THE Highways Agency's refusal to immediately close a notorious gap on the A64 near York has been branded "totally unacceptable".

Selby District Council called in September for the gap in the central reservation at Bilbrough Top to be shut, following an accident in which a young woman was killed.

Nineteen-year-old student Rachelle Ansell was in a car which was being driven through the gap to cross on to the westbound carriageway when it was struck by a vehicle coming along the A64.

The agency responded to the demands by saying that the gap could not be closed until next spring, when work is due to begin on the construction of a new flyover at Bilbrough Top.

Immediate closure was simply not possible, because it would be necessary to advertise closure proposals and it might even be necessary to hold a public inquiry.

But now a meeting of the full council has voted unanimously to reject the agency's response and to call again for immediate closure.

Councillors, backing a motion by local councillor Brian Percival, said the agency had failed to consult with the district council, which spoke on behalf of the whole community.

They said Red Hill Lane, close to the gap, had been closed off three times in the summer without prior warning, establishing that the agency could act speedily when the situation demanded it. Councillors also referred to the imminent start of preliminary work in the area to remove hedgerows. The agency wants to prevent birds nesting in hedges which will be destroyed when construction work starts.

Councillors claimed that this constituted commencement of the project, and should be sufficient to trigger closure of the gap.

Updated: 09:43 Friday, November 01, 2002