MALTON and Norton Road Safety Committee's concerns over the high accident rate in the Golden Hill area of the A64 road has resulted in members saying that urgent action should be taken to build a three-mile dual carriageway.

The secretary, Cyril Shreeve, said he had written to John Greenway, Ryedale's MP, stressing the importance of the scheme.

"We have seen numerous accidents on this hilly stretch of the A64, many of them fatal.

"We want to see the road dualled between Welburn crossroads and the Malton bypass.

"It would not only improve the Golden Hill area, which has a dreadful accident record, but would also improve safety at the High and Low Hutton junctions."

Mr Shreeve added that building the dual carriageway would not hamper any long-term plans to dual the entire A64 from Scarborough to York.

"We cannot wait for approval for the entire stretch of the road.

"It does look like the Government has thrown the issue back to the region to decide. We want a lead from Government on what is going to happen."

Mr Greenway has replied to the committee saying that he is making a presentation report to Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, and to the Transport Minister, David Ladyman.

He thought improvements could be made through planning gains resulting from housing and commercial developments south of Malton.

Mr Greenway added that he was anxious to see action taken to improve the A64 on the grounds of improving Ryedale's economy and the road's serious accident record.

Protests by residents of Broughton at a public meeting are likely to result in a re-think on double white line markings through the village.

After calling for action to curb accidents at The Plantation area of the B1257 Malton to Helmsley road, which runs through the village, the parish council called a public meeting when lines which were subsequently laid were claimed to have created an even bigger hazard because they were not solid on each side of the lanes.

As a result, motorists were able to overtake at what villagers and councillors said was a highly dangerous blackspot.

Now, the road safety committee has been told by the county council highways department that there is to be a new survey carried out in Broughton with a view to changes being made to the lining system.

A link road between Beverley Road and Scarborough Road, Norton, is unlikely to go ahead before 2011 despite being on the county highway authority's reserve list, the committee was told by County Coun David Lloyd-Williams, who has been pressing for action on the scheme.

Building the road through Norton Grove industrial estate would play a key part in alleviating through-traffic congestion, especially heavy lorries, in Malton and Norton, he said.

Calls were made by the committee for road markings to be re-instated in Norton following resurfacing work.

Mr Shreeve said that until parking restriction lines and other markings were re-laid, police could not enforce the restrictions.

Following protests by the committee, the words "Keep clear" are to be painted on the footpath outside the petrol filling station in Church Street, Norton.

Councillors and residents have complained that traffic queuing to get into the station blocks the footpath, forcing pedestrians to walk into the busy road.

English Heritage has been asked to step in to give its views on the long-awaited plans to build a mini roundabout at the junction of Wood Street and Wold Street, Norton.

Mr Shreeve said: "We are most surprised by this move.

"There have already been long delays over the scheme going ahead, despite it being approved by the county highways department.

"The scheme is needed as a priority because of the dangers at the junction."

Updated: 16:06 Wednesday, July 27, 2005