CALLS for an historic bridge to be closed to lorries amid fears of an accident have failed to win round safety officials.

Elvington Parish Council was told this week the best way to ensure pedestrian safety on Sutton Bridge was to do nothing, despite one parent saying that crossing it with children was “possibly the most terrifying experience”.

Parish councillors met with representatives from City of York Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and North Yorkshire Police who had looked into potential changes to Sutton Bridge after complaints from residents.

They discussed safety schemes which included vehicle-activated flashing signs, but these were considered distracting and ineffective, a 15mph limit, which was unpoliceable, and widening or building a separate bridge, which would be too expensive, and impossible due to the Grade II listing.

Eric Wragg, from City of York Council, said: “The thing about the perceived risk is that that is a deterrent against carelessness when crossing the road. It looks dangerous and scary to cross, and as a result, people are taking extra care they might not otherwise.”

The 17th century bridge, between Elvington and Sutton-on-Derwent, was damaged when hit by a lorry in January 2010.

Following repairs, a temporary weight limit restriction was imposed, which residents said helped reduce the number of HGVs using it. But the parish council asked whether the lorries could be banned altogether before someone was injured.

Councillor Anne Taylor told the meeting she had heard reports of “near misses” with HGVs on the bridge.

Steve Burrell, from North Yorkshire Police, said although being on the bridge while a HGV passed was frightening, there was very little to be done about it, and the meeting heard that only three percent of the 25,000 vehicles which use the bridge regularly were HGVs.