HIGHWAY bosses have agreed to meet with residents in Thornton-le-Dale about a narrow street they say has become a rat-run, and a danger to the many elderly people and young families who use it on foot.

Roxby Terrace, which links Roxby Road and Maltongate, is a narrow street without a footpath and with no speed limit.

It has many elderly residents and is used by young families getting to and from the village primary school, as well as elderly residents of a nearby nursing home.

"Cars come tearing round the corner," said Pamela Johnston, a resident of the street.

"Wing mirrors have been knocked and I've seen an elderly person knocked against the wall.

"The many elderly people who use the terrace to walk into the village have become fearful, and if you are in the motorist's way they often get impatient and abusive, giving offensive gestures."

She said the road is also covered in pot-holes through overuse by motorists.

Mrs Johnston and her neighbour, Allan Monkhouse, 55, of Farmanby Close, who is disabled and uses Roxby Terrace every day on his motorised scooter, attended a meeting about the village's Traffic Management Strategy last year to explain the problem.

"We thought they had taken our views on board and were going to make it access only, but now the consultants have suggested that they make it one way," said Mrs Johnston.

Mr Monkhouse said: "I think there's a good case for the road being residents only access - they do it in other parts of the village."

Mrs Johnston added: "One-way would be even worse. The cars would go even faster, confident in the knowledge there wasn't anything coming the other way."

The two then took their complaints to a recent area meeting held by North Yorkshire County Council.

County council traffic manager Graham Cressey said: "Roxby Terrace is down for resurfacing in the next financial year. Our reason for suggesting a one-way system is to provide a facility for pedestrians.

"As far as the police are concerned with access only orders, they normally say there will be a low level of enforcement. One-way is easier to enforce." However, he added: "I am willing to have another look at Roxby Terrace and further discussions with people."

But Mrs Johnston says the terrace was never intended as a thoroughfare, especially for the large cars driven today. "I have a photograph of it in days gone by, gated at either end with geese wandering around," she said.

Mrs Johnston first wrote to the highways department about the problems ten years ago, and was assured that it would be dealt with.

Tony Webster, a spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council, said: "Nothing is set in stone yet, we are still completing the consultation process and want to hear the views of residents as part of that."

Updated: 15:16 Wednesday, March 09, 2005