THE SPEED limit on the busy road between Strensall and Earswick is coming down - in a move local councillors say is a huge “step in the right direction” for safety.

Strensall Road, between the two villages, will see its speed limit brought down from 60 mph to 40 mph, in an 18-month trial that was agreed on Thursday.

City councillor Paul Doughty and parish councillor Sian Wiseman said the move would make things safer for the hundreds of pupils who travel from Strensall to Huntington School.

Cllr Wiseman said: “I have lived in Earswick for 38 years and during that time I have seen an immense increase in traffic using Strensall Road. The parish council has been approached on many occasions to help push for a reduction in the speed limit to improve the safety of residents leaving their properties on Strensall Road and for cyclists in particular.”

She said they still hoped the stretch might get a dedicated footpath and cycle link to the A1237 in the future.

The speed limit decision was confirmed by City of York transport boss Cllr Peter Dew, and Cllr Wiseman thanked him for taking “a huge step in the right direction”.

He had been advised by both police and council transport staff not to lower the limit who said current speed statistics show drivers are unlikely to stick to a lower limit.

However, Cllr Dew approved the lower limit on an 18 month experimental basis - on the advice of head of transport Tony Clarke who said the temporary change could be brought in more quickly and removed if it doesn’t work.

He also heard from council director Neil Ferris who warned that physical changes would probably be needed on the road if people are to stick to a 40 mph limit.

Cllr Paul Doughty said he was delighted with the outcome: “In our opinion 60mph is way too fast for such a short section of road with so many potential hazards and absence of a safe cycle path when several hundred secondary school pupils travel between Strensall and Earswick to Huntington School.”