RESIDENTS of Stockton Lane and Hopgrove Lane should take note of the council's proposed intelligent bollard to be installed on Straylands Grove at Malton Road.

The purpose of this measure is to stop "rat-running" through the estate, but placement of the bollard at this location, instead of on Woodlands Grove at Stockton Lane, may well be to the detriment of Stockton and Hopgrove Lane residents, who were not consulted so may be unaware of the implications.

The current favoured position will mean that all trades people, delivery vehicles, visitors and residents (who choose not to buy a bollard pass) will be forced to use Stockton Lane for access.

If the residents of the estate really do want a bollard, it makes sense to allow access from the main road, ie Malton Road, instead of the back way in through another residential area.

The answer that Stockton Lane will derive some benefit from the reduction of "rat-running" to offset this doesn't hold up. If the traffic increase expected on Malton Road as Monks Cross develops is as significant as predicted, any suggested relief will be short-lived.

S Burns,

Straylands Grove,

York.

Updated: 09:27 Monday, December 06, 2004