A HIGH-TECH approach to preserving part of York's heritage is being urged on city leaders.

Proposals are to be put before City of York Council planners for the installation of a special height detection system to prevent tall vehicles running into Walmgate Bar.

The scheme would involve pole mounted light sensors placed on Lawrence Street to identify vehicles which are too tall to pass safely through the Bar's arches.

Registration numbers would flash on an illuminated warning sign stating "No Access Ahead".

The move follows a series of incidents where lorries have collided with Walmgate Bar's barbican structure, damaging the historic stonework.

If the plans went ahead, the sensors would be placed on the west bound exit of Lawrence Street from the junction with James Street, and would target vehicles heading towards the Bar.

Using a CCTV camera and a computer system, on activation the detectors would scan the front of vehicles and record their registration number, transferring the information to a message sign, placed roughly half way between James Street and Walmgate Bar.

And drivers who ignore the warning could face prosecution under the Road Traffic Act.

The chairman of the York Civic Trust, Darrell Buttery, said: "The York Civic Trust welcomes this measure to protect the structure of Walmgate Bar, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

"The location of the variable access sign is proposed so that it will not intrude into views of the Bar, and we hope this innovative proposal will achieve its objective."

A report on the scheme will be considered at a meeting of a planning and transport sub-committee on Thursday (March 6).

If approved the scheme would be implemented by the council in its role as highways authority, and the estimated £30,000 cost would be funded from the Local Transport Plan capital allocation.

A possible alternative to the proposals would be to enhance the visibility of the existing signs.

But the report suggests that the current signing is not sub-standard and extra signs, near to the structure would seriously detract from its appearance.

Updated: 09:31 Saturday, March 01, 2003