AN ACCIDENT blackspot on the York ring road is to be redeveloped, with a new roundabout being constructed in a bid to improve safety.

City of York Council's city strategy panel voted to build the roundabout to replace the Moor Lane, Askham Lane and Askham Bryan Lane junctions on the A1237.

The move follows long-running discussions, and extensive consultation with residents of Askham Bryan and west York.

The panel voted for a five-arm roundabout, linking the three lanes with the A1237 in both directions.

Following concerns from Askham Bryan residents, however, the roundabout will be located slightly east of the current A1237 route, to minimise noise disruption for those in the village.

The panel heard that access between the lanes and the A1237 is very difficult, and has led to a serious of accidents.

In the three years up to June, 2005, there were 14 personal injury accidents at the site, including one double fatality and four serious injuries. Ten of the 14 involved turning vehicles.

Ann Reid, the council's executive member for transport, welcomed the proposed improvements.

She said: "The new roundabout will greatly increase safety at these difficult and dangerous junctions.

"It will help congestion, both on the ring road and in town, as drivers will feel safer when accessing the ring road during consultation we found that 38 per cent of residents in Westfield and Woodthorpe avoid using the current junctions due to their safety concerns.

"Safety at these junctions has been a worry for some ten years now. The Moor Lane junction in particular has a worrying safety record."

At the meeting, Askham Bryan resident Kenneth Dickson said many villagers were opposed to the scheme.

He said: "The roundabout offers absolutely no benefits to residents of Askham Bryan, and that's the view of everyone I have spoken to."

He said there was no current access problem between the village and the outer ring road, and he feared the roundabout may lead to motorists using the village as a rat-run.

Rural West ward councillor Glen Bradley voiced similar concerns, but members of the panel said they found it unlikely motorists would prefer the village to the ring road.

Christian Vassie, panel chairman, said: "Since the roundabout is intended to deal with three junctions, it would seem rather odd to me to deal with two of them and leave one out."

Green party councillor Andy D'Agorne said traffic lights and speed restrictions would have been a cheaper way of improving safety.

Paul Hepworth, local spokesperson for cycling group Cyclists Touring Club, said the use of the new roundabout should be monitored, and consideration possibly given in future to a footbridge for cyclists.