A WOMAN who lives alongside the A64 called today for highways bosses to make it safer to emerge on to the busy dual carriageway.

Paula Lister, of Steeton Grange Farm, said a slip road should be provided so she and other drivers could accelerate before emerging on to the westbound carriageway.

She said the road was getting busier, and she was having to wait longer and longer for a sizeable gap in traffic so she could pull straight out onto the carriageway.

Mrs Lister spoke out after the Highways Agency revealed it was planning to temporarily close three remaining gaps in the road's central reservation.

Another four gaps closed a couple of years ago are also set to remain closed.

The agency said it intended publishing permanent closure orders for the seven gaps in the autumn.

The decision has been welcomed by road safety campaigners, concerned about the dangers caused when vehicles cross through the gap to get to the other carriageway.

But Mrs Lister claimed there had been no proper consultation or warning prior to the closure of the four gaps, which included one outside her property.

"We feel completely ignored," she said.

She claimed the gap closures had actually made it more dangerous for vehicles emerging from her property, because it had been safer to nip across to the gap than to emerge on to the westbound carriageway without a slip road.

She claimed the gaps themselves were not dangerous if used responsibly. The problem was motorists making illegal U-turns through them.

She said a meeting had been arranged with Selby MP John Grogan on September 2 to discuss the issue of farmers' access.

The Highways Agency said today it was not its policy to provide acceleration lanes on to dual carriageways for individual properties.

"Such lanes would only be provided at major junctions," said a spokeswoman.

"The Highways Agency will be writing to residents before publication of the permanent gap closure orders, to explain procedures.

"Members of the public will have an opportunity to lodge any official objections for up to 21 days after publication of the permanent Orders."


Updated: 10:51 Thursday, August 11, 2005