SPEED restrictions have been imposed on a stretch of road in the Yorkshire Dales popular with motorcyclists amid concerns from local residents.

The Hawes and High Abbottside Parish Council requested a speed limit reduction to 40 miles per hour between Hawes and Appersett - a distance of less than one mile.

At a Richmondshire Area Committee meeting in Barton Village Hall today (Wednesday, May 29), North Yorkshire County Councillors voted in favour of passing the speed restriction.

North Yorkshire County Councillor John Blackie said the proposals came out of concerns of local people, and said a similar speed buffer zone at another gateway into Hawes had proved to be very successful in getting cars and motorbikes to slow down on the approach to the town.

He said: “There is support from the Fire and Rescue Service and Yorkshire Ambulance Service, because there have been a number of accidents there.

“Police have said they do not support it because they are concerned about receiving a lot of complaints about motorbikes speeding – but people are entitled to complain.

“Recently we introduced a 40mph buffer zone into Hawes to slow people down, make the town safer, and make people happier about motorbikes coming through the town.”

Nigel Smith, Richmondshire area highways manager, said highways officers had carried out a speed assessment of the road and found the average speed was between 38 and 40mph.

A report by Neil Linfoot from the Richmondshire area highways office stated that the national guidelines state that a 40mph limit should only be considered where there are many bends, junctions or a substantial development.

Mr Linfoot wrote that the majority of the route proposed would not meet the criteria, and that the 60mph limit reflects the function of the road.

The restriction was introduced despite North Yorkshire Police not supporting the proposal because they believed it did not comply with Department for Transport guidelines.