A SUBWAY for cyclists and pedestrians could be built beneath the proposed new roundabout on the A19 at Rawcliffe.

City of York planning councillors have given the green light to plans for a £1.5 million new, bigger roundabout at the A19 junction with the outer ring road and a new link road to the Park and Ride site at Rawcliffe.

Concerns from cyclists have prompted the council to look at the possibility of building an underpass as part of the scheme.

Ron Headley, spokesman for North Yorkshire Cyclists' Touring Club, told City of York councillors: "No one likes roundabouts and they bring out the worst in drivers.

"The risks for cyclists relate to the reluctance of drivers to give them due priority.

"The proposed scheme needs to be scaled down and modified to incorporate cyclists' measures."

In a letter given to councillors he said: "We are concerned about transport funds being spent to provide additional highway space principally to cope with brief peak-period problems, generally at the expense of non-motorised users and public transport.

"These appear to be short-term goals that may not be in keeping with long-term vision alluded to in the council's Local Transport Strategy."

Peter Evely, head of highway regulation with the City of York Council, said: "There is a possible way forward in creating a pedestrian/cyclist subway.

"We will ask the consultants to include with the contract documents a price for a design-and-build subway from the allocation we already have.

"The alternative is making physical provision for a subway at a later date by constructing the walls and roof without doing excavation work.

"We're very mindful of your concerns and I will be doing my damndest to achieve that within our budget."

Coun Nick Blitz, who was formerly one of the main campaigners against the Park and Ride site at Rawcliffe, said: "I welcome this roundabout - it is clearly something we wanted in before the Park and Ride went in."

Work on the new roundabout could get under way by Christmas, but there will be no construction restrictions to the existing carriageways until mid-January.

The Highways Agency is providing £500,000 with more than £1 million coming from the council and other contributions.

The council put out a questionnaire to 2,600 residents and road users about the roundabout and 90 per cent backed it.

It has been designed to relieve congestion around the existing roundabout. The link with the Park and Ride will allow its capacity to rise to 1,000 cars.