A NOTORIOUS accident spot that has been the scene of horrific road crashes is the focus of a new safety plan.

The junction of Wheldrake Lane and the A19 at Crockey Hill has claimed the lives of at least four people in the last decade, with many more suffering serious injuries.

Labelled an accident blackspot by road watchdogs, how to improve the fast stretch of road - between York and Selby - has been the subject of a special report from transport bosses at City of York Council.

Sent to councillors and parish council chiefs, the report advocates reducing the speed limit on the A19 to 40mph for 500 metres on either side of the junction.

It also looks at new "gateway" signing to try to prevent shunt accidents at the junction and installing street lighting to highlight the junction and the new speed limit.

The work, if supported and given the go-ahead, would be the first phase of a scheme which could eventually see traffic lights built at the junction.

Crockey Hill has been the site for a number of road smashes in the past decade. In May 2003, a 20-year-old York man died after his car left the road and smashed into a tree.

In 1994, three teenage girls were killed after the vehicle in which they were passengers collided with an oncoming vehicle and careered into a tree.

In May 2002, Selby Abbey vicar the Rev Keith Jukes, suffered a broken arm when a hearse in which he was travelling collided with a car at Crockey Hill.

A further dozen people have suffered serious injuries due to accidents at the Crockey Hill junction in the past few years.

Coun Christian Vassie, council ward member for Wheldrake, said he supported the measures as part of a scheme that would bring traffic lights to the junction.

"If the proposed changes are part of a phased approach then I am happy for them to go ahead," he said. "I am delighted that people are paying attention."

A council spokeswoman, said: "The council's engineering team has drafted up some proposals to improve the safety of the A19/Wheldrake Lane junction. The proposals have been circulated to City of York councillors and local parish councillors and will go out for public consultation next month."

Updated: 10:20 Tuesday, August 02, 2005