HIGHWAY bosses petitioned by more than 1,000 people calling for action to alter a notorious junction say there is little they can do.

Five Lane Ends, connecting Firby Road with Sussex Street in Bedale, has been regarded as a danger by residents for many years.

North Yorkshire County Council had been asked to look at a 20mph speed limit as well as installing a crossing and mini roundabouts but officers said without spending a lot of money it would be impossible to improve it.

However the leader of the council, Cllr John Weighell has asked for an investigation into bringing in a 20mph on Firby Road to fit in with school times.

Campaigner Brian Hall, who collected the signatures on the petition, said: "I am bitterly disappointed. Are they just waiting for another accident to happen? It’s as if they’re not listening to anything we say.

“We know it’s not going to be easy, but they’re simply ignoring the problem and hoping we will all go away.”

He added: “This is just going to get worse, there are hundreds of extra homes being built all over the area, and with the schools, doctors, leisure centre and elderly people’s homes all coming off that junction there is going to be more traffic and more vulnerable and elderly people trying to cross that road, it really doesn’t bear thinking about.

“Over 1,000 people signed this petition appealing for something to be done and yet again nothing will happen. We really feel as if we are banging our heads against a brick wall."

The petition was discussed at a meeting of the county council’s Hambleton Area Committee.

Officer Jayne Charlton said they had looked at all options available but insisted that without “significant financial investment” it would not be possible to introduce further road safety measures.

Cllr Weighell said: ”We have had reports on this junction for 20 years, we know this junction is sub standard and we wouldn’t build it today, but there is very little we can do about it.

"However I think we should look at having a 20mph limit around school times.”

Hambleton district councillor John Noone said after the meeting: "Doing nothing is not an option here. Looking at a 20mph limit around schools is a small step in the right direction - but it really doesn’t go far enough.”