A1079 danger road at Wilberfoss gets safety boost (From York Press)

A1079 danger road at Wilberfoss gets safety boost

9:29am Wednesday 14th April 2010 in News By Julie Hayes, Business editor

A road on which two pedestrians were killed within two weeks of each other last winter has secured safety improvements – but local campaigners say more needs to be done.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is extending a lay-by on the A1079 at Wilberfoss so residents catching the X46 bus can do so off the main road.

The council has already extended a footpath to the nearby footbridge, will build a central pedestrian refuge in the road and intends to add street lighting. Campaigners for improved safety on the A1079 welcomed the measures but said the fight wasn’t over.

In December 2009, pedestrian Nona Diane Clark died after being knocked down by a white low-loader lorry on the A1079 at Wilberfoss and, a fortnight earlier, 83-year-old Audrey Prince died after a crash on the A1079 at Barmby Moor.

Iain McKechnie, parish councillor for Wilberfoss and its representative on the A1079 action group, said the group will continue to campaign for a complete infrastructure review for the road, which links York and Hull and affects all the villages along the way, also including Hayton, Pocklington and Market Weighton.

He said: “Unfortunately there were two road deaths last year and there are a great many people affected by the challenges this road brings in terms of access and safety. We will be making sure we keep the pressure on the road authorities and campaign for as safe a road as possible.”

He said the action group would be meeting all MPs after the General Election that have constituencies affected by the road to seek their support.