A SCHEME designed to improve pedestrian safety at one of York's busiest junctions will not be completed this year.

Tight spending restrictions and the need to carry out extra analysis of the traffic situation on the Fishergate gyratory system have led to the amount of funding available for upgrading the stretch of road in 2011/12 shrinking to a tenth of the allocation which was originally planned.

City of York Council had earmarked £200,000 in its capital programme for the current year to complete work on changing the layout of the junction near the Barbican centre, which was the scene of tragedy in 2007 when 22-year-old Lucie Brabyn was killed after being struck by a taxi, and improving crossing facilities for pedestrians.

But this has now been reduced to £20,000 after the authority said more studies needed to be carried out on how proposed crossing signals would affect traffic flows, although Coun Dave Merrett , cabinet member for city strategy, said officers would look at whether new road markings aimed at making the area safer for pedestrians could be introduced during 2011/12.

Improvements scheduled to start in 2010/11 were postponed because of the funding squeeze and to prioritise other road schemes Fishergate councillor Andy D’Agorne, who raised the issue at a city strategy decision session this week, said: “The junction is a blind corner for pedestrians, with increased numbers going to and from pubs and restaurants now the Barbican has reopened.

“The proposed work should change the design of this junction so pedestrians would be able to cross in safety. Fishergate gyratory is a major barrier, as well as a road safety hazard, to people walking and cycling into the city centre and should be upgraded regardless of issues around traffic flows.”

Coun D’Agorne said he hoped some work could be carried out this year and has also asked whether Section 106 funding financial contributions from developers to provide public services and infrastructure from the Barbican’s reopening was available for the gyratory scheme.

Coun Merrett said: “The prime reason for the delay is the need for traffic modelling to be done on the effect of putting in new signals.”