Cllr Dave Taylor

The narrow green source of so much wrath

The public consultation about the controversial cycle lane on Water Lane ends today. The conversion of a left-turn filter lane into a cycle lane, part of York’s  flagship Orbital Cycle Route, made many motorists fume.

In a letter to the Press last month, Cllr Dave Merrett (Executive Member for City Strategy) claimed that reinstating the left turn lane will ‘reduce problems for traffic’ at Clifton Green, ignoring clear officer advice that the proposed changes will create greater danger for cyclist traffic (yes, we are traffic!)

Another correspondent drew attention to this advice and the unfortunate experience on Fulford Rd, where attempts to fit in a bus lane created greater hazards for cyclists, pedestrians and turning motorists. Despite our commitment to improving public transport, Green councillors for Fishergate ward took the view that safety must come first, supporting replacement of the bus lane with cycle and turning lanes.

As a member of the cross party group of councillors who looked in detail at the options for Water End, I ‘m aware we cannot please everyone – however our recommendation was for officers to develop plans for ‘a left turn general traffic lane ….., on the basis that this would also retain a discrete cycle lane or path’ Option 1 fails this test, but Option 2 is more costly and allows only four more cars per green phase than now. My response to Jonathan Pickles was for (the curiously omitted) Option 3 – leave it as it is!

City of York Council takes the question of safety in highway design very seriously. Much of this is due to the advent of the offence of corporate manslaughter, and incidents such as the sad death of cyclist Ruby Milnes on the Knavesmire and the collision between a cyclist and bus shortly after introducing a bus lane on Fulford Rd. It therefore makes no sense to deliberately exclude the safer status quo as an option, completely unsupported by any empirical evidence to support doing so.

We very much hope that whatever the outcome, we will not see any cycle accidents at this junction. In the unhappy instance that one occurs at some point after changes have been made, questions will be asked about why the change was felt to be so necessary that no ‘leave as is’ option was presented.

Cllr Andy D’Agorne

The November 30th rally in York

Greens are ahead of the game, favouring realistic actions over knee-jerk reactions. In a radical first budget, the Green-led council in Brighton and Hove has refused to be seduced by the government’s sweetener of a subsidy if council tax is frozen for a year. Pointing out that this deal will in fact leave the council far worse off in the long run, leading to higher increases or deeper cuts, the council has agreed a 3.5% increase in council tax for 2012/13. A survey by the Local Government Chronicle suggests that around one in five other councils will follow the Greens’ example, including several that are Tory-led. If it is truly committed to defending vital services and protecting its more vulnerable residents, York council can’t afford to fall into the trap of paying for short-term gain with increased hardship in the long-term. Archbishop John Sentamu, patron of York’s Fairness Commission, has added his voice to those backing a rise in York council tax to protect key services.

Meanwhile, the Occupy movement continues its protests against social and economic inequality around the globe. In a worldwide first, a motion put forward by a Green councillor to back Occupy Edinburgh has been passed by Edinburgh City Council. Among other policies the Occupy movement champions the Robin Hood tax (based on taxing the financial sector), a redistributive measure close to the heart of the Green Party.

This plan, with the rousing title ‘York City Centre Movement and Accessibility Framework’ represents real potential for creating a modern sustainable city that respects its historic inheritance. A similar approach taken more than twenty years ago in Copenhagen and Freiburg has resulted in vibrant economies with
good public transport, walking and cycling facilities and less than a quarter of all movements by private car. Gridlock is not the automatic outcome of reducing through traffic, as evidenced by temporary repair closures of Lendal Bridge and Gillygate in recent years. Inconvenient for some no doubt, but illegal health-damaging air pollution levels are spreading across the city centre. Action to tackle growing volumes of traffic is long overdue.

The decision to pedestrianise the footstreets twenty-five  years ago saved the city centre, this latest bold plan is what is needed for the next decade to maintain York’s reputation as an attractive, safe historic city. We may not agree on every detail, but this is too important to turn into a political football for short term electoral advantage.

I would like to see all political parties to get behind this strategy and work together on its implementation so we can establish a sustainable future for York.

-          How many jobs and businesses will be lost in the city centre (and elsewhere) if this plan for an out-of-town retail development around two-thirds the size of the existing Monks Cross is approved?

-          How can this proposal, which is completely opposite to everything the city’s Development Plans say, be squared with James Alexander’s plans to ‘reinvigorate’ the city centre ? And indeed with Labour’s stated commitment to the ‘City Beautiful’ proposals, which say that any major retail development in the near future must consolidate the ‘central core’, for the city’s longer term prosperity?

