I have lived in York long enough to remember the thousands of vehicles from the Leeds direction heading for Scarborugh, crawling their way through the city. I think it was one Easter holiday when I saw complete gridlock.

This hell for York residents was relieved by the construction of the outer ring road, and Clifton Bridge was opened in 1963 to relieve congestion in the city centre. Now the number of motor vehicles continues to grow and create more congestion, particularly on the ring road and Water End. Failing some radical solution this will get worse. Does this not show that we cannot build our way out of road congestion? Those motorists who queue on Water End and other roads approaching the Clifton Green junction are understandably frustrated because the lines of traffic are longer following the Water End cycle lane alterations, but this is no excuse for rat-running via the residential area of Westminster Road and The Avenue. The council’s highway design guide says through traffic should not use residential roads in this manner – they should be Access Only.

When will the council concede it has worsened the rat-running problem on these roads and implement its own Highway Design Guide by closing them to through traffic? Coun Steve Galloway has the power to do so, but so far has refused to take effective action.

Ron Hollier, Ousecliffe Gardens, York.

• Thank you for Mark Stead’s accurate and easily read report of the recent meeting (Road scheme anger, The Press, February 19). The mismanaged scheme has caused an increase of traffic, up 97 per cent, of which 87.5 per cent is cut-through (rat -run) vehicles in this residential suburb (council figures).

Even if the Clifton traffic lights were constantly at green vehicles would use Westminster Road and The Avenue because the drivers have become mentally prepared to do that.

The council officers have offered nothing to ameliorate the unwarranted consequences of the scheme.

The only creative option is point closure, by bollards. We have seen closure elsewhere in the city, as life became intolerable for the residents.

J Begley, Westminster Road, Clifton.