A CORONER has called for the whole of the A64 to be made dual carriageway to avoid more needless deaths - at the same time as a government highways official rejected the idea, saying traffic levels did not merit it.

North Yorkshire Coroner Michael Oakley spoke out yesterday at an inquest into the death on a 24-year-old woman, who died at a notorious accident blackspot near Welburn, on Boxing Day last year.

At the same time as the inquest took place, local members of North Yorkshire County Council were discussing plans from the Government's Highways Agency for safety improvements on sections of the A64 - including the site of the fatal accident.

But the county council's deputy leader, Murray Naylor, branded the proposals "depressing", saying they did not go far enough, and called for speedy action to improve the road's safety record.

At the inquest Mr Oakley likened the accident site - where the A64 becomes single carriageway, curves, drops steeply and has an adverse camber - to the first bend at Brands Hatch.

"I am looking for a complete upgrade of the road, as indeed I know most of the population that surrounds and uses it every day are," he said.

"We shall see more and more accidents taking place with the sad consequences that happen if something is not done very quickly about this."

He recorded a verdict of accidental death on Sharon Docherty, from Liverpool, who was going to Scarborough on Boxing Day with her partner, Martin Swinger, his nine-year-old daughter, Amy, and a friend.

The inquest heard that as Mr Swinger - who had only a provisional driving licence and was not travelling with a full licence holder - left the dual carriageway, he lost control of his Volvo 340.

The car collided with a Rover driven by John Hunter-Lindsey and his son, Neil, who were returning from Scarborough that evening.

Amy and Miss Docherty were not wearing seatbelts in the back and were thrown from the vehicle.

Amy survived serious injuries, but Miss Docherty died at the scene.

Traffic Constable David Taylor said the Volvo had defective rear tyres, the shock absorbers were worn down, and fluid was leaking from the brakes. He later discovered the car had recently failed an MOT test.

Meanwhile, at the county council meeting, Coun Naylor criticised the ongoing Highways Agency route management strategy (RMS), under which public consultations are taking place over possible long-term improvements to A64 blackspots.

He said: "We seem to have come no further forward, apart from some cycleways, signage and small-scale safety work.

"The public are becoming very sceptical about what is likely to take place."

But Jenny Charlesworth, Highways Agency A64 assistant route manager, said agency studies had to be completed in blackspot areas before decisions could be taken. The sites are Barton Hill, Whitwell-on-the-Hill, Welburn crossroads, Golden Hill, and the A64 Malton exit, known as Musley Bank.

Ms Charlesworth agreed the Welburn junction was a particular problem area. "We will investigate all possibilities to improve safety there," she said.

But making the entire A64 York to Scarborough stretch dual carriageway was ruled out.

"The traffic flow on that section does not warrant it," she said.

Updated: 11:20 Thursday, June 12, 2003