Support for Driffield Transport Plan

 

Our response as Driffield’s ERYC Ward Councillors to the current Transport Strategy Consultation for Driffield focuses on both a continuation of current improvements and some new initiatives for the town.

We support the continued improvements to pedestrian and cyclist facilities, including additional zebra crossings, to further link the outlying areas of the Town with the centre.

Specific areas of congestion need further improvement, Victoria Road is perhaps a prime example of the localised difficulties experienced by some residents and road users.

We welcome the proposals to extend the current 20mph town centre zones to provide added protection to some of the surrounding residential areas. We also ask for improved speed enforcement for Driffield and also in the surrounding villages.

We have specific concerns for the access of Emergency Vehicles whilst the main street is closed for the weekly Market. The proposals put forward some time ago to pedestrianise Mill Street would create a significant improvement for shoppers in this important area of the town and may offer the opportunity to re-locate the Market to the advantage of the town as a whole.

There is a need for the long term provision of day long car parking in the town, this needs to be addressed alongside the re-development of the various retail proposals for the town.

Travel to work figures for Driffield show a higher than average use of cycling and walking, this should be encouraged and welcomed with further improvements for Driffield residents.

There needs to be a long term review of and commitment to address the increased use of “mobility scooters”. It is important that their benefits are recognised but also vital that we actually address the issues which they pose to all road users and pedestrians.

There should be a continuation of transport services for the villages near Driffield providing public transport links for those who find it difficult to access the ordinary service busses. The current MiBus services help to maintain independence for village residents and at the same time bring additional customers to Driffield.

There is a growing need to be vigilant on the condition of footways to ensure that they are kept up the standard expected by residents and visitors to the town.

We accept that many of the above aspirations will face steep competition for funding, but we will take every opportunity to press for the needs of Driffield, recognising its important service role for the vast rural surrounding area.

Councillors, Symon Fraser, Barbara Hall and Felicity Temple.