CONSERVATIONISTS have warned that the moorland village of Rosedale will be urbanised if a 30mph speed limit is imposed.

But they failed to persuade members of North Yorkshire County Council's Ryedale area committee.

Anthony Davies told the members, meeting at Thornton-le-Dale that the move would be "the thin end of the wedge", and said that yellow lines could soon follow.

"It will destroy the ruralnesss of Rosedale" he said.

The village's road lay-out effectively controls the speed of traffic, said Mr Davies.

Traffic speed during Rosedale's rush hour was 18mph, according to studies carried out by highway experts, he said.

The decision will be deferred until the completion of a parish plan.

Councillor Gaynor de Barr said the proposal had already gone out to consultation and the parish council had made the request for a speed limit.

"To oppose it now would fly in the face of the information we have been given," she said.

County Councillor Murray Naylor said the speed limit would protect the public. "It is not urbanisation" he said.

County Coun Betsy Hill said she had been lobbied for some time about a speed limit being introduced.