VILLAGERS in east Cleveland have overturned a proposal to close a gap in the central reservation of the area's most notorious road.

Birk Brow, on the A171 between Whitby and Guisborough, has a hairpin bend and has been the scene of many accidents.

As part of a local safety scheme, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council planned to close the gap, used by people in the villages of Stanghow, Moorsholm and Lingdale when they travel to Teesside.

At a meeting in Stanghow on Tuesday, residents told Councillor Sylvia Szintai, lead member for environment and infrastructure with the council, they wanted the gap to remain open.

They told her using the gap was less dangerous than the alternative accesses on the A171 at Lockwood Beck and Charltons.

They also objected to proposals to restrict the inside lane on the downward carriageway of Birk Brow to buses and lorries.

Coun Szintai agreed to keep the gap open and said she would take the villagers' other objections into consideration before a final decision is made about the inside lane.

The move has delighted borough councillors Steve Kay and Bruce Mackenzie, of the East Cleveland Independence Party. Coun Kay said: "For once, Redcar and Cleveland has listened to the voice of the people, at least in part."

Coun Mackenzie added: "I just hope common sense will prevail on the matter of the lane restriction."

Coun Szintai said: "We didn't say that it couldn't remain open, but it wasn't a case of giving in, it was a case of consultation. We will look at the rest of the problems that people perceive with the scheme as they come up."