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Kindle edition of Finding Fulford is now available
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This
paper is attached to illustrate
The
relevance of the Fulford Road Corridor study to the Germany Beck proposed
development. This
report, completed in September 1999, was not specifically looking at the
possible impact of the Germany Beck proposal on the traffic on Fulford Road.
However, in a short section, it makes several relevant comments and some
predictions. All of the report's comments point to problems the extra traffic
will produce. The planning application however, makes the claim that
increased traffic problems should "not be regarded as a ban to
development". This report challenges that statement. Indeed
the Report's states in its conclusions: "The
Fulford Road Corridor has continued to experience significant traffic growth
over the recent years, resulting in increasingly severe congestion,
deteriorating conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, disruption to bus
services and further degradation of environmental conditions.
Developments underway and planned will generate additional demand for
movements to and along the corridor, increasing the need to develop a
strategy…….." (14.2) The
report looks briefly at the likely impact of the development and states: "Given
the nature of the development (Germany Beck), predicted traffic
generations are substantially higher in the PM peak period…… expected to
increase by some 260 VPH (22%). South of Heslington Lane (i.e. near the
proposed junction) they are predicted to increase by over 320 VPH (20%).
(4..3.4) It
goes on to suggest that the flow along Heslington Lane will increase by 250 VPH
(35%) as a result of the proposed development. The
report also notes that: "Increases
in traffic flows of the order predicted will have a significant impact on
cyclists and pedestrians in the corridor and on the reliability of bus
services" (4.3.8) The report confirms "that bus services along Fulford
Road Corridor are subject to considerable delay and disruption due to
congestion." (4.4.13) Far
from supporting the idea of an extra junction, the report looks at the benefits
of closing the junction of Hesington Lane and Fulford Road.
Their modelling suggests that closure of Heslington Lane, despite an
overall increase in vehicle mileage, mainly along the A64, "a net
environmental gain would be expected." (6.5.3) This closure was not
implemented but it is difficult not to conclude that the advice in this report
was to reduce, rather than increase the number of junctions and traffic joining
Fulford Road. In
the light of these expert opinions, it is hard to understand how the outline
planning proposal can claim that adding the volume of traffic expected to
Fulford Road will not cause very significant problems to existing commuters,
public transport users, cyclists, pedestrians and the environment.
The expert evidence indicates that it would be a disaster. Notes 1.
VPH =
Vehicles per hour 2.
The
figures in brackets are the references in the report from Colin Buchanan
Partners. 3.
The
brackets in the quotations and in italics have been added for clarity. 4.
The
traffic flow forecasts were produced in the MVA report which has not been seen. 5.
The
figures were surveyed in October 1998 during which various schemes have been
introduced to improve the flow especially for buses, bikes and pedestrians. 6.
Since the
survey, traffic volumes have continued to grow but no recent surveys have been
located 7.
There were
no survey points or queue analysis south of the Heslington Lane junction so some
analysis in the report for the southern part of the corridor is based on times
taken by buses. These figures lead them to note "… the lowest speeds are
recorded south of Heslington Lane." (4.4.14)
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