-          How does the administration square the promotion of a massive new out-of-town development with its stated commitment to tackle traffic levels and reduce air pollution?

-          What are the prospects for the future of our local Development Plan if the first time it becomes inconvenient the Council is prepared to resort to dubious planning devices to override it?

Denise Craghill, Vice-chair, York Green Party

Andy and Dave helping out on the Alma Grove garden

The new section of the communal garden at Alma Grove was created in October 2008 with funding from Fishergate Ward Committee after the projected was voted through by residents.

Fishergate Councillor Andy D’Agorne and I joined many local residents on Saturday to clear dead plants ravaged by the Winter’s frosts and to dig out pernicious weeds.  The real success is that the community is organising itself to do these things now.

Andy and I turned up to help for a couple of hours, but it’s the people who live in these streets who are taking it forward, and working with the ‘Edible York’ group to plant fruit bushes in place of woody undergrowth
cleared by the Council over the Winter.  It’s a great example for other
areas in York to follow.

Dave Taylor, Green Councillor for Fishergate Ward

While the rest of us are facing pension hikes, national insurance rises, service cuts and job losses, the Chancellor lowered the tax paid by corporations. This is a real kick in the teeth. As Green Party MP Caroline Lucas put it, the budget ‘means more unemployment, greater poverty, and decimated public services.’

Osborne deprived the new Green Investment Bank of any power it might have had by preventing it from raising funds. It is simply another example of ConDem greenwash.

Despite claims of being ‘the Greenest government ever’, the Tories also lowered fuel duty. Aside from being incompatible with tackling climate change, does Osborne really think that such a move is going to prevent petrol prices from spiralling out of control? The world has reached the peak of oil production, and rising world demand is going to mean that oil prices are only ever going in one direction – up.

The government needs to prepare for a world in which most people cannot afford petrol and in which transporting food halfway around the world is financially unsustainable. They need to invest massively in public transport, green jobs and local agriculture.

Owen Clayton, Young Greens Liaison Officer

In 1997, Tony Blair told a newspaper that he had no plans to introduce tuition fees. As Prime Minister, he brought in fees of £1000. Labour’s 2001 manifesto stated that the party would ‘not introduce top-up fees and have legislated to prevent them’. They then introduced fees of £3000. Attempting to defend this U-turn, Alan Johnson (now Labour’s Shadow Chancellor) said ‘There will be occasions when politicians do have to do something different to what they said they’d do because circumstances change’. Does that sound familiar?

So what about now?

Labour’s current policy of a ‘Graduate Tax’ would still pass an unacceptable burden onto students. The policy assumes that education is only of value to the person being educated. This is a narrow, utilitarian view.

It is also unfair. Why should those people who studied hard to earn a well paid job pay more tax than those who inherit their wealth, or someone who works in an area with a disproportionate rate of pay, such as investment banking?

The Green Party believes that education is valuable to everyone in society – both economically and culturally. We are now the only English party with representation in parliament which opposes tuition fees in principle. We support higher education paid for through general taxation. We hope that voters will remember this during the local elections in May.

And if you needed reminding about Clegg’s betrayal on the cuts agenda – check out the video:

Owen Clayton

Councillors and officers are now once again able to enjoy a proper freshly brewed cuppa in a genuine cup-and-saucer. Not only that, but the supplies will be Fairtrade, as befits a Council supporting our Fairtrade City status. It was a bitter blow that the dreaded plastic sachet machines made their appearance shortly before we gained ‘Fairtrade City’ status six years ago.

Many Councillors found the arrangement an embarassment, and joined me in calling for Fairtrade and a return to the old fashioned cuppa. One that you can drink without burning your hands or your conscience. Cheers!

Andy D’Agorne

The UK has the best natural conditions for wind, wave and tidal energy, and we have millions of homes that need to be modernised and insulated. The government could do far more to make it viable for local councils to invest in local renewable energy, bulk purchase and installation of home insulation etc. Thanks to a Green budget proposal, a small pilot scheme has started in York providing free insulation to targetted areas with the worst energy ratings. We await the results with interest, but in the meantime everyone can do something, whether it is draught-proofing the doors and windows, walking or cycling once a week, or simply switching off your engine when sat in a queue for traffic lights (which would also help improve air quality for all).

Andy D’Agorne