A BATTLE to rid a south York village from an "eyesore" road structure will be decided this week.

Copmanthorpe residents want City of York Council to remove a "build-out" structure between Church Street and Main Street.

They say the structure, which the city council built out from the pavement in an attempt to calm traffic in the village, is unnecessary, ugly and dangerous.

Members of the council's planning and transport west area committee will debate the matter tomorrow.

A 20pmh zone is also in place in the centre of the village as part of measures to reduce traffic speeds.

Parish Council chairman Mike Irwin said the size of the build-out meant the road became dangerously narrow for turning lorries. Villagers also felt it was unattractive.

He said: "We argue that most vehicles respond to the 20mph limit anyway."

In its fight to rid their village of the offending structure, members of the parish council have come up with an alternative solution - to put a speed table on the entrance to Church Street where the structure currently stands.

They say this would be more than adequate to cope with any residual speeding problems in the village.

Selby MP John Grogan said he supported the parish council in its fight. "I don't think it (the build-out) adds to safety - in fact, I think it probably does compromise safety," he said. "It doesn't look good, either."

Planning committee members are being given three options to consider, which are to remove the build-out, reduce its size, or keep it.

But council officers have recommended that committee members keep the structure, saying removing it would mean putting an extra speed hump in the village's 20mph zone.

In a report to councillors, the council's senior highway safety engineer Jon Pickles said potential safety problems could be addressed by re-aligning the kerb near the build-out.

Updated: 11:30 Wednesday, February 16, 2005