Petition calls for action to cut York Hospital congestion

Almost 600 people have backed the petition on Charge.org which was started by the Labour councillors for York’s Guildhall ward, Dave Merrett, Rachel Melly and Tony Clarke.

It states: “We call upon the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the City of York Council to work together to urgently undertake measures to address the serious and regular congestion and queuing back from the hospital car park into Wigginton road.

Petition calls for action to cut York Hospital congestion.

“The congestion is badly affecting both nearby junctions and roads beyond, and causes major delays to local bus services 1, 5 and 6 and other traffic. Journeys, including those to the hospital, are unreliable, time consuming and stressful.

“Residents who live near the hospital are badly affected too – the congestion increases local air and noise pollution and access difficulties.”

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Among the online signatories is Peter, York who lent his support to calls for action, saying: “The congestion in this area is significantly impacting surrounding junctions and neighbouring roads, causing serious delays to local bus services 1, 5 and 6, as well as other traffic. Journeys, including essential trips to the hospital, have become unreliable, lengthy and stressful.

“Residents living near the hospital are also suffering, with increased air and noise pollution and ongoing access difficulties affecting daily life.”

Meanwhile, Nicholas, York wrote: “Traffic is horrendous most days. You can be stuck in a queue for 20 to 30 minutes and it’s all cars waiting to get into the hospital car park.”

Press readers have raised their concerns over the congestion and delays round York Hospital on numerous occasions by voicing their views in letters to the Letters Page and in comments on our website.

One reader who lives in Huby wrote: “How much longer is City of York Council going to allow the appalling daily morning traffic congestion in Wigginton Road to continue?

“It is almost impossible for patients from north of the city to access hospital appointments in timely fashion, nor can York Bus have any hope of maintaining the schedule for the no. 40 route.

“A simple modification to the road at the hospital entrance to allow through traffic to continue would solve most of the problem.”

Another Press reader said:”The multi-storey car park contributes to the problem, when the car park barrier is not letting vehicles in. But we have to appreciate the people using the car park are old or new to using the car park. It’s so small and tight for people to use. This causes the traffic to back up on to Wiggington Road. It was built far too small in the beginning.

“As I’ve mentioned before if the station goes ahead in Haxby build the car park twice as big as any survey suggests, and make the spaces extra large so people can use them quickly and safely.”

Another reader suggested a ‘simple solution – re-open Vyner street, Fountayne Street, Lowther street and Penley Grove Street’.

Another commentator said there needed to be a dedicated turning into and out of the hospital.

“Get rid of the mini roundabout and create a junction with traffic lights and dedicated lanes for cars in and out of the hospital and pedestrians in and out of the hospital. Then phase the lights based on actual data.. that will maximise traffic and pedestrians in and out of the hospital. The problem is partly to do with insufficient hospital parking spaces – BUT it is also due to the stupid road layout and lane width restriction on Wigginton Road, when approaching the hospital entrance mini roundabout heading into town.”

The Press has approached City of York Council and York Hospitals NHS Trust for a response and will include them when we receive them.