Police today vowed to end traffic chaos caused by crashes at an notorious accident blackspot on the A64.

They are to meet Highways Agency officials to draw up a permanent diversion for crashes at Golden Hill, which they concede shuts the A64 three or four times a year.

The announcement follows criticism of the diversions set up in the wake of last week's fatal crash at Golden Hill.

Coun Murray Naylor, who lives at Huttons Ambo, says police caused havoc by sending HGV lorries and cars through his village.

He called for a permanent diversion system to solve the problem.

Police officers closed the A64 at Golden Hill for several hours after the accident in which Scarborough pensioner Jack Caldwell died.

Traffic was diverted through Huttons Ambo and past Castle Howard.

But Coun Naylor claims a permanent solution in the form of fixed diversion signs must be introduced and has lodged an official complaint with North Yorkshire Police.

"I live in Huttons Ambo so I was one of those on the receiving end of all the diverted traffic," he said.

"There were HGVs running past each other on the small roads running through the village.

"It is not acceptable to have such haphazard diversions - it seems the police's only priority was to get these vehicles off the road."

He added: "There needs to be a decision about where they are going to divert traffic and there should be permanent signs put in place so that if another accident does happen up there motorists know where to go."

Acting sergeant John Clayton, of the Eastern Area Policing Group, said he was aware of the problems of diverting traffic.

"It is a problem that is not going to go away and I am hoping to have a meeting with the Highways Agency with regards to this," he added.

"The road can be shut three or four times a year as a result of accidents and we need to be looking at where we can divert traffic.

"We cannot send traffic through Huttons Ambo and cannot get articulated lorries through the arches by Castle Howard.

"It is also a problem in that having police diverting traffic tailbacks saps manpower so this is something we will be looking at."

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: "Diversions are a matter for the police but we will be happy to assist with any plans for diversions on any section of the A64."

Updated: 11:29 Wednesday, August 15, 2001