A YORK coffee shop owner says he is a concerned a proposed new bridge could batter his business - and has proposed a radical alternative.

Mike Fisher, who runs Lucy's Coffee House, on Lendal Bridge, says that instead of building a new bridge across the River Ouse the council should pedestrianise Lendal Bridge.

The council's executive member for planning and transport said the idea could not be ruled out.

Proposals to build a new £3m footbridge across the Ouse, linking Guildhall and North Street Gardens, were recently discussed by senior city councillors.

But Mr Fisher said if the council was trying to separate traffic and pedestrians by building the footbridge it was "treating the symptoms of an illness but not the cause".

He said: "If the council was able to reduce the number of cars on city centre bridges they would be reducing traffic congestion in these areas, freeing up the roads for buses.

"If this was achievable then significant portions of the air quality action plan and the local transport plan could be considered to have been satisfactorily completed.

"At the same time the removal of private cars from such areas would negate the main reason for building the footbridge, separating pedestrians and traffic on the city centre bridges."

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for planning and transport, said pedestrianising Lendal Bridge was something the council could look at in the future.

She said: "It's an interesting suggestion. We are going to need to look at innovative traffic solutions for post-2006.

"Suggestions such as pedestrianising Lendal Bridge could be considered. I wouldn't rule anything in or anything out at this point."

The planned Guildhall bridge, which is expected to cost between £3 million and £4 million, will be exclusively for pedestrians.

Updated: 08:40 Wednesday, September 10, 2003