NEW bus lanes on a busy York road may create safety problems for pedestrians and motorists, concerned residents claim.

Muncastergate campaigners say changes in Malton Road to make way for the new Monks Cross Park&Ride could leave their neighbourhood with an "accident waiting to happen".

That's the verdict of Alan Winterbottom, chairman of the Muncastergate Private Property Association, representing more than 100 households in the area.

He called for the council to think again before removing bollards and a right-turn reservation into Muncastergate from the eastern side of the busy city centre link road.

Mr Winterbottom, 77, told the Evening Press: "Three bollards were only put in about six years ago after an accident. Now we fear they could be removed.

"This would make things considerably worse and the road very difficult to cross, especially for schoolchildren who use it. It would make the area an accident waiting to happen."

Mr Winterbottom, of Abbotsway, branded the proposed changes "preposterous" and said the police were against bollards being removed.

At the moment, campaigners believe one bollard will be scrapped and two could stay, although they fear the clock is ticking on all three.

Councillors have discussed plans to route Park&Ride buses down Straylands Grove, as part of a traffic master plan for east York. But a rising bollard on this street, preventing a rat run, could be as long as ten years away.

Safety fears emerged as council bosses announced the first buses would roll into York's newest Park&Ride by the end of June. Services are expected to start using Monks Cross shortly after construction work finishes that month.

The council stressed this would not be hit by Muncastergate safety concerns.

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "Highways officials have spoken to residents and are currently looking at how to deal with concerns. They won't be working on that part of the development until these issues have been resolved."

The new site, running services until 9pm, aims to improve Monks Cross access as well as cutting city centre congestion.

With a new bus terminus, landscaped areas and a drainage lagoon, the facility will have a 750-space car park.

The Evening Press understands construction work will be completed ahead of time, depending on weather conditions, with the new terminus building finished sometime in April. That would give bus company First access to the site before June.

In 2002, more than 1.8 million passengers used the existing Park&Ride schemes at Rawcliffe, Grimston Bar, Askham Bar and Naburn.

Updated: 08:35 Tuesday, March 23, 2004