AN £8 MILLION "masterplan" for transport at Monks Cross, York, will be unveiled at a council meeting next week.

City of York Council officers will tell members that the new policy could become a "framework" for the authority's local transport plan.

Incorporating a £4.3 million scheme to improve Hopgrove junction, the plan also looks at ways of creating a transport system which can accommodate any future developments at Monks Cross while "providing a higher quality of service to local people".

Plans are already being formulated for a Park&Ride at Monks Cross. Now the "masterplan" also proposes putting cash aside for bus priority measures, increasing cycling and walking and implementing traffic calming and management schemes.

Consultant Faber Maunsell was appointed last December to develop a new strategy for the area.

Monday's report will largely exclude detailed mention of the Hopgrove scheme, for which final plans have still to be agreed with the Highways Agency.

Council chiefs aiming to improve the Malton Road/A1237 and A1237/A64 roundabouts, are looking at the scheme, with a design year of 2017, in the light of expected traffic growth of 15 per cent in the area.

Officers will report to a meeting of the executive member for transport with advisory panel, on Monday night, before the plan is put to a public meeting at Huntington Parish Council the following day.

Parish councillors have already indicated their concern at plans to expand Monks Cross, claiming the area is already swamped with much of the city's business traffic.

Report author Colin Knight, the council's head of transport planning, said: "This report looks at how we deal with development and existing transport difficulties in that area.

"There are local concerns about development traffic. At this stage, these are only outline schemes. This could be a future basis for the local transport plan in this area."

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, the council's executive member for transport, added: "As a council, we believe it is important to both inform and consult when trying to improve movement in, out and around the city, especially to and from centres of employment.

"The Park&Ride site at Monks Cross is, when developed, going to have a major impact on congestion levels on the A64 both in and out bound.

"The masterplan, which looks at current and future potential growth of the area, helps in the next stage of development, so that those affected in and around the site, and on the route will be able to see what is planned.

"The plan, though, is not just about the site but looks to improve walking and cycling routes within a 5km radius of the site and bus priority measures."

Updated: 11:20 Thursday, October 03, 2002