TRADERS are urging the council to push ahead with traffic changes on their street.

John Pybus, who is landlord of the Blue Bell pub on Fossgate and part of the area’s traders’ association, asked senior councillor Ian Gillies to approve a new plan that they hope will cut down the amount of traffic on the street.

Speaking at a public meeting on Thursday, Mr Pybus said: “The Fossgate Association strongly believes that with this 18 month traffic experiment plus the granting of cafe licences and the money already set aside for resurfacing we can make Fossgate only a more viable and pedestrian friendly, attractive place for York residents and tourists to visit.”

The scheme - which got the backing of City of York’s executive member for transport Cllr Gillies - will see the one way traffic reversed in the hope that will cut down the number of vehicles using the street illegally. Traffic flow will be switched so it goes from Merchantgate to Pavement, but not in reverse.

Signs will go up prohibiting all traffic except for deliveries between 8am and 6pm, and businesses on the street are to be given the chance to apply for street cafe licences for the 18 month trial, for free.

Last month City of York Council’s executive also agreed to spend £500,000 resurfacing the road and improving the area.

Mr Pybus also spoke of the festivals the Fossgate Association has put on every summer for the last three years, but said that it needs support and funding to keep improving the area, and thanked the council for the time and effort put in to finally make progress on the long running plans.

“We understand this is just the beginning of potentially a very long road toward making Fossgate an attraction in its own right, whilst adding to the already great offer the city has, but we thank you for starting down this road.”

Cllr Gillies said that it was difficult to make everyone happy, but he believed there was now broad consensus on the plan for Fossgate.

“It might not be perfect but bear with us, we are doing what we can.”