A GROUP of residents who are concerned about speeding motorists have said it is only a matter of time before there is a serious or fatal accident near their homes.

People living in Welham Park, Norton, have set up a campaign group and a petition, as well as writing to North Yorkshire County Council calling for safety measures to be carried out on the main road which runs past the housing estate.

Jean Illingworth, acting chairman of the Welham Park Residents Association (WPRA), said the problem was speeding vehicles in Beverley Road.

"Traffic coming into Norton on the Beverley Road doesn't start to slow down until it reaches the 30mph speed sign, it is still doing excessive speeds as it crosses Dairy Way," she said.

"Before the chicane was removed in preparation for the Tour de Yorkshire earlier this year, there were regular collisions at the chicane, and it has actually been safer since the chicane was removed. However, all this has done is push the problem further down, with traffic screeching to a stop at the mini roundabout near the One Stop shop."

Mrs Illingworth said the county council was planning to replace the chicane, but residents of Welham Park were adamant that it should not go back in the same place.

"We believe that the 30mph zone should start further back, beyond the Norton boundary, with a 40mph 'buffer zone' before the road to Settrington, so that vehicles have already slowed down before they reach the 30mph sign," she said.

"Not only would this make it safer for residents in Norton, especially the children of Welham Park, but it would also be safer for the horses and their riders emerging onto the Beverley Road from the stables near Settrington."

Mrs Illingworth said the problem was not just traffic coming into Norton, but traffic leaving the town speeding up as soon as it cleared the mini roundabout, so that was already doing 60mph or more before it reached the national speed limit sign.

"The view of residents is that replacing the speed cushions will not help, as cars just slalom to the other side, and that if speed humps are replaced, they need to cover the whole width of the road," she said.

"We would also prefer that the remaining chicane between the two mini roundabouts is replaced with a pelican crossing, for the safety of children crossing on their way to Norton Primary School."

Members of the WPRA have been going house to house with a petition asking local people to support the road safety initiative. The petition is also available in Norton Post Office in Beverley Road.

"Many of the houses on Welham Park have very young children who are playing out on their bikes and scooters, and with the summer holidays, we feel it’s only a matter of time before there is a serious accident and a child is killed or seriously injured," said Jean.

"I urge everyone in the area to sign a petition, or get in touch with their local councillor or North Yorkshire County Council.

Ryedale District Councillor Keane Duncan, who has been working with the group, said: "I understand that the plan is to put temporary pin down speed bumps in place shortly; this should make an immediate improvement in road safety so that the layout and location of the chicane can be fully reconsidered in the meantime.

"I am working with the WPRA to ensure that the residents of Norton have the opportunity to raise their concerns with the county council and make their suggestions for safety improvements at a public meeting.”