Riverside path project takes next steps

City of York Council is inviting residents to have their say on detailed designs to improve the riverside path between Jubilee Terrace and Scarborough Bridge.

The designs will see around £1.7m invested on improvements that include creating separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians, raising the path to make it more resilient to flooding as well as improving lighting to help people feel safer when using the path.

In December 2022 and January 2023, the council carried out engagement with the local community to understand their priorities.

The council had already allocated £600k for improvements and in 2023 submitted a funding bid for an additional £1.7m to government to make all the improvements residents wanted to see. This bid included the feedback from residents which highlighted the need for improvements. In May 2023 Active Travel England announced that it had granted £1.1m to fund improvements to the path.

In recent months the council has been carrying out work to design a scheme that looks to reflect the priorities of local residents, and meets the budget and requirements associated with the Active Travel England funding. This work has also included identifying areas for flood compensation and carrying out structural inspections of the area to ensure the improvements are long lasting.

Michael Howard, Head of Transport and Highways said:

“We know how important this route is to residents, commuters and visitors and we are committed to delivering the best scheme possible with the funding that’s available.

“A key part of our Local Transport Strategy is making it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle. This programme looks to do just that by aiming to reduce conflict between cyclists and pedestrians, making the route more resilient to flooding and improving lighting.

“We’re excited by the improvements this design can deliver and the opportunity it will create for even more people to enjoy this lovely riverside path. We would urge anyone who uses the path to share their feedback on the design.”

The consultation runs until 1st December 2024.

Residents can take part via an online survey, paper survey or by attending an engagement event.

To complete the online survey, visit: https://ourbigconversation.york.gov.uk/business-intelligence/riverside-path-improvement-york

Paper surveys are available from St Barnabas Church on Jubilee Terrace and the I am Reusable food bank on Aldborough Way. Paper surveys can be requested by emailing riversidepath@york.gov.uk or by calling 01904 551 550.

Engagement events are being held on the following dates:

• Tuesday 12th November, 2.30 pm – 7.00 pm - Drop-in session at St Barnabas Church
• Thursday 14^th November, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm - Online event. Sign up at: https://buytickets.at/cityofyorkcouncil1/1453215
• Thursday 21st November, 2.30 pm – 7.00 pm- Drop-in session at St Barnabas Church

Residents are invited to attend, speak to a member of the project team and give feedback on the proposals.

For more information on the scheme and proposed design, visit: www.york.gov.uk/RiversidePath.