PLANS to improve Fossgate were approved at a council meeting and work is set to begin in February 2019.

Under the £500,000 scheme, the road will be narrowed so pavements can be widened, benches and bike stands will be installed and traffic signs will be put up.

The proposals were given the go-ahead at a meeting with City of York Council’s executive member for transport, Cllr Peter Dew.

At a previous meeting, Cllr Denise Craghill and Sarah Lakin, of the Fossgate Association, said the plans do not go far enough and called for a full pedestrianisation of the street to be considered.

They called for another consultation to be launched on plans to pedestrianise Fossgate.

A report raised concerns over funding for the scheme if the project did not go ahead as planned.

But a council officer speaking at the meeting said: “Officers’ recommendation is not to undertake a consultation until work is completed.

“There are many interpretations as to what pedestrianisation means.” A “more focussed” consultation on pedestrianising Fossgate will be launched once the works are complete.