FEARS have been raised of more massive traffic queues in York, when controversial plans to close one of the city's busiest junctions come into force next week.

Historic Walmgate Bar will be closed to all vehicles except bicycles from Sunday, to prevent vehicles from hitting the Grade I listed gateway.

But in the wake of huge tailbacks on Tuesday night, when engineering work brought chaos to the city's roads, concerns have been expressed that the new scheme could cause daily rush hour gridlock.

John Thornton, owner of Castle Cars, a taxi firm based in Lawrence Street, said he expected long queues on the road outside his offices. He said: "A lot of my drivers were very miffed after last night, and these changes won't help. I could become a professional car spotter, looking at stationary cars through the office window.

"Problems will be caused, especially next year with Ascot coming up. Unfortunately we'll just have to get on with it."

Peter Wheatley, owner of private-hire company Yorcabs, who was caught in the queues, said he feared the changes to the junction could lead to similar chaos.

He said: "I do not agree with the closure of any road. I am sure there could be another way of dealing with the Walmgate Bar problem.

"Every time a road is closed, more and more traffic is caused elsewhere. York's traffic could be eased considerably by getting rid of traffic lights, not making them worse. The city just does not need anything like as many traffic lights as it has got now."

City of York Council traffic engineers estimated the experimental changes will add only about ten seconds to a peak hour journey through the junction.

The 18-month experimental scheme is to be reviewed after six months and, if successful, could become permanent.

Ann Reid, the council's executive member for transport, said: "This is an experimental venture, which means that we can change it back at any time within the year if there are problems. I would hope that people would wait and see what happens - hold fire, and see how it works in practice."

Len Cruddas, chief executive of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "I sat in that queue of traffic on Tuesday evening, and it was tailed back all the way into the city centre. I just live in hope that the traffic planners at the council will have got their stopwatches out, and will get their sums right on this one.

"This is one of those necessary evils, as it is very important that we protect our built heritage - we will just have to wait and see."

Updated: 08:46 Thursday, October 28, 2004