THIS is how a congested city-centre street could look, under plans to convert it into a continental, pedestrian plaza.

Nearly 800 traders, shoppers and residents have signed a petition calling for Fossgate to be closed to traffic during the day.

City of York Council officers are now set to be asked to investigate the proposal.

The council's city strategy panel will next week hear that 785 people have signed a petition, calling for a ban on traffic between 11am and 10pm or 11pm.

The signatories said such a move would "create a more continental and safer shopping environment, with removable bollards for emergency access".

Councillors for Guildhall ward, in which Fossgate lies, have also supported the calls to pedestrianise the narrow street, but have raised concerns over the precise hours.

Janet Looker said: "I think Fossgate cries out for pedestrianisation, down to and including Foss Bridge; it would be very easy for most traffic to divert down Piccadilly and then cut through to join Walmgate below the bridge."

Coun Looker said she would settle for reduced pedestrian zone hours, rather than banning traffic up until 11pm.

Fellow councillor Brian Watson said: "I would support it, but not to the hours wanted. There are businesses that sell large items, for instance Macdonald's, so people must be able to collect them, so I would prefer the hours to be in line with the rest of the city."

He said he believed some restaurateurs may have wanted the longer hours to enable outdoor dining, but this would block emergency vehicles and disturb residents.

Martyn Macdonald, of Macdonald's furniture shop, said: "I think it would make the street a better place to be and work, and make it a lot more attractive.

"If it's done properly, with removing kerbings and making it all on one level, with the amount of cafs and restaurants we have got, I think it would be a very good thing for the street."

In a report to councillors, Ian Stokes, principal transport planner at the council, wrote: "If the proposal were to be rejected then this could be a missed opportunity to revitalise a section of the city centre which is often overlooked by shoppers and tourists.

"It may also reduce the attractiveness for businesses to locate in this area and for pedestrian activity, due to a perception of danger because of the restricted nature of the street due to its narrowness and high-sided buildings."

He recommended that councillors should ask officers to investigate expanding the footstreets pedestrian priority zone, and to include Fossgate in that investigation.