PART of a major scheme to create bus and cycle lanes on one of York’s busiest roads is being put on hold over residents’ fears that it would lead to the loss of parking spaces.

The segment of the A19 Fulford Road corridor project between Heslington Lane and St Oswald’s Road on the edge of the city will now be the subject of a fresh public consultation exercise. But civic chiefs say it will not delay bringing in congestion-busting measures on the route.

City of York Council has decided to discuss the plans to make it easier for buses and cyclists to travel along the stretch of road further after people whose houses and businesses face onto Main Street objected to losing parking spots outside their properties.

They are also worried this would cause problems for visitors attending services at nearby St Oswald’s Church, as well as for patients at a local GP surgery.

But a raft of similar improvements to the A19 between Hospital Fields Road and St Oswald’s Road – as part of the same scheme – have been given the all-clear following a meeting of the council’s city strategy panel.

City strategy supremo Coun Steve Galloway said: “The plans to provide priority for public transport and much safer conditions for cyclists on Fulford Road received a major boost at the advisory panel meeting, when most of the corridor improvement proposals were agreed.

“Some minor on-road proposals have been deferred to allow further discussions with residents. Some – at the Fulford village end of the scheme – were concerned that the removal of on-street parking provision could affect their homes and businesses, but the deferral of this small part of the scheme is not expected to delay the programmed works.

“The scheme is very important to York as we try to reduce traffic congestion by encouraging more people to walk and cycle to work and also to encourage motorists to use the York Designer Outlet Park&Ride service.”

The first phase of the A19 project is now under way, with cycle lanes, an off-road route for bikes, a new crossing point and short-stay parking facilities being created between Fulford Road’s junctions with Cemetery Road and Hospital Fields Road.

Fulford councillor Keith Aspden said: “I’m very pleased council officers have recognised how controversial the changes on Main Street would have been and that there will now be further discussions with residents.”