THE second phase of a major scheme to ease access from York Station into the city centre will get under way this weekend.

City of York Council is to start work on the footway of Station Avenue - from the traffic lights to the city walls.

The work, beginning on Sunday and lasting for two weeks, involves digging out the asphalt path and replacing it with York stone flags.

Bus stop facilities will also be improved, with a new shelter helping to improve the high profile approach to the city.

Bus services will be affected by the work, with the suspension of bus stops on the busy stretch of road.

But Peter Edwards, commercial manager at First, said passengers would not be hugely affected by the changes.

The York bus company experienced some service disruptions during the first phase of the project, which saw Station Avenue widened.

The Rawcliffe Park&Ride bus will pick up and set down at a temporary stop outside Leeman Road sorting office.

Commuters who use the No 1 service will be able to catch their bus at the railway station, while users of the No 6 service are being advised to board at the Rougier Street stop.

Mr Edwards said: "During the first phase of works, the final level of disruption was not as great a problem as had been feared.

"We have been fully consulted on this. It is for the overall benefit of people in the city and we support what they are doing. We have no concerns about the second stage works."

Ray Chaplin, the head of York Consultancy, said: "The work will significantly improve the appearance of this high profile approach to the city.

"There will be a degree of disruption while the work is being undertaken. We ask the people of York for their patience and a temporary footway will be provided along the works to ease pedestrian movement into the city centre from the railway station."

Updated: 09:32 Wednesday, January 08, 2003