A TRAFFIC master plan to tackle York's escalating congestion problems has been criticised by the developers of a major housing scheme.

Members of City of York Council's planning committee agreed to refer a transport strategy for the Foss Basin to the executive for approval, as a series of proposed major housing scenes along the Foss Islands Road corridor would put pressure on traffic.

But the developers of the biggest single scheme, for 720 new homes at Hungate, have accused the council of miscalculating its proposed financial contribution to the scheme.

The Foss Basin master plan would see a James Street link road, a safety scheme to help control traffic at Monkgate roundabout, a bus priority lane at Walmgate Bar, an extension of the Sustrans cycle route into the city centre and measures to allow bus services into the city at Heworth village, Mill Lane, Foss Islands Roads, Layerthorpe and Lawrence Street.

It is expected to cost £6.9 million, funded with £1 million from the council, £4 million from the developers and the balance from contributions in kind associated with the development of the ring road.

In a report to the committee, it was estimated the Hungate developers should contribute more than £2 million towards the James Street link road, based upon a projection of peak time trips generated from the site and a proposed office development.

Andy Morton, a senior associate of Alan Baxter Associates, speaking for the developers, said the council wrongly treated a figure of 819 residential trips from the development as being car-borne journeys.

He said: "The council officers in their report have not taken into account the different kinds of trip, meaning that pedestrians and cyclists are being classed as if they were motorists and charged at the same level of tariff.

"We only ask that any contribution should be fair and equitable and hope that the figures can be re-calculated as quickly as possible, as we are anxious to avoid any delay."

Updated: 10:38 Friday, February 27, 2004