TWO North Yorkshire villages have been earmarked for 20mph speed limits to add to the priority list of half a dozen schemes already confirmed by the county council's highways department.

Plans are being discussed for traffic calming schemes and 20mph limits in Barton and in Glebe Meadows in Scorton.

At least £25,000 has been set aside, although the Scorton project should prove cheaper than most because county council engineers say they can make the road from homes on the Glebe Meadows estate to the local primary school on Bolton Road safer without having to install speed humps.

Contractors will also be working on similar 20mph projects in School Bank, Middleton Tyas, and in Brompton Park, Brompton-on-Swale.

Council officials will be hoping for a much smoother ride with the current plans after new speed restrictions proved controversial in Leyburn, leading to the demise of the Brentwood Residents' Association.

Some residents led a vociferous campaign against traffic calming measures outside their homes only to have others neighbours disassociate themselves from the organisation.

Nevertheless, the 20mph signs and a number of speed humps were eventually installed in October last year.

Darlington Road in Richmond is likely to be the next scheme within the next 12 months along with Wavell Road in Catterick Garrison.

Most of the new 20mph areas have been chosen as they include schools or routes used daily by children.

Richmond Market Place is also on the priority list because of the potentially dangerous mix of cars, buses and pedestrians.

The county council said a 20mph limit would be included as part of a far-reaching revamp of the main roads around the centre of the town.

Other suggestions to improve Richmond centre include relocating the bus bays from the Market Place to Queen's Road, improving pedestrian links between the car park at Nun's Close and the town centre and creating better facilities for cyclists.

The county council's Richmondshire area committee was looking at the 20mph limits and the proposals for Richmond Market Pace at a meeting at Richmondshire District Council's offices this week.