YORK transport bosses have pushed ahead with a series of plans to promote public and "green" transport, despite residents' concerns about some of the proposals.

Work to create a city-bound bus lane on the heavily-congested Malton Road will continue, despite the opposition of residents, who fear pedestrians could be put in danger.

Councillors also threw their support behind the Osbaldwick number six bus route, even though villagers claim it is hardly used, and some buses are overrunning pavements on narrow roads.

A total of £750,000 has been set aside for upgrading and extending the city's network of cycle paths to encourage motorists to switch to pedal power.

Clifton residents have been reassured that there are no plans to close Bootham and divert traffic through their area, but they have been asked to contribute to a public consultation on future travel improvements.

At a meeting of transport chiefs last night, Coun Christian Vassie said comments from Osbaldwick residents, that they do not need a regular bus service, represented a "tragic failure" for the council.

He said: "We live in a city that's gridlocked at various times of the day. All of us know we have to reduce car use and cut pollution.

"We have to ask ourselves what are we doing to fail so badly, providing these buses which no one wants to use? The future has to lie with some form of public transportation."

Councillors moved to allay the fears of Muncastergate resident Fred Bramfitt, who said the junction of his road and Malton Road was an accident blackspot which would be made worse by the new bus route.

Bill Woolley, assistant director (development and transport), said the development was a "very necessary bus priority system". Councillors said the use of road crossings would be investigated and a speed survey carried out.

Osbaldwick parish council chairman Malcolm Kettlestring also called for a survey. He wants a council analysis of traffic through his village before the massive Derwenthorpe development moves forward.

Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour spokesperson for transport, said comments by council leader Steve Galloway that traffic could be re-routed through Clifton had caused "panic".

Anne Reid, the council's executive member for transport, said no such plan existed. But she asked all residents who signed a petition on the issue to contribute to an ongoing transport consultation.

Councillors approved a string of schemes to make routes to schools safer, at a cost of £109,000, despite the concerns of Labour members, who said they did not sufficiently address traffic reduction.

Updated: 10:39 Thursday, April 08, 2004