City of York Council is reminding residents to take part in its Our Big Transport Conversation consultation before it closes in one month’s time.

York’s largest public consultation on transport since 2010 will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 4 February. The consultation asks for opinions on ten key policy areas, and responses will inform a new Local Transport Plan which aims to deliver a more sustainable and reliable transport network.

People have various options for contributing to the consultation:

• reading and commenting on the full proposals online
• attending an event
• collecting information from a local library
• from the Council’s Customer Service team at West Offices
• attending a ward committee meeting, o
• visiting the mobile library as it travels around villages and rural areas.

Accessible versions of the documents are available.

Since the consultation launched on Thursday 23 November, Hundreds of York’s residents and businesses have responded so far. Council representatives have visited libraries, travelled to various locations with the mobile library, held engaging conversations at events at Friargate, and gave presentations to York’s Youth Council, plus tourism and business leaders.

Topics raised so far include:

• buses: routes, accessibility and timetables
• physical barriers to cyclists and wheelchair users, particularly in some parks and more rural areas
• more support is for public transport in employment catchment areas outside the City boundary, raised by hospitality leaders
• congestion and pollution in specific areas, such as Gillygate, and the impact on surrounding streets.

The Council will hold further public events this month, and will engage with business and city leaders, accessibility groups and school assemblies.

The full consultation details are available here. Respondents may also email their issues and opinions to [email protected]

Public events scheduled so far (check here for additions):

• 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) and 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 and 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

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.”