MOTORISTS will still be directed across York’s Lendal Bridge by their sat-navs even after it closes, council bosses have said.

But drivers will not be able to use that as an excuse if they are caught breaking the new rules, which ban cars and motorbikes from the bridge between 10.30 am and 5pm.

City of York Council says it has been working with a number of companies ahead of next Tuesday’s changes, in relation to updating their sat-navs. But it says it understands the devices are unable to deal with restrictions which change during the day.

Richard Wood, the council’s assistant director for strategic planning and transport, said: “This is the case for restrictions of this nature across the country.”

He said drivers using sat-navs must still obey road signs and should not rely on their devices to provide them with accurate information about road closures and restrictions.

“There will be standard advanced warning signs on the approach to Lendal Bridge and Prohibition Of Driving signs at the start of the restriction to notify drivers that cars, lorries and motorbikes will not be permitted across the bridge during the hours of 10.30am and 5pm, throughout the trial,” he said.

“These signs are not unique to Lendal Bridge, they are used across the country, and we would expect drivers to read these and adhere to them as they do elsewhere.”

David Brooks, general manager of the Dean Court Hotel, said last month it was vital sat-nav companies were fully informed of the closure. He said yesterday it was a shame the firms were not willing to make the necessary changes.

The bridge, part of York’s Inner ring road, is closing for a six-month trial, although it can still be used by buses and taxis. The council has argued the scheme could cut congestion and pollution and speed up bus services, but opponents have claimed it will cause gridlock on other roads and harm city-centre traders. Transport bosses have asked residents and businesses to take a look at how they travel ahead of the closure.

Tory opposition spokesman Coun Chris Steward said: “This epitomises the farce of the situation. The sat-nav companies want to assist people in getting quickly from A to B. The council is preventing people from doing that.”

• THE Lendal Bridge closure will be discussed at a Guildhall ward residents’ forum at City of York Council’s West Offices HQ at 7pm tonight.