RESIDENTS of a York suburb are being urged to make their voices heard about radical plans to curb traffic at a meeting on Thursday night.

Fulford Parish Council chairman Steve Kenwright is calling on residents of the York village to turn out to its annual parish meeting if they want to influence proposals to create the city's first toll road in Heslington Lane.

City of York Council is also looking at installing a rising or intelligent bollard on the main road between Fulford and Heslington in an effort to cut future congestion from the proposed University of York expansion.

Officers estimate that traffic flow at peak times would increase by more than a quarter if the Heslington East development gets the green light. Coun Kenwright said: "We want to hear from parishioners how they feel about it, and I will be taking the opportunity to put it to them that the impact of the proposed closure of the road needs to be looked at with respect to the whole traffic system."

The deadline for responses to a public consultation document circulated to homes in Badger Hill, Heslington and parts of Fulford was on Monday.

Last week, Coun Kenwright accused the city council of employing arm-twisting tactics in the wording of document, which he said implied the university's 65-hectare expansion is a forgone conclusion.

He favours an alternative option, not included in the consultation document, of a rising bollard operating only at peak times.

Coun Kenwright said: "Many of the councillors on the parish council will agree that there is a case for some kind of traffic management.

"They are putting the cart before the horse. They are saying the development will happen therefore the impact must be addressed."

The meeting will also give residents an opportunity to comment on the Germany Beck Flood Risk Assessment, after the city council agreed to extend the consultation period.

The meeting takes place at Fulford Social Hall, in School Lane, from 7.30pm.

Updated: 12:33 Thursday, April 29, 2004