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Speeding cars fuel ducks safety fears near Whitby
A RUSWARP resident has voiced concerns over ducks crossing the road near the River Esk and fears a road traffic accident is inevitable.
Retired mechanic Barry Tranter (65) said he fears a steady increase in traffic is a serious threat to ducks' lives and sharp braking at the sight of them will cause multi-vehicle collisions.
Mr Tranter, who has lived in the village for 15 years, says speeding has always been an issue, particular in the mornings.
However, visitors feeding the ducks is believed to have been tamed them, making them much more likely to venture across the road.
Boating, miniature trains and a cafe make the area around the river popular with families, especially in the summer months.
"The ducks are so used to people now they completely ignore you," he said.
"The implications could be quite dangerous."
Mr Tranter contacted Scarborough Borough Council and was told he would hear from a park ranger – but he is yet to do so.
Mr Tranter believes many of the ducks have already fallen victim to speeding cars and villagers are now worried that unless something is done, a more serious accident will occur.
He added his fears are always worsened when there is bad weather such as heavy rain.
A Scarborough Borough Council spokeswoman told the Whitby Gazette the ducks are nothing to do with them as they are wild.
John Smith of The Carrs, Briggswath, said: "There is a road sign, a picture of a duck in a triangle, but it's in shrubbery.
"The signs needs to be something at floor level and attention grabbing.
"It's a safety issue with people braking all the time.
"People throw the bread for them on the road which doesn't help or they feed them from the car which is ridiculous."
Nick West of North Yorkshire County Council Highways Department has promised action.
"There are two wildfowl signs on the road, one from each direction," he said.
"If the sign is masked by vegetation I am not aware of this and we will arrange to have the hedge cut back as soon as possible.
"We put signs up as we have had representations in the past about people braking sharply."
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Weather for Whitby
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
