LENDAL Bridge could be closed to traffic permanently as a radical solution to York's congestion problems.

Its present temporary closure for renovation work has eased major problems almost overnight, said Bill Woolley, City of York Council's assistant director of development and transport.

But any proposal to close it to all but public transport, cyclists and pedestrians would be an extreme measure which would only be done following public consultation and a certainty that its benefits outweighed disadvantages, he said.

"I can see immediate benefits since the bridge has been closed," he said.

"In Gillygate and Bootham, there is much less congestion, which has previously been a very difficult problem to solve.

"It has become much more pleasant around St Leonard's Place and I have been getting a lot of positive feedback since it was closed, and very little negative."

He said Lendal Bridge would reopen after the renovation work is completed, timetabled for two to four weeks.

A study is being carried out across the city to see what the effect on its closure has been.

Mr Woolley said: "We have been looking at air quality, pedestrian access, congestion and similar issues.

"Whenever we close any of our significant routes we look at the impact it has on the rest of the transport network. The fact that we are doing that now is nothing unusual.

"We have seen advantages in York, but so far we haven't seen what the negative aspects of its closure have been."

He said any proposal to close the bridge would have to be considered very carefully.

"It would be a radical measure, but in the grand scheme of things it is something we will have to look at," he said.

The current temporary closure has been met with mixed reaction.

Kelly Young, who works at Baileys Caf & Tearooms, in Museum Street, said: "Delivery drivers moan every day because they've had to go right round the city, but, personally, I think it's fantastic out there.

Councillor Derek Smallwood, the council's deputy spokesman for transport and planning, said: "This temporary closure has left us with a cleaner, better city centre. The logic is that we should be looking at a permanent situation where Lendal Bridge stays the way it is now."

EXCLUSIVE

by Adam Nichols Political Reporter