CAMPAIGNERS for speed restrictions on a busy stretch of the A19 south of York have welcomed a new study.

At a meeting held at the Guildhall in York, campaigners from Deighton and Crockey Hill heard that two possible improvements were being considered to stop traffic speeding through the village.

These are to provide a refuge island in the middle of the road, at a cost of £55,000; and a second scheme to include a pedestrian island, a right hand turning lane and traffic islands, at a cost of £135,000.

Deighton resident Judith Hardy said, after years of campaigning, residents hoped the council would put in traffic calming before someone was killed.

Selby MP John Grogan, who attended the meeting, also welcomed the proposals. The meeting was told by City of York Council officers that a public consultation will be held in the coming months looking at measures that could be taken to reduce the risk of accidents at Crockey Hill.

These included reducing the speed limit to 40mph for 500 metres either side of the junction and the introduction of street lighting.

The meeting heard a straw poll of Deighton villagers concluded that, since the opening of the Selby bypass in spring 2004, the volume of traffic going through the village had increased dramatically, and the risk of accidents with it.

Villagers pointed out the dangers drivers faced accessing the A19 from the village, and the fact that it can take up to 15 minutes for people wanting to catch the bus to Selby to cross the road.

Mrs Hardy said: "If something isn't done, it's only a matter of time before somebody gets killed. My son goes to college in York and coming home on the bus it can sometimes take him quarter of an hour to get across the road and when you do cross you have to take it at a run because of the speed of the traffic.

"If we had a pedestrian island in the middle of the road, it would at least provide people trying to cross with a half-way point."

Mr Grogan said: "Wheldrake residents in particular will, I think, be pressing during the consultation for additional measures to be taken to ease their access on to the A19 at peak times.

"A traffic island and refuge in the centre of the road is one solution which commanded significant support at the meeting."

Updated: 10:30 Saturday, March 05, 2005