A COUNCIL has been accused of acting like the “Mafia” after refusing to allow parishes to buy cut price matrix signs to slow speeding traffic through their communities.

North Yorkshire County Council highways charge £3,500 to rent matrix boards for a four year period, which means parishes get 18 weeks a year, but the authority control where and how they are used.

Parish councils say they could buy a board for £2,500, possibly sharing the costs between several areas and putting them up where and when they are needed.

The signs warn approaching motorists how fast they are going.

Cllr John Blackie said the parish at Askrigg had abandoned plans for a speed board outside the local school because of objections by highways over where it should go.

He said: “Self-reliance is the name of the game in the Dales and we were prepared to spend the money to make it safer, but we could not, because of a county council policy that belongs to the Mafia rather than a public organisation that should be encouraging road safety.

“The matrix boards are made in Richmond and we would be able to secure them at nearly half the price charged by the county council, it’s as if they’re operating a scam.

“The Mafia could learn a few things from the highways authority.”

Concerns were raised at the Richmondshire Area committee of the county council where Cllr Angus Thompson called on the authority to completely review the policy on matrix boards.

He said parishes were trying to work with the police on community speed initiatives, but felt they were being held back.

Highways say the impact is lessened if boards are used too widely but

Cllr Thompson said he “doesn’t buy” that argument.

Richard Marr, for North Yorkshire Highways said: “Our policy is permanent signs should be located in areas with a high personal injury accident record, and we need to have tried everything else.

“These are seen as an instrument of last resort.

“The reason is if they were in every village where they could be afforded their impact would lessen, the government guidelines are very clear.”

He said a report on the temporary sign policy is due to be published in coming weeks.