ROADSIDE verges should become miniature nature reserves, says a North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) report.

Many could become havens for wildlife habitats, adds the authority's heritage unit in a report to the environment and heritage scrutiny committee.

The NYCC highways department says there is a need for a comprehensive database of the vast verges network on North Yorkshire's country roads and lanes.

It adds that unauthorised signs should be removed from verges as a priority in the interests of road safety and to safeguard the council against claims from drivers involved in accidents who might allege that their visibility was obscured by an unauthorised sign.

The heritage unit backs moves to preserve fauna and flora in the verges

through changes in grass cutting, subject to safety considerations.

It says it is keen to develop the idea of road nature reserves and to provide information to the public on the type of wildlife and flowers that can be found in the verges.

It also supports a suggestion that action should be taken to reduce the death toll of wildlife on the roads, involving such creatures as deer, badgers, otters and toads.

The unit says: "There would be strong public relations benefits in adopting this approach at a minimal cost. There is much potential for working with local volunteers and in conjunction with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust."

Highway chiefs suggest making more use of bins to contain roadside salt, possibly through sponsorship, to preserve "special interest verges". The cost is likely to be £700,000, as there are approximately 12,000 salt piles on the county's roads.

They also call for farmers and other motorists to be encouraged not to drive on verges and when it does happen, restoration costs should be recovered from the culprits. The council says that driving on verges not only spoils them, but can cause problems of saturated verges and flooded roads.

Volunteers should be sought to help maintain and monitor verges which are in the countryside. The heritage department is currently using volunteers to survey road verges in the Hambleton district.

Verges could be included in Countryside Stewardship Schemes and be eligible for grant aid, says the report.

Pickering Town Council has received a complaint about the fast-deteriorating state of the verge between the town centre and Keld Head, and in other parts of the town due to the parking of vehicles. However, because the letter was anonymous, the council decided not to take any action, but it has been sent to the county highways department in Pickering.

Updated: 10:03 Wednesday, February 25, 2004