A PLAN to ban heavy goods vehicles rat-running through a York village will be re-examined by highways chiefs - despite a senior transport planner branding it "virtually unenforceable."

Members of City of York Council's Planning and Transport (south area) committee had asked officers to look into banning HGVs from School Lane, Sim Balk Lane, in Bishopthorpe, and part of Bishopthorpe Road.

Some of the lorries were said to be using the rat-run to head for the Terry's factory, in Bishopthorpe Road.

Councillors were told the chances of a ban being brought in were slim, but have requested more information and will look at the issue again when the committee meets next month. But Peter Evely, the council's head of highway regulation, said any ban would be "virtually unenforceable."

He said: "The prospects of this being implemented are very slim. The reason is the way traffic orders have to be processed, we must allow access.

"A restriction in that area would be extremely difficult to enforce. Surveys we carried out before presenting information to the committee showed that the number of HGVs in the area was very small, and those that were there had a legitimate reason."

John Prankitt, Bishopthorpe resident and director A Rhodes Haulage, based in Stockton-on-the-Forest, said a ban would be welcome.

"A restriction down there is long overdue, I am not surprised at all they are looking at this. It wouldn't lose us any business, most of the drivers going that way are heading for Terry's and it is because they have the local knowledge. There is a much easier route to the factory that should be signposted."

Liberal Democrat councillor for Bishopthorpe David Livesley said he was pleased officers would look at the issue again.

"Many people in Bishopthorpe look forward to the day when Church Lane will be a safer road to cross and a more comfortable place to live and when the rest of the village will be much less blighted by heavy goods traffic," he said.

John Galvin, Bishopthorpe councillor and Conservative group Leader said: "I am delighted they will take another look at it, certainly insofar as the vehicles going to Terry's.

"I do understand vehicles are needed to access farms and other agricultural areas in Bishopthorpe and the surrounding area."

A Terry's spokesman said any ban would not affect the factory if it stopped trucks driving through Bishopthorpe.

"Our advice is drivers come along Knavesmire Road, so any ban would serve to underline that advice," he said.

Updated: 08:18 Tuesday, February 18, 2003