THE first permanent speed camera for York and North Yorkshire could still come to the city, after councillors decided to look more closely at one of its accident blackspots.

More than 650 people signed a petition calling for speed cameras to be installed in Hull Road.

The petition followed the death of 20-year-old Bethany Gale, who was hit by a car as she and her boyfriend were walking across the road near the junction with Pinelands Way in February, though it has not yet been established whether speed was a factor.

City of York councillors had been expected to dismiss the residents' plea, as North Yorkshire Police do not operate fixed speed cameras anywhere in the region.

But at a meeting yesterday councillors on the planning and transport advisory panel instead decided to defer judgement until they had heard detailed evidence about the number and seriousness of accidents.

Coun Martin Bartlett said: "Any driver who has driven into York will know what happens on that road - you suddenly realise you are going too fast." Coun Derek Smallwood said: "Constant breaking of the law is going on in this location. Why are we letting it happen?"

Traffic management officer Martin Hemenway, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "Anyone killed or injured is a worry to us - but money for a camera would have to come out of general police and council funds."

A council study had found the stretch of Hull Road between Tang Hall Lane and Field Lane did not meet the Government criteria for a fixed camera site, which is four killed or seriously injured casualties in the last three years.

But campaigner Ken Anderson, who organised the petition, urged the council to take into account the stretch of road up to Lawrence Street as well.

Mr Anderson said: "There is a very long history of serious injury on that stretch of road."

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for transport, agreed, and said the whole issue needed to be examined in more depth.

The decision on what action, if any, is to be taken in Hull Road will be made when more speed and accident data has been collected.

Updated: 10:47 Thursday, September 08, 2005