With just a month to go until the closure of Our Big Transport Conversation, City of York Council is urging everyone to have their say and take part in the consultation.

Our Big Transport Conversation, the largest public consultation on transport since 2010, will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 4 February. The consultation shares ten key policy areas which will help form a new Local Transport Plan and deliver a more sustainable and reliable transport network for several decades to come.

There are a number of ways people can take part, including reading and commenting on the full proposals online; attending an event; collecting information from their local library, or from our Customer Service team at West Offices; attending a ward committee meeting, or visiting the mobile library as it travels around villages and rural areas. Accessible versions of our documents are also available.

So far hundreds of residents and businesses have responded and our teams have visited libraries, been out with the mobile library, welcomed engaging conversations with people at our Friargate events, and presented to York’s Youth Council, plus tourism and business leaders. Further public events are planned for January next year, including engagement with business and city leaders, accessibility groups and school assemblies.

A few topics have already emerged;

• Buses – especially around routes, accessibility, and service timetables
• Identifying physical barriers to cyclists and wheelchair users, particularly in some of our parks and more rural areas
• Hospitality leaders have told us that more support is needed for public transport in employment catchment areas outside the CYC boundary
• Specific areas of congestion and pollution, such as Gillygate, and the impact on surrounding streets

Councillor Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy and Transport at City of York Council, said: “Thank you to everyone who has taken part so far - Our Big Transport Conversation is a genuine opportunity for residents, visitors and all stakeholders to share their thoughts on the future of travelling in to, out of, and around York. We’re here to listen to all feedback. We are really encouraged by the open and honest conversations we’re having on what can be a thorny issue.

It's not too late to take part and if you have not yet contributed then we really do want to hear from you.  The closing date is 4 February so please do review the materials online, or pop along to one of our events and have a chat with our team”.

The full consultation details can be found at https://ourbigconversation.york.gov.uk/ or you can email your thoughts to ourbigconversation@york.gov.uk

List of public events coming up: more are being added, so keep an eye on https://ourbigconversation.york.gov.uk/

Monday 8 January – Friargate Meeting House, Friargate, 2-5pm public drop-in

Wednesday 10 January – Friargate Meeting House, Friargate, 2-7pm public drop-in

Saturday 13 January – Fulford & Fishergate ward meeting, 10am-12noon at St Oswald’s Church Hall

Monday 15 January – mobile library to Skelton (Brecksfield 2.40pm – 3.50pm) & Osbaldwick (The Leys 4.30pm to 5.30pm)

Monday 15 January – Bishopthorpe Ward Meeting, back room, The Marcia, Main street, 6pm – 7.30pm

Wednesday 17 January – Heslington & Hull Road ward meeting, Heslington Village Meeting Room, 6.30pm

Saturday 20 January – Friargate Meeting House, Friargate, 2-5pm public drop-in

Tuesday 23 January – Wheldrake ward meeting, Elvington Village Hall, 6-8pm