Residents living on the B6161 in the village have requested a 7.5 tonne weight restriction on noise and safety grounds, a proposal which has been supported by County Coun Heather Garnett and Killinghall Parish Council.

A report is being taken to the next area committee meeting on June 5, which would mean redirecting HGVs to New Park roundabout if the scheme receives the go ahead.

Coun Trevor Chapman (Lib Dem, New Park) said he will object against the new proposal and has received backing by Coun Geoff Webber (Lib Dem, Saltergate).

"A lot of councillors are very worried about this because we feel it will only shift the problem from one place to another," he said.

"I understand why there is a need to take the danger away from pupils at Killinghall Primary School.

"But I also know parents who have to walk across Ripon Road from Eastville Terrace to New Park School and that can be dangerous for them."

Coun Webber added: "I have already put in my objection. To be quite frank I'm appalled with the proposal."

The meeting comes partly in response to a questionnaire completed by Killinghall residents last year with the aim to make the village a safer place to live.

450 people were asked for opinions on ten proposals, including HGV weight restrictions, new speed limits and a new pelican crossing.
Responses showed that 86 per cent of residents wanted a HGV weight limit, 86 per cent a pelican crossing, and 82 per cent new speed check signs.

Coun Garnett is hopeful the scheme will receive backing and raise the standard of living for residents on Otley Road.
"There is the playgroup, the school and the village hall all situated on the B6161 and at the moment they are very concerned with the amount of heavy goods vehicles that travel down the road," she said.

"But we're also looking at how the plans will affect traffic down the A61 and we've got to take that into consideration.

"It's not something we can just put in, we've got to look at it properly. But there has been quite a lot of work assessing the traffic down at the New Park roundabout."

The proposal has also been backed by Killinghall Primary School head teacher Shona Watson who has been campaigning for speed restrictions outside the school on Otley Road.

It's not the first time the school has expressed fears over problems with HGVs. Three years ago a tyre flew off an articulated lorry outside the school narrowly missing the playground.

"It was a miracle then no one was killed," she said.
"We're quite concerned at the number of heavy goods vehicles that speed down past the school. We will back the proposal as will the parents and the governers.

"At the moment it's just an accident waiting to happen."

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire County Council said they have published a Traffic Regulation Order and received many notices of support for the proposal and many objections.

These were largely from residents of other roads who felt they would suffer from diverted traffic.