NEW hopes of action to improve road safety along the A64 have been raised after a public meeting called by Ryedale MP Anne McIntosh.

Villagers from Rillington, Ganton, West and East Heslerton, Sherburn, Potter Brompton and Staxton questioned Highways Agency (HA) officers Francis Carlyle, asset delivery manager for Yorkshire and the North East, and Anthony Firth, delivery team leader on the A64, during the meeting held at Ganton Village Hall on Friday.

They were told that a review would be carried out on the road after calls were made for vehicle activated digital signs, white lines and traffic islands to be provided.

Ms McIntosh said: “Flashing signs are effective. They frighten motorists into slowing down.

“Installing such signs will change driver behaviour and will have cost benefits because a drop in accidents will mean fewer people needing hospital treatment. The signs will bring benefits. This is the start of our campaign – we now need to go forward.”

County Coun Janet Sanderson, who is also backing the campaign to improve safety on the trunk road, said the county highways authority was now providing mobile vehicle activated signs to communities throughout the county, which could be hired by parish councils.

Brian Maud, Ryedale district councillor and parish council chairman, said that Rillington had been identified as needing a bypass before the Second World War.

“Over the last 30 years we have known many surveys and seen many exhibitions. These must have been at a huge expense and will have to be repeated if any improvements are to be made.”

Neil Rogers, chairman of the Ganton Road Safety Campaign, said he was hopeful of some positive action coming from the highways authority as a result of the meeting and was encouraged by the fact that a review is to be carried out..

“We want double white lines for half a mile on each side of the village,” he said.

Mr Firth said there were no current major plans to upgrade the stretch between Malton and Seamer.

Funding could be sought to finance what he called “pinch-point” hot spots.

The meeting heard that it was hoped traffic islands could be designed at Heslerton, but not until 2015-16, and they could take another two to three years to be built.

Mr Firth said the main criteria for road improvements were safety, congestion, economic benefits and likely growth of traffic.

Ms McIntosh said later that she welcomed the fact that the Highways Authority officers were being open-minded and prepared to look at providing the villages with road safety measures.

“I shall now be working with the residents of the villages to help them achieve the aspirations they seek,” she added.