A FRESH attempt has been launched to tackle concerns about motorists speeding through villages in England’s largest county.

North Yorkshire County Council is consulting all town and parish councils in its 3,200 square mile area over calls to relax its rules, to allow communities to buy and maintain their own roadside equipment to deter speeding motorists.

Numerous councillors say more parishes would like to deploy Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) in their areas, and that the devices can be bought for a fraction of the price the county authority is hiring them out for.

Parishes such as Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, near Thirsk, have reported the VAS sign it has hired from the council has made a significant difference.

Conservative Richmondshire North councillor Angus Thompson said while many villages had set up initiatives – such as North Yorkshire Police’s Community Speed Watch, where motorists caught speeding for a third time on equipment given to residents get a visit from police – the VAS signs would alleviate concerns.

Under the county council’s rules, parishes are only allowed to hire VAS, at a cost of £3,500 for three six-week periods a year, over four years, which many smaller parish councils say is unaffordable.

Councillor Thompson, whose call for action has led the county’s Transport, Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee to investigate the issue, said he was pressing the council to allow VAS “as and where the parish councils wish to buy and use them”.

He said the lowest cost for a sign he had seen was £1,750.

Councillor Caroline Artingstoll, chairman of Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe Parish Council, said the illustrative costs of buying and maintaining a VAS presented by the county council stated the price would be £6,500 for the initial four years, but lower thereafter.

She said the document sent to parishes appeared to suggest, even if a parish council wanted to buy a VAS, the county council would decide if it was eligible, if a proposed location was suitable and for how long it could be operated, thereby giving parishes little discretion.

She said: “I certainly wouldn’t recommend buying one.”

Councillor Artingstoll said an alternative and cheaper option presented by the county council of buying a Speed Indicator Device, which display motorists speeds and are not currently used in North Yorkshire, would be better value for money.

Councillor Thompson urged parish councils to respond to the scrutiny committee ahead of its May meeting over the issue.