The City of York started a trial on the 27th August 2013 closing Lendal Bridge to private vehicles (still open to buses, taxis, emergency vehicles, post office vehicles, council vans / trucks, delivery vans for the stores/shops on the bridge and anyone else they deem fit)between 10:30hrs to 17:00hrs every day. This was implemented to make York more attractive to tourists visiting the City and cut down pollution. Should this trial be successful the bridge would be closed between 07:00hrs to 19:00hrs.

This is a main artery for getting into York and the train station for anyone who lives North of the City. Although the Council may think this is a good idea for the tourists (though you still take your life into your owns hands when on foot as the approved traffic seem to use the bridge as a speed bypass), what about the people who live and work in York?

My daily commute was 2.4 miles, now with having to use an alternate route, this has increased to 4.3 miles going round York (I do this commute twice a day). There have also been recent gas works on my alternate route, and when I asked the council to recommend yet another alternate route, they suggested I take a 5 mile diversion. This is purely my example, and I am sure other people will have varying frustrations of their own.

I cannot understand why, if this closure was for pollution/traffic reasons, why am I now travelling double the distance? Surely this creates even more congestion and pollution elsewhere? Contrary to what the council are stating, York is absolute mayhem at the moment with everyone being pushed through the funnels of Foss Islands, Bootham and Leeman Road.

I have honestly been on a countdown to the end of February, for when my commute would be easier (I never thought this trial would be deemed successful). I have just been given a pamphlet through my door today, stating that this closure would still be in effect whilst they gather the data to take to the cabinet in Spring.

There has been a lot of publicity in the papers and on the news regarding this closure, and from what I can tell, there are a lot of people who seem to be just as frustrated and stressed out about this. I think it is now time for the residents to stand their ground, and would love for everyone to show their support and request that the bridge be re-opened. I would love for this petition to be presented to the cabinet for consideration alongside the council's recommendation to show how things really are......