FARMERS are set to hold a crunch meeting with highways bosses in the New Year over growing safety fears on the A64 near York.

They will raise concerns that a lack of slip roads into farm entrances from the busy dual carriageway could lead to a major accident - particularly following the closure of gaps in the central reservation.

But the meeting in Tadcaster will also discuss other issues, including the controversial removal of a bus stop from the A64 near Bilbrough Top, which has infuriated some local residents.

The Evening Press reported in the autumn how vehicles leaving farms were unable to accelerate before emerging onto the A64 between York and Tadcaster, risking vehicles ploughing into the back of them.

They claimed the Highways Agency's decision in the summer to close several gaps in the central reservation had exacerbated the dangers of getting into and out of the farms.

One farmer, Edward Brown, also told how articulated lorries had to slow down in the outside lane and then cross the path of traffic in the inside lane to make the tight turn into his farm.

He claimed the Highways Agency had broken promises to provide a slip road after discovering it would cost too much.

Selby MP John Grogan said then that the agency's change of stance was "totally unacceptable".

Mr Grogan said today that next month's meeting, which will take place on Friday, January 6, at the Ark building in Kirkgate, would look at all the concerns about farm access and closure of the gaps.

But he stressed it would not replace the statutory consultation which had been launched into the gap closure proposals.

A spokesman for the agency said ten letters of representation or objection had been received to the gap closures, and the agency had now written back to objectors to explain its position. He said a public inquiry would be considered if objections were not withdrawn.

Mr Grogan said the private meeting would involve himself, farmers, local councillors, police and the agency, and also the Yorkshire Coastliner bus company to discuss continuing concerns about the loss of a bus stop from the new Bilbrough Top flyover area.

The stop was removed because the authorities believed it could no longer be safely accommodated on the realigned dual carriageway, but the ward's councillor Brian Percival said it had resulted in local passengers having to walk along the side of the A64 to the next nearest stop, causing them inconvenience and jeopardising their safety.

"It affects me as well," he said. "I sometimes use the bus, if I am going out for a drink. It used to be a five-minute walk, but it now takes 20 minutes."

He said he intended to press for a bus stop to be reinstated in a lay-by on the deceleration lane leading to the flyover, saying other lay-bys were used by buses elsewhere on the A64.

Updated: 10:08 Saturday, December 10, 2005