A PIONEERING project to end inconsiderate driving and promote the shared use of the only designated Quiet Lane in North Yorkshire has received a £3,000 boost.

Long Lane is a historic half-mile route which links the village of Seamer and Seamer & Irton Community Primary School with Crossgates, a number of Public Rights of Way and Burton Riggs nature reserve.

Quiet Lanes are designated minor rural roads intended to pay special attention to the needs of walkers, cyclists, horse riders and the mobility impaired.

However, shared of the single-track carriageway has led to conflict with inconsiderate drivers, particularly at peak times when drivers go to or from school and work whilst many children are walking and cycling.

In order to improve safety of the lane, signage ‘gateways’ have now been placed in the grass verges at each end of Long Lane in Seamer, giving a visual cue to support increased awareness for drivers and a safe, shared space for people to walk, cycle and ride.

The project has been mostly funded by £2,980 raised from the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner’s sale of the Chief Constable’s AJ1 number plate. Other funding has been allocated to projects in Kirkbymoorside, Malton, Norton, Hovingham, Helmsley, Buttercrambe, Weaverthorpe, Crambe and Swinton.

County Cllr David Jeffels, said: “The local highways team have worked closely with the Parish Council and suggested the gateway features as a way of highlighting the special nature of Long Lane.

“This is a community asset and we hope that all drivers respect that and share the space safely with other road users.”

Seamer Parish Council has worked closely with the Headteacher and Governors of Seamer & Irton Community Primary School, County Councillor David Jeffels, North Yorkshire County Council’s highways teams and North Yorkshire Police, to raise awareness of the special nature and shared use of Long Lane.

Jonathan Wanless, Headteacher at Seamer & Irton Community Primary School, added: “Long Lane is a key access route for our pupils coming from the Crossgates estate to the school at Seamer.

“Most of our pupils live in Crossgates and we actively encourage them to walk, scoot and cycle to and from school each day. It is part of our School Travel Plan and we teach our pupils to cycle safely through the Bikeability scheme each year.

“I am strongly in favour of anything that reduces the congestion around the school and makes the journey to school healthy and safe.”