YORK’S traffic boss defended controversial plans to close York’s Lendal Bridge to cars as a new petition was launched in support of the project.

Dave Merrett, City of York Council’s cabinet member for transport, spoke out after The Press received a flood of letters from readers slating the scheme.

Coun Merrett said the closure, scheduled for 10.30am to 5pm daily for a six-month trial, was a response to residents who had consistently told the authority that reducing congestion and improving bus services were their top priorities.

He told The Press: “Freeing bus services from congestion in the city centre is fundamental to making services more reliable and attractive to potential users.

“This is a trial to establish whether bus priorities and restrictions for other traffic on the use of Lendal Bridge would be successful in the long term.

“It will indicate how far we can transform the public environment around Exhibition Square and make major improvements to the key pedestrian routes from the station to the Minster and from Bootham and Gillygate to Blake Street.

“In running a trial, we can establish the full impact of traffic displacement rather than simply speculating about it, and then decide on whether to extend the restricted hours, make the existing trial permanent, reduce the hours or not proceed at all.”

He claimed Conservatives, who launched the e-petition against closure, had immediately opposed it without a second thought, even though group leader Coun Ian Gillies and some colleagues were on record as saying they wanted to see improvements to city-centre public spaces and reduced traffic.

He said the Lib Dems had said the proposal was commendable, but disagreed on the timing, while Green councillors fully supported the plan.

“What this shows is that there is a degree of consensus on the need to restrict traffic through the city centre if we are to improve the environment and local bus services, even if parties differ on how it’s achieved.”

By 4.40pm yesterday, 215 people had signed the e-petition opposing the bridge’s closure, while one person had signed a new petition in support, which said the aim was to improve the quality of life in York through reducing traffic volumes and positively promoting and encouraging sustainable modes of transport.