A SCHEME to shake up York's city centre bus routes has been opened to public consultation.

The £250,000 plans will see changes to Clarence Street improve the 1, 5 and 6 services, and create a longer lane for traffic turning left into Lord Mayor's Walk, and alterations to the traffic light timings.

A new section of cycle lane will also be created, along with better pedestrian crossing close to the Clarence Street bus stops.

If the scheme is approved, work is expected to start in January for about three months, and will be part-funded though the Better Bus Area Fund given to the council in 2012.

Councillor David Levene said: "Our aim is to encourage even more people to travel by bus and increase passenger numbers by 18 per cent by 2015.

"Through our York by Bus campaign, we are helping to deliver real benefits for the city and for every £1 spent in York , this project should deliver £4 of benefits by reducing congestion, improving air quality and health, and reducing road accidents. However this scheme should benefit all users on the very tight Clarence Street approach to the Lord Mayor’s Walk junction."

The five-week consultation ends on Thursday, October 29, and full details are available at itravelyork.info

Feedback can be sent online at york.gov.uk/consultations or paper copies are available in the council’s West Offices.