RESIDENTS are protesting against council plans to install traffic calming measures on their doorsteps.

Jim Waters and John Westmoreland are leading residents' protests against the plans to alter Applecroft Road, Stockton Lane, York.

City of York Council planners recently approved a safety scheme for Hempland Primary School, in nearby Whitby Avenue.

It includes double and single yellow lines and two different types of speed hump.

Mr Waters, who has lived in Applecroft Road for 40 years, said child safety was the residents' top priority.

But he added: "This scheme is completely wrong for this community. There is a perceived problem with traffic congestion, but the congestion actually slows the traffic right down, it is self-policing, and is only for a short period every day.

"We are the people living in this area, not the people planning the scheme, and we have been trying to tell them it is wrong for the area.

"We feel like we have been ignored."

Mr Westmoreland said: "If this is built a speed hump will be right outside my front window. My wife's asthma will be aggravated by fumes while it is being built and the vibrations from traffic going over it will be unbearable.

"If the double yellow lines come in I won't be able to park outside my home, even though I have lived and parked here for more than 40 years."

Coun Derek Smallwood, a member of the planning committee which approved the application, said: "Child safety has to be the priority and this scheme will greatly improve child safety in that area. It does not matter that it is only busy for a few minutes each day, there is always a danger to kids, and kids are vulnerable.

"I do have sympathy with some of the residents' views, and most of the people in that area are responsible on the roads, but it is not just people from that area who drive down there."

Ward councillor Martin Lancelott said he supported the principles of the safety scheme, and agreed there were traffic problems at certain times of the day.

But he said the scheme would have benefited from more local consultation.

Coun Lancelott said: "I would have preferred to have seen other options explored first."

Updated: 08:34 Wednesday, September 03, 2003