ONE of the most extensive traffic calming schemes in rural North Yorkshire could be introduced in a village near Richmond which has seen a spate of accidents in recent years.

The county council highways committee has already agreed to reduce the speed limit through Skeeby from 40 to 30mph but additional proposals include specially designed 'gateway' approaches to the village, moving the speed limit sign to the far side of the bridge, better signs, road 'cushions' and some new double white lining.

The scheme goes out to public consultation in the next few days and, if no objections are received, the work should be done by the end of March next year. Objections would lead to a public inquiry and the delay could mean funding is lost.

Coun Michael Heseltine urged residents to accept the scheme, which would be funded from the current year's highways budget.

"Without doubt, what is proposed is far more extensive than most similar schemes," he said. "It is a very ambitious and extensive scheme which includes traffic cushions - very unusual on a main road.

"Very few places in the county have such extensive measures and I hope residents find them acceptable."

He said the parish council had worked long and hard, with his support, to get something done to reduce the number of accidents, which included one fatality two years ago.

The main blackspot is the narrow, curved bridge, where residents originally demanded traffic lights. However, highways experts said lights would mean traffic could back up and cause more danger to drivers coming through the village towards Scotch Corner.

Limited measures were introduced following the fatal accident, in which a Catterick woman died. They included additional signs and more white warning paint on the road.

Coun Heseltine has written to all households in the village outlining the proposals and asking for residents' support.

"The work must be done by the end of March to make use of money set aside from this year's budget, so I hope there will be strong support for the package, and no delays," he said.