PLANS to close an historic gateway in York have sparked fears that the move will cause traffic chaos on nearby roads.

Members of City of York Council have agreed to close Walmgate Bar to all vehicles, except bicycles, to protect the monument from damage. Two-way traffic will pass under the Victorian arch, currently used by motorists heading out of the city.

The scheme will start as a trial, though if it works councillors could vote for the changes to become permanent.

But residents in the area say they are worried the move will create problems.

Pensioner Olive Hardy, who lives in Rosemary Court, off Navigation Road, said closing Walmgate Bar would force more motorists to use Navigation Road to get between Walmgate and Foss Islands Road.

She said: "Navigation Road is a rat run. It's terrible. Traffic already comes off Walmgate because people want to avoid the traffic lights and this will make it worse."

She said if lorry drivers had not attempted to use the Bar in the past, causing damage to the historic structure, the council would not have been forced to take such drastic action.

"I blame the lorry drivers. Something should be done to the Bar to stop them trying to use it."

She said a lot of elderly people lived in the Navigation Road area, and if more traffic used the road it would become dangerous for residents.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, the Labour opposition transport spokeswoman on City of York Council, said if problems were caused by the closure the issue needed to be reconsidered by the planning and transport advisory panel as a matter of urgency.

"We need constant monitoring from day one. Protecting the Bar is important, but we need to make sure people can get into York to go to work."

The scheme is expected to be up and running by the end of August. It will be reviewed after six months.

Updated: 10:34 Friday, June 04, 2004