SENIOR city councillors have approved a traffic master plan aimed at saving York from future gridlock.

But the plan for the Foss Basin area will be debated again tomorrow, as opposition Labour councillors claim it is not strong enough to cope with the traffic implications of future planning schemes.

Liberal Democrat members of City of York Council's ruling executive agreed a series of short-term measures to ease congestion yesterday, including one to route a new Park&Ride service from Monks Cross into the city, down residential streets between Malton Road and Stockton Lane.

An "intelligent bollard" - such as the one installed in Stonebow - could prevent cars from driving down these streets, which include Straylands Grove.

A second bollard could also be installed in Stonebow, to stop inbound traffic travelling on the wrong side of the existing bollard.

The executive will recommend the plan for final approval at a Strategic Policy Panel (SPP) meeting tomorrow.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour opposition transport spokeswoman, has previously told the Evening Press that she and colleagues believe the study is flawed and that a "traffic nightmare" is awaiting York.

But council officers are adamant the city would face traffic agony in future if the plan is not implemented.

On the Park&Ride issue, Coun Simpson-Laing said the projected gridlock could mean traffic officers being forced to re-route the new service down further residential streets.

She said: "Buses could be trundling down residential streets every ten minutes - which might cause problems for people.

"They are relying on the fact that if roads are congested, people will go another way - but where will the buses go?"

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for planning and transport, said affected streets could be less congested if they were used for Park&Ride services, because bollards would prevent cars using them as rat runs.

She said: "Having a Park&Ride bus is not necessarily different from having any bus through a residential area - and there are all sorts of areas in York with ten-minute services going through them.

"The applications (for future development in the area around the Foss Basin) have already been approved which will lead to a 32 per cent traffic increase.

"We are not in a 'do nothing' situation."

Updated: 11:45 Wednesday, March 17, 2004