WITH regards to Professor May’s proposals to “help everyone go with the flow” (The Press, October 13), does he not realise that by closing roads such as Micklegate and the left turn from Station Road into Leeman Road this diverts traffic on to roads that are already busy, therefore creating further congestion and pollution.

If the pedestrian crossing time is increased, it will mean that traffic is standing longer and churning out more toxic fumes than if the traffic was free flowing.

He says in his report that 1,000 vehicles an hour pass down Bishopthorpe Road and that these should be diverted via Nunnery Lane.

He fails to say how many vehicles an hour travel via Nunnery Lane, so we are unable to assess what congestion would be caused by this diversion.

I accept that fewer vehicles travelling down Bishopthorpe Road would make it more pleasant for shops, cafés and people on foot, but this could apply to many areas in York not mentioned in his report, such as any streets near to schools where twice a day these streets are blocked by parents dropping off children.

The suggestions by Professor May and other so called traffic experts will just encourage people to use out of town shopping centres where parking is free.

Then Prof May will get his wish and all of inner York will be become one big pedestrian only zone, to the detriment of all inner city businesses except of course the many pubs and eating places.

A P Cox, Heath Close, Holgate, York