PLANS to create York's sixth Park & Ride site have been branded full of "coulds", "woulds", and "maybes".

Liberal Democrat councillors say they are concerned that little work of substance has been done over the issue.

Residents were given the choice of five sites where the new service - catering for the north west of the city - could be situated.

In a leaflet sent to every York household, people have backed site A, which is located inside the outer ring road behind the Civil Service sports ground.

The scheme could also have the potential for a "park and rail" feature with the new site being linked to a new rail halt on the York to Harrogate line.

Lib Dem transport spokeswoman Ann Reid said every site is in the Green Belt, but little has been done to evaluate the varying effects that the different sites have.

She said: "Whilst recognising that residents favour this site, serious concerns remain about the effect on the Green Belt between Poppleton and the city. This is one of the narrowest points of the Green Belt and in order to prevent coalescence a site of this scale will need very sensitive landscaping to prevent Green Belt becoming landscaped suburbia."

She said the consultation was flawed as it relied heavily on promoting a bus-based solution to Park & Ride.

"Only lip service was paid to the possibility of expanding into Park and Rail," Coun Reid said.

"We feel that we must be looking at much more innovative use of rail and light rail solutions to solve our congestion problems.

"No option was given on 'no Park and Ride', expansion of existing sites or using a site further out on the A59."

Upper Poppleton ward councillor Quentin Macdonald said: "What we have here seems to be a beauty contest rather than a structured evaluation of each option on which residents and members can make an informed choice."

Updated: 10:05 Monday, March 17, 2003