Ref: PR 2377
Date: 27/10/2009

The Deputy Leader of Wakefield Council has pledged that the proposed one-way system for St John’s in the city centre will be scrapped and has instructed officers to find an alternative solution.

Cllr Denise Jeffery wants a new report to go to the Council’s Cabinet before the end of the year with new plans to resolve traffic issues in St John's following feedback from local residents.

A major consultation exercise into the North Gateway proposal has shown that the majority of people who live in St John's are opposed to the proposals for a one-way system using Leeds Road for inbound traffic and Bradford Road for traffic leaving Wakefield.

Cllr Jeffrey, who is responsible for regeneration, said: “We are a listening Council and are acting on what people have been telling us. It is very clear to us that proposals for a one-way system in the Northgate-St John’s area did not have the support of the people who live there.

“Local residents and their elected representatives are now working together. We are setting up a working group with local representatives to see what can be done to tackle the traffic issues in this part of the city, “ said Cllr Jeffery.

The North Wakefield Gateway proposal of a bus priority system and a one-way gyratory using Leeds Road/Northgate inbound and Wentworth Street/Bradford road outbound was subject to a major public consultation with leaflets to households, displays in the Ridings Shopping Centre and Council planning office and residents’ meetings.

Cllr Jeffery said: “This is an opportunity for a new beginning. We all accept there are traffic issues in St John's with congestion around the schools, delays to buses on a key route in and out of the city and safety issues of all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

“We will be talking to people who live in St John’s and those who use these busy roads in and out of the city to get their ideas about the best way to tackle these problems and improve the quality of life in this area.”

Ends