YORK’S Green Party leader has called on transport bosses not to let spending cuts delay plans to improve pedestrian safety at a dangerous junction.

Coun Andy D’Agorne urged City of York Council ’s city strategy boss, Coun Steve Galloway , to press ahead with work to upgrade the Fishergate gyratory system.

His pleas came after council officers published a report asking Coun Galloway to approve a recommendation to reduce funding for the scheme and suspend any work until “future years”.

Coun D’Agorne said safety improvements should be treated as a priority following the death of pedestrian Lucie Brabyn outside Toto’s Italian restaurant in 2007.

He said: “At the moment this is a blind corner for pedestrians, but the proposed work would change the design of this junction, with a build-out, so pedestrians are in a position to see traffic coming round the corner.

“Fishergate gyratory is a major barrier as well as road safety hazard to people walking or cycling to the city centre, and should be upgraded for safety before the Barbican comes back into operation.”