MOTORISTS travelling north on the A19 to Hutton Rudby are now being encouraged to divert on to an inadequate and poorly-marked lane near Swainby and Potto, it is claimed.

Northbound vehicles are diverting on to the A172 at the Cleveland Tontine, and then taking an abrupt turning along Black Horse Lane, passing Potto Hall.

These were the concerns raised by Hutton Rudby councillors at the latest parish meeting.

They also heard more surveys were to be undertaken on the notorious Black Swan crossing on the A19 and a second meeting was to be held to discuss safety improvements with farmers, landowners and highway authorities.

Consultants Halcrow surveyed a seven-mile stretch of the A19 from Crathorne to the Cleveland Tontine this summer for the Highways Agency. But its report said many improvements to the Black Swan crossing would be expensive and economically unjustifiable. The junction was not over-used, although there had been a number of fatal and serious accidents there.

At its latest meeting, Rudby Parish Council said inexpensive but effective safety measures had not yet been considered.

Council clerk Ann Pyle said: "We have seen the report, which was given to us by Coun Carline Seymour, and it was inconclusive. Further surveys are to be done and we should organise a meeting to discuss the results in November or December."

Coun Peter Markey was annoyed that the parish council had not received any copies of the Halcrow survey, despite the fact that the parish had organised a meeting earlier this year and raised the issues with various highways authorities.

Coun Seymour agreed, saying: "I was annoyed too. I spoke to North Yorkshire County Council about this. I've no idea why the parish council received no copies."

Coun Markey thought the erection of danger signs would be an effective and inexpensive way of cutting traffic speed and raising awareness of the Black Swan crossing. But there was no mention of this option in the report.

Resident Ian Granville said Hutton Rudby direction signs on the A19 were a quarter of a mile rather than half a mile from the Black Swan crossing. Such distances were unusual and too close.

Coun Markey noticed a diversion sign had been erected further south to encourage northbound Hutton Rudby motorists to divert on to the A172 at the Cleveland Tontine. This route took traffic on to the Swainby to Hutton Rudby road, past Potto Hall.

But Coun Irene MacDonald said the road, Black Horse Lane, was too narrow for extra traffic.

"It's inadequate in width, has quite a camber and has no road markings. I often meet oncoming cars in the middle of it. Vehicles can be very, very close. That road needs upgrading, if A19 traffic is going to be permanently encouraged to use it."

Coun Seymour said substantial investment was unlikely but added: "If the county council is encouraging people to use Black Horse Lane, then it might consider upgrading it. Regarding the survey results, I still think we need more information about the costs of all the options."

The parish council would call another meeting in the winter, once the results were known