A MAJOR upgrade of one of York's busiest roads could take place if voters chose Labour at the local election, the city's most senior councillor announced today.

Work to improve the northern stretch of the A1237 outer ring road could include flyovers, with money allocated from April to look at options for improving the road, council leader Dave Merrett said.

He said: "Studies show a significant amount of city centre traffic is through traffic. People are re-routing, (from the ring road) we need to find out why and stop them from doing it."

Coun Merrett announced the proposal during the launch of Labour's local election manifesto. He said the package Labour offered included efforts to tackle the "big challenges" on employment, affordable housing, transport, community safety and the environment.

Coun Merrett denied that Labour was anti-car, pointing to the ring road proposals and measures such as Park & Ride which he said were aimed at helping motorists get to York.

But he admitted a major upgrade of public transport facilities was necessary by the end of the decade, or York would be in "deep trouble." He said: "Look at what happened when there were roadworks on the A64 and at Fishergate. There is not a large margin of room left in York."

Trams or people movers were an option for York, he said, but major studies and consultation would take place before any decision.

Coun Merrett revealed plans for an "holistic" approach through the "Street Environment" initiative.

This will see named council officers responsible for street-level services, such as cleansing and road sweeping in specific areas of York. The officers would work closely with community police officers and also with ward committees.

A doorstep recycling programme was due to be extended to take in 75 per cent of the city from June.

On crime, Coun Merrett said he had pressed North Yorkshire Police's chief constable, Della Cannings ,on the release of more police resources for York.

He recognised York's existing heroin problem, and the growing use of crack cocaine in the city.

"That (the drug problem) was one of the key issues I raised when I met with the chief constable. Her response was reasonably positive. There was no absolute commitment but she understands the problems."

The council would continue to work with the Safer York Partnership and its use of ASBOs to deal with antisocial behaviour.

Coun Merrett said the council's housing policy would be to seek 50 per cent affordable housing in the majority of new developments.

Coun Merrett added: "I feel this manifesto consolidates areas we have been successful while identifying key areas for us to move forward.

Updated: 10:31 Thursday, March 13, 2003