A long-running campaign to lower the speed limit on a country road at Pool -in-Wharfedale has taken a step forward.

Residents, backed by ward and parish councillors, have been trying to get a lower limit imposed on the unrestricted lower section of Old Pool Bank.

Now Leeds City Council’s highways department has agreed, pending consultation, to put forward a scheme that would see:

* A new 40mph limit introduced at the end of the road that joins with the A660, Leeds Road 

*  A 30mph limit applied to the other end, near its junction with the A658 Pool Bank New Road, to include a section with a bend where the road narrows 

* Repeater speed signs to remind motorists of the lower limits.

Councillor Barry Anderson (Con, Adel & Wharfedale) said the aim was for the work to be included in the authority's 2013-14 programme, by which time funding would hopefully have been found.

He said: “Highways will be arranging a survey for Lower Old Pool Bank after the school holidays, when traffic flows return to normal. They hope this will achieve sufficient data to enable the police to support the proposed reduction in speed limits.

"The changes would enable the derestricted signs to be removed from both ends of lower Old Pool Bank, which may then discourage its use as an alternative to the more suitable main roads.”