TRANSPORT chiefs are pressing ahead with plans to ban traffic passing under Walmgate Bar, in an effort to protect one of York's most historic monuments.

Council chiefs today tabled experimental proposals to close the section of road under the bar to all vehicles except cycles.

They are recommending that the existing outbound lane, under the city wall, should be used for traffic entering the city centre as well as by outbound traffic, with controls to ensure that the traffic would flow in only one direction at a time.

The shake-up comes after a truck misjudged the height and got wedged under the Grade 1 Listed gateway in November - the ninth time a vehicle had collided with the Bar in seven years. November's collision caused £15,000 of damage and closed the road for several days.

Now council chiefs say protection of the structure is "paramount" amid fears that another collision could spell demolition.

They claim the best way to save it, limit tailbacks and prevent a costly public inquiry is to make a one-year trial Experimental Traffic Regulation Order to enable traffic travelling in both directions to use the current outbound lane. This would be subject to review.

Officers fear the prospect of lengthy tailbacks in Lawrence Street could lead to calls for a lengthy public inquiry, triggered by complaints from angry bus operators on the busy Park&Ride route.

They believe the order will protect the bar's long-term future and stave off any inquiry for the immediate future.

Peter Evely, City of York Council's head of network management, said in a report to the transport executive that members had to balance protection of the city's heritage over estimated additional nine-second delays for bus passengers and motorists in peak hours.

The scheme, costing between £62,000 and £77,000, will be discussed on June 2.

Updated: 10:29 Monday, May 24, 2004