REASSURANCES about the closure of a North Yorkshire trunk road junction were dismissed as "rubbish" this week.

Anxious parish councillors in nearby villages still fear that many summer events will be hit by the blocking-off of the notorious Black Swan crossroads on the A19.

Residents claim signs will be inadequate for people trying to get to places on either side of the road.

As preparation work for the trial closure got under way on Monday, Highways Agency project manager Jon Cole said most people visiting events were local and knew their way around.

But Rountons Parish Council chairman Derek Lawton said: "Mr Cole is talking rubbish.

"We spread our wings wide for these events and people come from all over."

He also described Mr Cole's pledge that the possibility of a bridge over the A19 had not been ruled out, as a peace offering.

There has already been an outcry over the Highways Agency scheme to close the central reservation gap and ban U-turns at the remaining 21 gaps on the A19 between the A67 interchange at Crathorne and A173 at Tontine.

The aim is to make the road safer in the wake of a string of casualties, with four fatalities since 2001.

The gap is set to be closed on July 19 but posts are needed for the extra signs linked to the scheme.

The trial closure is for 18 months so experts can monitor the effects on both the A19 and local road network.

Mr Cole received a rough ride earlier this year when he attended a public meeting in Appleton Wiske, called in response to fears that closing the gap would split communities.

"We have been made aware of many concerns but we have to try to do something about this problem and that is why we are closing the junction on a trial basis," he said.

Mr Cole said up to now the question of a bridge did not stack up as value for money.

"But we will reconsider the option during the closure period," he said. "If it turns out that it does represent good value, it will be up for bidding. We will have to compete with other schemes for finance.

"But we have an immediate problem and a bridge is at least four years away."

Mr Cole said the agency had discussed signs with North Yorkshire County Council.

"We said we would not signpost small villages unless they were very close to the road," he said.

"In the main it is local people who go to summer events at villages and they will know their way around. We don't want dozens of signs plastered all over the place and have to be aware of how much information we give drivers."

Coun Lawton said his council was still waiting for the county to send details of signs which had been planned.

He added: "We have just organised a car boot sale for the Rountons Village Hall and church on July 24. People come from Teesside and all over to these events and they might decide not to bother."

He said as soon as the signs list had been received, a meeting of all the parishes would be called to discuss the situation.

Closure of the gap and the U-turn ban have been backed by North Yorkshire police.

When the Black Swan crossing is closed, right turns into Hutton Rudby off the A19 from the south or out of the village to go north on the A19 will not be possible.

Similarly, right turns off the A19 from the north into the Rountons or out of the villages to go south will also be prevented.

Depending on their journey, drivers will be diverted to either north to the A67 Crathorne or south to A172 Tontine junctions where they will be able to cross, and then rejoin, the A19.