In a city that prides itself on being cycle friendly, it seemed like a great idea.

A section of Walmgate Stray, York, where many residents are protesting against a planned cycle path

But the council's proposals for a cycle track across Walmgate Stray - also known as Low Moor - touched a real raw nerve among some in the city.

For cyclists, of course, it is great news.

But it also sparked a flood of letters to the Evening Press from people worried about damage to historic common land.

The scheme will effectively open up Walmgate Stray between Imphal Barracks and York University to cyclists and walkers.

City of York Council's planning department gave the scheme its backing before Christmas.

But, because of complaints that many people had not been given the chance to give their opinion, the council extended the time limit for representations to be made.

Now the deadline has passed, the council has announced that no issues were raised to stand in its way.

Work is expected to begin on the cycle path in the near future.

But the news will bring dismay to the many people who were fighting against the path.

Letters have been streaming in to the Evening Press raising concerns about the increase in litter caused by extra traffic and increasing the use of an area of common land historically set aside for the public and creating dangers to dogs exercised on the land. Fears were voiced that the feelings of safety that the Stray generated for walkers due to the absence of traffic would be destroyed if it was opened to cyclists.

J M McAndrew, of Heslington Lane, wrote: "Walmgate Stray has, for generations, been a haven of quiet, safety and social gathering for local people. The council is about to destroy all that by splitting the Stray in two to give access to hordes of cyclists en route to the university."

It was even claimed that the new path could increase the risk of personal attacks, giving assailants a swifter means of getaway.

But cyclists, and those who support the council's target of decreasing the amount of pollution causing traffic and raise the amount of people turning to bicycles or walking, have welcomed the planners' decision.

David Hall, spokesman for Sustrans which is working on the path with the council, said: "The council's transport policy is to maximise the number of journeys made by foot and bicycle, and that is only done by creating convenient and attractive routes.

"I can understand people's concerns about damaging the pasture land, and we have no intention other than improving access to what we agree is a wonderful asset to the city."

He said currently many people didn't even know about the stray because of poor access.

And he said that cyclists posed no threat to wildlife or to the peace of the land.

He said: "Personally I don't feel that a narrow paved path is going to have any impact on the natural quality of the space that exists.

"This is not like putting a road though the stray. In fact, people probably won't even notice it."

He denied any suggestion that the path would be the start of more development.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.