ROAD safety campaigners in Ilkley have vowed to fight on for increased traffic calming measures after having their hopes dashed.

Members of the Ilkley Community Against Speeding (ICAS) are bitterly disappointed by a decision to radically tone down a scheme for traffic calming measures on Bolling Road.

And they are also concerned about other roads in Ilkley where speeding traffic causes dangers to pedestrians and other road users.

As a result of a major survey into traffic problems in Ilkley, a package of measures had been designed by highway engineers to try to prevent speeding along Bolling Road. But at a meeting of the Keighley Area Committee, it was decided to radically tone down the work which would be carried out.

Six traffic-slowing speed tables were removed from the plan because officers and councillors decided the scheme was too ambitious and not warranted. But ICAS campaigners say that this would leave a one-kilometre section in the middle of Bolling Road without any measures to prevent speeding.

"It is without doubt a backward step," said John Moorhouse, the chairman of ICAS.

The group are also unhappy that other Ilkley roads such as Cowpasture Road have been left with no traffic calming measures at all.

Following the meeting Mr Moorhouse accused the area committee of ignoring the wishes of residents and the advice of the highway engineers and consultants.

"We think they are not listening to what people are telling them. It (the original plan) has been approved once but because of these minor objections it has been knocked on the head. We feel the system has been abused," said Mr Moorhouse.

Ilkley district councillor Martin Smith said that the decision to reject the original plan, which had six more calming islands was influenced by 33 letters of objection.

But ICAS members maintain that more people supported the scheme that objected to it and say that it was desperately needed on safety grounds.

Barbara Davy, of ICAS, said: "I am totally bemused by anybody looking at Bolling Road could miss out the middle section which is the fastest section."

The group have held more than a dozen demonstrations in Ilkley urging motorists to keep to the speed limit. They have also issued 30mph stickers for people to place on wheelie bins.

Mrs Davy said: "We feel let down and don't feel we have been getting the support from the people who should be supporting us. "We should be getting protection. Motorists are protected with seat belts and often air bags, the only protection pedestrians and cyclists have is that drivers will respect the 30 mph limit."

Coun Smith said that the traffic calming measures at each end of Bolling Road should be installed in the next few weeks.

Once they were in place, highway engineers will monitor their effect on speeding along the whole of the road. If they did not work, Coun Smith said that extra measures could be introduced.

And ICAS members have vowed to continue the fight to get drivers to slow down. They are going to distribute more 30mph stickers for bins along Leeds Road at the weekend. They are also supporting a police initiative to train volunteers to use hand-held speed guns.

Mr Moorhouse said that the group was also looking at other options such as a lamp-post mounted speed indicators.

Mrs Davy said the group were anxious that they were not seen as negative campaigners because a reduction in traffic speed would mean an improvement in the quality of life for everybody.

She said: said: "We feel the town is getting unpleasant because of the traffic and we are really positive about what we want to do."