COUNCIL chiefs will look at new ways of keeping vehicles away from a congested village hit by rat-running traffic.

A public meeting in Osbaldwick agreed that a number of options - including road chicanes and even speed cameras - should be considered to curb the growing number of cars, buses and heavy goods vehicles using the village's narrow roads.

More than 45 people turned up for the meeting at the village hall last night to voice their concern at what has become a controversial issue.

Lorry drivers often use the village as a rat-run to avoid being held up on the busier, Hull Road which has numerous sets of traffic lights.

Malcolm Kettlestring, of Osbaldwick Parish Council, confirmed that council officers attending the meeting had agreed to look at new ideas of making life easier for residents.

He said: "The meeting mostly concerned traffic. They wanted to know what the majority of people thought about speed humps, chicanes or cameras.

"I don't think anyone wants humps but, with the completion of the link road, a lot more traffic will be coming in to the village.

"The council now has an idea of what people are asking for and is looking for other ideas. For a camera, they would have to get in touch with the police. But I think, personally, that a camera would help to stop speeding."

Janet Starzynski, of the Osbaldwick Village and Murton Way Action Group, said she felt the campaign to reduce traffic through the village had now taken a step forward.

She said: "There was a big attendance at the meeting. It was very, very good. There was also a consensus that, on the buses, a 20-minute rather than a ten-minute service could be looked at.

"It is disappointing that no one from the bus company was at the meeting. I think the majority of people felt they had turned a corner last night. We have started to appreciate that there is a problem."

No one from City of York Council was available for comment.

Updated: 15:16 Tuesday, October 22, 2002