A NORTH Yorkshire village is hoping a sizeable investment in road safety packages in the area could bring relative peace and quiet after decades of noise and disturbance caused by heavy traffic.

Catterick, in particular, has been plagued by lorries on their way to and from the A1 from quarry workings and an industrial estate in the area, as well as tanks and transporters from Europe's largest British Army garrison nearby.

A recent lobby of senior officers at the garrison has improved the situation during the past few months.

Most Army vehicles now join the Great North Road at Gatherley, a few miles further north, where a bridge was built especially for them when the bypass around Catterick was finished in the 1970s.

However, North Yorkshire County Council has now confirmed it will be spending £150,000 to improve further road safety in Catterick, as well as in the nearby villages of Tunstall and Brompton-on-Swale.

Projects will include pinchpoints, which narrow the carriageway to slow down traffic, as well as speed cushions, more signs and road markings.

The speed limit through the heart of Catterick will also be reduced to 20mph.

County councillor for the area, Carl Les, said he was pleased with the proposals.

"Traffic calming has been a big priority for me and I am delighted this scheme has now got to the final planning stage," he said.

"We need to consider Tunstall Road in Catterick as well, to protect Low Green, and I will discuss this with planners straight away.

"Next month, I will be present when a similar set of proposals reaches Brompton-on-Swale Parish Council and I am very pleased that Tunstall village will also be getting a scheme which reflects the smaller but growing volume of traffic."

Catterick parish council chairman, Councillor Margaret Tickner, also welcomed the proposals, which will go on public display soon to give residents a chance to have their say before formal ratification at County Hall.

"It is certainly something we have been fighting for over a number of years,'' she said.

"We have already had a few accidents on the bend on Leeming Lane and some of the buildings are suffering because of the vibrations caused by heavy lorries."