TRANSPORT chief Stephen Byers has been asked to block plans for a new train station in Haxby.

Vale of York's Conservative MP Anne McIntosh has written to the Secretary of State for the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions asking him to stop the plans.

She said: "A number of constituents have written to me expressing their concern over the proposed re-opening.

"Haxby is a small, quiet town and residents are worried about the implications of noise and environmental pollution. Haxby is already well served by road and bus routes to York, and opening the station on a site very close to the Ralph Butterfield school would grossly add to congestion there."

The station was proposed and accepted by the council in 1997.

A bid has been made to the Strategic Rail Authority for it to be opened.

But work has been delayed because of problems at Arriva, which would operate services linking Haxby to York on the line.

Miss McIntosh said: "Should no unforeseen obstacles delay the procedure, the station will be fully operational by May 2004.

"I have duly written to Mr Byers urging him to overturn the proposals, as well as to the City of York Council and the chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority."

It is the second time that Miss McIntosh has hit out at City of York Council's plans to open the railway station.

During last year's election campaign, she said her opposition to the plans had the backing of residents.

But her claims have left the chairman of Haxby Parish Council bemused.

Ken Holdsworth said: "I can see the railway line from my bedroom window and I'm not bothered to have it there.

"This is ridiculous. I have heard one or two people complain about it, but the vast majority of people support it."

Councillor Derek Smallwood, the council's executive member for the environment, said: "I do find it strange that, while Miss McIntosh recently complained to the Government office for Yorkshire and Humberside about the loss and reduction of rail services in the region, she is now attacking a proposal which would provide a remedy to some of her concerns.

"The station plan itself has been consulted upon widely with local residents and has received widespread support from the community, the Strategic Rail Authority, train operating companies and Railtrack."

Updated: 10:33 Friday, January 25, 2002