NORTH Yorkshire councillors will be asked next week to back the experimental closure of the central reservation at an accident blackspot on the A19 dual carriageway.

Support for the proposed move at the Black Swan crossroads, linking East Rounton in the west and Hutton Rudby to the east, is being recommended despite fears that the resulting diversion will throw more traffic on to minor roads in the area.

Councillors will be asked to press the Highways Agency to investigate the feasibility of introducing a bridge junction at the crossroads, though traffic management officers admit this would not address the immediate road safety problem.

Records kept by County Hall over the past five years reveal that there have been 28 personal injury accidents at the crossroads including four fatal, six serious and 18 slight.

The dilemma surrounding any action to be taken over the blackspot will be underlined by area traffic manager Eddie Hayward when the county council committee for Hambleton meets on Monday (2pm) in the grand committee room at County Hall, Northallerton.

The meeting, open to the public, will be addressed by a representative of the Highways Agency, which is responsible for the A19 and has suggested closing the central reservation at the Black Swan crossroads for an experimental 18 months.

A survey by the agency in October 2002 showed that a total of 436 vehicles used the central reservation crossing point during a 12-hour period between 7am and 7pm.

Mr Hayward says in a report to the Hambleton committee that, according to the Highways Agency, accidents have continued to occur at the crossroads, despite improvements being made, and police want action to be taken.

Mr Hayward adds that three county councillors whose areas would be affected by the proposed closure of the central reservation all agreed that the only solution before such action was taken would be a bridge over the A19, though the Highways Agency had indicated that it could not justify the cost.

Introduction of a speed limit with monitoring cameras was also suggested but this could be difficult to enforce.

Mr Hayward says the point was made by the three local councillors that, if Black Swan crossroads were closed, the accident problem could be moved elsewhere because traffic, including farm machinery, might be tempted to use other central reservations on the A19.

At a public meeting in Appleton Wiske last month, concern was expressed about the effects of such a closure on nearby country roads.

Mr Hayward says: ''Since the public meeting, officers have received a number of telephone calls and letters regarding the proposals. However, there is general acceptance of the need to introduce further measures to reduce accidents at the crossroads.

''Parish councils have expressed the need for further discussions between the Highways Agency, the county council, police and local parish councils to consider all the options to reduce injury accidents at this junction.''

Mr Hayward acknowledges that with the present accident record there is an urgent need for improvements to the crossroads but adds that the Highways Agency should be prepared to meet any costs arising from the proposed closure.

''I can understand the views expressed by the parish councils and I do have concerns about the effect which the 436 vehicles currently using the central reservation could have on the local road network if the gap were closed.

''However, in view of the road safety benefits that it is anticipated will be achieved, and as they could be achieved quickly, it is the view of officers that the proposal to close the gap should be supported for an experimental period of up to 18 months.

''Officers also feel that the Highways Agency should meet the cost of monitoring the effects of the closure on traffic flows and the condition of the local highway network and changes to the traffic signs.

''In addition the agency should also be asked to meet the costs of any extraordinary damage to the local highway network caused by diverted traffic which currently uses the crossroads.''

Mr Hayward recommends that the agency should look again at the feasibility of a bridge junction to replace the crossroads