ANOTHER "bollard from hell" is planned for a York street.

City of York Council is proposing to put an automatic bollard at the end of Low Poppleton Lane, beside Manor CE School, to give buses and taxis access to the Poppleton Park estate.

But residents have drawn up a petition to fight the proposals, claiming the route would be a hazard to children.

Buses, taxis and emergency vehicles would be electronically identified and the bollard would automatically lower to allow them to pass.

York's only other rising barrier, in Stonebow, faced a barrage of criticism after five vehicles were damaged in its first two weeks of operation.

Council engineers temporarily switched the system off following the accidents, which were caused by drivers trying to "beat the bollard".

Father-of-two Andy Barker, who lives in Low Poppleton Lane, said: "The plans are outrageous.

"This is a child-friendly street - we don't want buses and taxis roaring up and down here all day.

"It would present a massive danger to the schoolchildren who get dropped off down our road.

"No-one wants it round here."

Resident Samantha Hadaway, who has two young children, said: "I think it's terrible.

"Buses and taxis flying up and down the street every day would be extremely dangerous to children, particularly with the roundabout at the end of the road.

"We will fight the plans all the way."

Head of transport planning Colin Knight said: "The sole reason for this bollard would be to give people from the Poppleton Park estate and business estate access to the number ten bus.

"If residents are concerned about taxis using the route then we can look at that."

Mr Knight said the route would also make buses more reliable, as it cut out the congested A59/A1237 roundabout.

He added: "In terms of regulating traffic the automatic bollard system is very successful.

"Problems occur when unauthorised motorists try and drive over it."

A segregated cycle lane would also be provided at the bollard site.

A decision on the proposal will be made at the North West Planning sub-committee on March 13.

Updated: 08:33 Thursday, January 24, 2002