WORK has begun on a £50,000 road safety scheme that will turn the centre of Haxby into a 20mph zone.

The new 'go slow' area of The Village will stretch from the fish and chip shop in the west to near the junction with York Road in the east.

Traffic gates and 20mph speed signs will be added at each end, the pelican crossing will be raised on a traffic table and a second raised zebra crossing will be added to force cars to go slower.

Workmen are already on site preparing, and the road will be closed completely from 9am to 4pm on Sunday, and for the next two Sundays as well. Local diversions will be in place.

Work on a second, more controversial, phase of the scheme to install mini-roundabouts on the York Road is expected to begin in a couple of weeks.

Town council chairman Coun Ken Holdsworth said most townsfolk were in favour of The Village element of the scheme at least.

He said: "There is a great deal of congestion in Haxby sometimes, particularly on Saturday mornings when people come in to the shops."

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