A HEAD TEACHER fears for the safety of his pupils on school buses if gaps remain open on the A64 between Tadcaster and York.

Tadcaster Grammar School head David Impey has joined scores of readers in throwing his weight behind the Evening Press Close the Gaps Campaign. Numerous accidents have been caused by vehicles using the gaps in the central reservation.

Mr Impey said he was well aware of the dangers of the dual carriageway, because he travelled along it during the morning and evening rush hours to get to his school.

"Like many of your readers, I have witnessed dangerous situations, especially at the Colton Lane End area, where commercial developments have increased the traffic crossing the A64," he said.

"I fear for the safety of the 500-plus pupils who are transported along this dangerous road by eight buses, including three double deckers.

"An accident involving one of these buses could have horrific consequences."

So far 147 people have filled in our coupons which call for the gaps to be sealed off.

Strength of feeling is such that many people have enclosed letters telling of their own terrifying experiences.

All the coupons and letters will be passed to Selby MP John Grogan tomorrow, before he meets with Highways Agency chiefs to press for a clear timetable for closing the gaps.

Anyone wishing to support the campaign should get their comments to us by tomorrow morning.

Here we give extracts from a selection of the letters received so far.

William Ayres, of Pocklington, who travels along the road to his Leeds office, has witnessed the aftermath of a fatal accident and believes articulated lorries using the gaps are a major hazard because they are too long to be accommodated while they wait to turn."It is imperative all the gaps are closed as soon as possible," he said.

"We have a ludicrous situation whereby the Highways Agency is aiding drivers to provide a stationary road block on a major dual carriageway, often in darkness, by virtue of maintaining the inadequate gaps in the A64 central reservation."

Mrs C Clarke, of Tadcaster, had a near miss herself when she was travelling along the A64 in the dark and approaching the Colton junction.

"I was in the overtaking lane having just passed a car coming out of the McDonald's junction when I spotted a car in the crossover section," she said.

"As I approached it slipped forward to go across me.

"Luckily the driver saw me just in time and reversed back into the middle section."

Anne Hollindale, of York, is also giving her whole-hearted support to the campaign having tried using a gap to take her son for lunch at McDonald's.

"I think it's true to say that until you do try, it is difficult to appreciate how difficult and dangerous it is," she said.

"I am quite sure that, however inconvenient it may prove, the immediate closure of the gaps is the only safe option."

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