A CAMPAIGN group has said plans to upgrade the junction at Walmgate Bar fail to prioritise the safety of cyclists.

A City of York Council meeting heard that the York Cycle Campaign also proposed changing traffic lanes into cycle lanes, where there is more than one lane for vehicles.

The Walmgate Bar roadworks would see traffic signals upgraded, the cycle lane widened on Lawrence Street, pedestrian crossings on Walmgate, Foss Islands Road, Barbican Road and Lawrence Street made bigger and an early start signal for cyclists at the bottom of Walmgate.

Peter Sheaf, of York Cycle Campaign, told the meeting Walmgate Bar had been “particularly dangerous” for cyclists compared to Bootham Bar. He added: “The proposals fail to prioritise cycle safety.”

He asked for the scheme to meet safety conditions for cyclists.

But a council officer said the focus of the plans was to refurbish the junction.

He said council staff had also looked at the effects of turning a traffic lane into a cycle lane. “They found removing the traffic lane has significant impact on congestion. The drive is to replace broken systems before the junction fails completely.”

Cllr Peter Dew, executive member for transport, said: “We definitely don’t want the existing traffic lights to fail. One of the reasons for this is also to provide refuge for residents.”

The junction improvement plans were approved.