angry residents who say their homes are under siege from spiralling levels of traffic have called for controversial measures to protect their street.

More than 150 people have backed a petition urging highways bosses to consider installing an "intelligent bollard" and to remove other traffic calming measures in Heslington Lane, Fulford, York.

Electronically-controlled rising bollards are in use at Stonebow and Victoria Bar in the city. They only allow pass holders, such as residents and permitted businesses, to pass through.

Protesters argue that the heavy traffic flow, including construction vehicles, double-decker buses, university workers and rat-running motorists, is making their lives intolerable.

They claim that lorries and buses endanger pupils at Fulford School, damage the poor quality road surface and cause extra noise, pollution and vibration for residents.

Self-employed plumber Joe Booth, 53, who organised the petition, said his home was developing cracks as a result of heavy vehicles hitting the nearby speed table.

He said: "Why should the people of Heslington Lane put up with HGVs and cars flying up and down all the tune? After all it is a residential area."

"The people of this area need some help because the council are not listening to us. The speed restrictions are not working."

Neighbour George Tams, 60, said: "Why not send the traffic around the bypass? That is what it is built for."

Of almost 200 people from the Heslington Lane area who signed a petition addressing local traffic problems, 184 were for a ban on heavy goods vehicles.

A total of 165 people called for the removal of the speed tables, with more than 160 people objecting to the use of double-decker buses and construction traffic down the road.

Peter Evely, the council's head of highway regulation, said council research showed that traffic in Heslington Lane had in fact decreased since 2000.

He added that traffic volume and speed in the street has been a long-running issue.

Speaking about the possibility if installing an intelligent bollard, he said: "We are happy to respond to this initiative coming from the community, but we have open mind on the issue."

Highway safety project manager Mike Durkin said council surveyors had not found excessive levels of noise or vibration during monitoring exercises.

Updated: 10:51 Wednesday, April 09, 2003