PLANS for a cycle path to be built across York's new tennis centre site in Hull Road have been turned down by city councillors.

The application was submitted by Next Generation Clubs and York St John College because a cycle route at the site was part of the planning permission agreement for the tennis centre.

But City of York councillors decided there was no need for the extra route when cyclists could already use Windmill Lane to reach a cycle path which runs around the University of York grounds.

They asked officers to look into improving the Windmill Lane route and possibly the section of University Road which links Heslington Road to the existing cycle path.

Ken Batten, representing both the university and the students'union, said: "It would be creating another section where you get flashers and sexual assaults."

Ward councillor David Wilde said: "The existing path takes students where they want to go. It would be superfluous to put this track in."