More than 1,300 people have backed an online petition opposing a new pedestrian crossing that would link Carlisle Castle to the city centre.

City councillors approved the project after a lively debate, with supporters saying the toucan crossing will boost business, and give cyclists, disabled people, those in wheelchairs easy access over the road.

But opponent John Hilton, who organised the petition, claimed that nobody who regularly crosses Castle Way to the city centre via the existing crossings wants to see the project go ahead.

He said the crossing will simply cause congestion and misery for commuters. In the seven days that the petition has been open, 1,335 people have signed it.

Mr Hilton says the plan should be reconsidered.

The text of his petition states: “Rethink plans for installing a pedestrian crossing to allow easier access from the city centre to the castle.

“Castle Way and Caldewgate already has congestion problems thanks to the lights outside Sainsburys and is a cause of misery on a daily basis for commuters.

“There are already three points of crossing to the castle, the subway, the Millennium Bridge and the underpass on west Tower Street. No local person who uses this route regularly wants to see this go ahead.”

When the project was put to the vote with the council's development and control committee, seven councillors were in favour, one was against and four people abstained.

Those in favour said the crossing would reconnect the city and the castle. Those against argued the three crossings already available were sufficient, and that the crossing will make it harder for traffic joining Castle Way from West Tower Street.

Among those in favour were Councillor Heather Bradley.

She said most objectors were people who were concerned as car drivers because they were complaining about delays.

"I wish people had a far more tolerant view and people didn't just see the car as the king of the road," she said.

The Highways Authority said that drivers would face a delay on average of 10 seconds and a maximum of 27 seconds.

It did not think the crossing would impact Hardwicke Circus.

But Councillor Ray Bloxham opposed the plans.

He was concerned about increased air pollution created by cars stopping and starting and the increased difficulty it might cause to drivers trying to get onto Castle Way from the West Tower Street.

"I think it's ill-gauged and not well thought through," he said.