TRAFFIC-CALMING measures outside three North Yorkshire schools are a step closer to reality after a widespread consultation with nearby residents, school staff and parents.

A 20mph speed limit scheme, together with measures such as speed cushions, speed tables and rumble strips, has been put forward by the county council for Middleton Road and Swainsea Lane at Pickering.

Now an exhibition of the proposals is planned to give people a chance to see what they would involve.

Area traffic manager Tony Wright said: "The next thing is to advertise the proposals and to have this exhibition, then a further report will go to the area committee and it will decide what goes ahead."

More than 1,000 schoolchildren are in the area each day at nearby Lady Lumley's School, Pickering County Junior and St Joseph's RC Primary.

But nearby residents have voiced concerns about the extent of the proposed scheme and there have been suggestions that people were not properly consulted.

North Yorkshire County Council officials distributed 420 questionnaires to local residents, as well as to the families of schoolchildren affected.

Andrew Clark, head teacher at Pickering County Junior School, welcomed the idea of an exhibition.

Mr Wright said once details of the display - which will be held in Pickering - were finalised, they would be widely advertised to ensure anyone interested was able to attend.

Updated: 10:52 Tuesday, April 01, 2003