A WAR of words has flared after plans to build a new station near York hit the buffers again.

Labour members on City of York Council today accused the ruling Liberal Democrats of raising hopes over the creation of a direct rail link to Copmanthorpe.

Councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour transport spokesman, claimed the Lib Dems already knew station plans would be derailed, but pressed ahead with a fresh study.

She said: "Councillors knew three years ago that the railways would not agree to plans for a Copmanthorpe station - but the Lib Dems raised local hopes as part of a cynical election stunt.

"A good deal of time and council taxpayers' money has been wasted on this investigation - and we are right back where we started."

She said Labour councillors had already been warned that any study was likely to produce exactly the same conclusions their earlier attempt produced.

Network Rail and the Strategic Rail Authority have been unable to back it due to problems with train speeds, timetables and overhead wires Labour said, as well as the cost of purchasing extra rolling stock and possible repositioning of tracks on the East Coast Main Line.

Councillors were warned in 1999 the project would cost more than £10 million.

Coun Simpson-Laing said: "It is such a shame that this money was not spent on investing in more deliverable local transport schemes, that would have actually made a difference to people's lives.

"Instead we have wasted all this effort and money - for nothing."

But council leader Coun Steve Galloway accused Labour of using "enlightened hindsight".

He said Coun Simpson-Laing did not outline her concerns when the plans were put to Network Rail.

Coun Galloway said the challenge to the Labour Government was to make more of a commitment to green-friendly transport, by providing more cash to Network Rail for such schemes.

He added: "We would expect Labour would be supporting our initiatives to extend the rail network wherever possible.

"Copmanthorpe was not top of the list because it is clearly more practicable to provide new stations on slower lines like Scarborough and Harrogate for Haxby and Strensall.

"At some stage we are going to have to address how we get people from Copmanthorpe to the city centre.

"Park and Rail could still be part of our long-term aspirations."

A Network Rail spokeswoman said a station in Copmanthorpe is not something they would fund.

Updated: 14:01 Friday, June 18, 2004