PLANS to create York's sixth Park&Ride are about to take a major step forward, as city council chiefs prepare to choose the location of the new site.

Members of the City of York Council's executive will be asked to vote on two options, when they meet on Tuesday, which will pave the way for more detailed work to begin.

The new Park&Ride would serve the A59 to cater for the north-west of the city, and forms part of the council's local transport plan to beat congestion in York.

Residents have already given their views in a city-wide consultation featuring five possible sites for the new Park& Ride.

In a leaflet sent to every York household in 2002, people backed site A, which is located inside the ring road, to the north of the A59.

Following local concerns that other possible locations on the A59 had been ignored, a further consultation was carried out.

Presentations were held and leaflets distributed to homes in Acomb, Holgate and rural west York wards in April.

Of the 781 replies, 334 people opposed the location inside the ring road to the north of the A59, while 306 people "strongly felt" it was suitable.

More than 500 people "strongly disagreed" with the suitability of the two new options. One of these was outside the ring road, north of the A59, and between Hodgson Lane and Black Dike Lane, and the other was outside the ring road, to the west of Hodgson Lane.

Executive members are being recommended to approve site A as the preferred location, and to agree that officers should start work on the detailed feasibility and design of the site.

Officers say the location benefits from good access from the A59 and A1237 outer ring road. The cost of developing it is about £3.6million and would involve access improvements on the A59.

Up to 750 spaces are planned for the first phase of the project, rising to 1,200 spaces in future years.

An alternative recommendation is for a location to be selected in the Northminster area, outside the ring road to the south of the A59 and either north or south of Northminster Business Park.

If approved, officers would start negotiations with Northminster Properties Ltd about the most suitable site before focusing on detailed feasibility and design of a Park&Ride site.

A total of £100,000 is earmarked as part of this year's capital programme for the initial development of the scheme.

Updated: 08:26 Wednesday, November 03, 2004