ANGRY residents today hit out after learning that a vital bridge to their village is to close this week for six weeks.

They claim they were not informed of the work - at Pool Bridge in Wheldrake Lane, between Crockey Hill and Wheldrake village - until signs went up on the bridge late last week.

It is only a few years since work took place to make the bridge narrower.

"We've had the petrol crisis, floods and foot and mouth, and now the main road is to be closed for six weeks," said an angry Alf Vass, who owns the Wheldrake Pine and Cane outlet on the Wheldrake Trading Estate.

He believes the closure will badly affect his and other local businesses.

"It's like they are trying to close us all down in Wheldrake," Mr Vass added.

He said he had had no notification of the closure and only realised what was happening when he saw signs posted on the bridge last Friday. Bill Agar, owner of the nearby Springwell Garden Centre, said he also feared trade could be hit when the bridge was closed.

"The work needs to be done, but this is our busiest time of the year and we do have customers coming from York," he said. "We will just have to grin and bear it."

Mr Agar said there were local concerns that after the widening and strengthening of the bridge, Wheldrake Lane would become too fast, leading to further accidents. The narrow bridge will be closed from Wednesday for the work, said to be necessary after a number of accidents and near-misses involving vehicles. The start of the work was postponed from today,

A spokesman for City of York Council said: "We have leafleted the area to inform people that this work is being done and will work to ensure that it is completed as quickly as possible. In the meantime a signed diversion will be in place and the bridge will remain open

to pedestrians and cyclists.

"This is an important scheme being carried out for public safety reasons.

"There have been a number of accidents and near-misses in this area over the years simply because the bridge is too narrow.

"We would urge people to be patient and bear with us and the contractors while we carry out the work."

A traffic diversion via Elvington will be in operation during the work.

Updated: 12:12 Monday, April 23, 2001