full here:
As you will see, we have included a number of alternative approaches which would allow the works to go ahead whilst maintaining safe access for pedestrians and cyclists. It is precisely because we support the construction of flood defences in York that our objection contains these suggestions. We therefore call on the Environment Agency and City of York Council (CoYC) to meet us so that we may explore how development may proceed in a way that ensures cyclists are able to continue travelling through the area in a safe, convenient and accessible fashion.
The next step is for the CoYC planning casework officer to write a report making a recommendation to the Area Planning Subcommittee on whether or not to approve the proposals. The committee will then make their final decision. At present, they are due to do so at their next meeting, at 4:30pm on 4th July at the Council’s West Offices. However, there is a chance it will be postponed to a later date. Members of the public can speak at this meeting before the final decision is made. We will be speaking, and you can register to do so by contacting the Council’s democratic services as follows:
Support officer: Chris Elliott. Email: christopher.elliott@york.gov.uk
Postal address:
West Offices
Station Rise
York YO1 6GA
Phone: 01904 551088
If you’re unable to attend the meeting, they are streamed live on the Council’s YouTube channel.
York Cycle Campaign 