A CONGESTION-busting bid to improve a main junction on a major route into York has been shelved while a more extensive plan for the site is drawn up.

City of York Council had planned to start work widening the roundabout at the junction of the A59 Harrogate road and the A1237 outer ring road this year in a scheme estimated at about £550,000.

But this plan has been deferred in favour of a larger, more comprehensive £1.6 million scheme which can now be considered in the light of the progressing Local Transport Plan - an overall blueprint for the future of the city's transport which is set to attract Government funding.

The new scheme's aim is to take out about 90 per cent of existing congestion at the junction.

Widening the roundabout to create extra lanes will cut queues and improve safety, for cars, cyclists and pedestrians.

The enhanced improvements should also be good news for the people of Poppleton, whose community is used as a rat run by drivers avoiding the busy junction.

Peter Evely, the authority's head of highways regulation, told a meeting between officers and executive members for planning, transport and the environment that consultants used by the authority had estimated the cost of the original scheme at about £350,000 - £200,000 out.

When the real cost was discovered the original scheme was deemed to be poor value for money.

The authority hopes to start work on the new scheme next year with preliminary design work and consultation later this year.