A SERIES of safety improvements are likely to be made on the A65 at Kirkby Lonsdale in the New Year.

The Highways Agency is consulting with Cumbria County Council highways, the police and the parish council on a series of measures, which include extension of the 40mph speed limit leading up to the Booth's roundabout.

Residents and local councillors feared accidents could occur because speed-limit signs were too close to the roundabout to give drivers a chance to slow down.

District councillor Barclay Stainton has pressed the Highways Agency for an extension and at the South Lakeland Area Committee county councillor Joe Nicholson called for the speed limit to be extended to a mile on either side.

As part of the new measures, the agency has proposed an extension of the speed limit to 75 metres past the B6446 Kendal Road, but has not yet reached a decision on whether to extend it in the Ingleton direction.

"We are carrying out informal consultations with a view to publishing a traffic regulation order," said a spokeswoman.

Other proposed measures include:

l enhanced warning signing and provision of footway at the junction of the A65/Biggins Lane;

l new road lighting on the A65 between the new roundabout to just south of the Main Street junction;

l provision of a central pedestrian refuge to allow pedestrians to cross more easily from Main Street to Robraine, and the re-introduction of the 30mph limit along Robraine;

l provision of a central lane with road markings on the A65 at its junction with the A683 to Sedbergh;

l enhanced warning signing to prevent vehicles illegally or mistakenly turning from the A65 into a one-way lane just east of the the junction with the A683 to Sedbergh;

l more signing and road markings to make the existing 40mph speed limit more conspicuous;

l signing and lining improvements on the bend and at the junction with the A683 to Lancaster.

"Safety improvements at the junction of the A65 with the A683 Lancaster road should see major changes to this section of the A65," said Coun Stainton, who also campaigned for a pedestrian crossing at Robraine.

"But you can rest assured I will continue to press for an extension of the speed limit towards Ingleton."

The agency said the improvement works would probably start between Christmas and Easter.