Merrett seeks a pot of gold to fund York’s next transport overhaul

York presents many fascinating challenges for urban transport policy-makers, with its historic city centre and the recent dispersal of much economic activity to car-based locations out-of-town. Dave Merrett, the city council’s cabinet member for transport, has grappled with the issues for 30 years. Andrew Forster met up with him to hear about the council’s big ambitions for future investments – and how they could be funded

Andrew Forster

11 January 2013

Dave Merret

Lendal Bridge could be closed to cars as part of plans to improve the pedestrian route between the railway station and the city centre

Transport has always fascinated Dave Merrett. As a child he ran the school transport society; it wasn’t all steam trains, there was Scalectrix too. He went on to become a civil engineer in British Rail’s bridge design and assessment team. Today, at the age of 58, he still works part-time for Amey on Network Rail’s bridge assessment contract. But it’s through his political career as a York city councillor that Merrett has been able to put his wider ideas about transport...