A new 40mph speed limit introduced along Manor Park bends this week must be enforced by using speed cameras.

That was the argument put forward by Ilkley district and parish Councillor Anne Hawkesworth at this week's meeting of Ilkley Parish Council.

Coun Hawkesworth made the point after joining others in welcoming the much anticipated move, which is designed to reduce accidents on the A65 between Ilkley and Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Large yellow signs showing the new limit and a wide red road strip have been put in place at the Burley end of the bends, where the by-pass roundabout joins Ilkley Road, to alert northbound drivers to the change.

Smaller 40mph signs have also been attached to lampposts on either side of the road along the route.

Coun Brian Mann was the first to applaud the development. He said: "I think we all welcome the installation of the new speed limit, let's hope it works."

But Coun Pauline Dixon res-ponded immediately by pointing out that the change had done little, so far, to change bad driving habits.

She said: "I had noticed the new limit and was sticking to it, driving along very carefully, when somebody overtook me doing around 70 mph!"

It was then that Coun Hawkes-worth made the case for installing speed cameras to catch, and punish motorists who were breaking the law by continuing to go too fast.

She said: "It is absolutely essential we get speed cameras installed, it is the only way it will work, and it has been agreed that this is the case."

Coun Hawkesworth said that while in most cases cameras were only put in after a certain number of breaches of the speed limit, or accidents, took place, Manor Park bends was an exception.

And while insisting moves to achieve this were already underway, she urged the parish council to give them a helping hand by putting pressure on the Highways Agency.

"Do write and stress the fact that we need the speed cameras in immediately," she said.

Coun Michael Exley, meanwhile, said he hoped drivers would get the message, and accident rates would fall, as people became used to the new limit.

"I would like to think that as more and more people become aware that the 40mph speed limit is in place more people will alter their driving habits and others will be spared the kind of experience that Coun Dixon had to go through."

A £5 million by-pass scheme put forward by Bradford Council as a potential final solution to the road's accident problems, meanwhile, is still being examined by central government.