CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after getting a speed limit imposed at an accident blackspot.

Parish councillors have welcomed the move by Leeds City Council to enforce a 40mph speed limit along A659 Arthington Lane, Arthington.

The road has seen three deaths from motorcycle accidents in recent years with one just two weeks ago.

It is also classed as the 25th most dangerous road in Leeds.

Pool-in-Wharfedale Parish Council and Arthington Parish Council have campaigned for the 40mph limit for many years.

Pool Parish Councillor Judith Davey has welcomed the news.

"We need this speed limit, it is not safe. There is a narrow pathway on one side and people walk along there with prams and it's dangerous because there are big lorries coming through," she said.

"This has been ongoing for many years. The safer it is the better."

A report published by Leeds City Council's road studies unit named Arthington Lane as the 25th most dangerous road out of 130 in the district.

There were 29 accidents on the road between 1996 and 2000, 21 were slight, seven were serious and one was fatal.

Investigators put the accidents down to loss of control by drivers, with many happening when the road was either wet, icy or greasy, excess speed has also been a reason and six of the accidents happened while people were overtaking other cars.

A Leeds City Council spokesman said: "We have advertised the legal order to change the speed limit on this and a number of other roads in Leeds, all objections that were put forward have been resolved.

"We are now in the process of producing the drawings for new road signs and the speed restriction will be formally in place in the near future."

Councillor Clive Fox is pleased with the 40mph limit but feels it will only be observed if the police are there to enforce it.

"I welcome it, it is something Arthington Parish Council has wanted for a number of years," he said.

"Speed limits are all well and good providing they are enforced. The difficulty is purely one of enforcement, I doubt the police will be able to do much to enforce it.

"A lot of the problems are concerning motorbikes. They are not noted for observing the speed limit particularly in the evening when many of theses fatalities occur. They use it like a TT circuit.

"Police radar guns would be useful but they cannot be there all the time.

"I think speed cameras could be beneficial but I don't think the road is used enough to require one."

The issue of reducing the speed from 60mph to 40mph made its first steps towards reality 18 months ago.

The move was advertised in March and following no objections in the six week period afterwards it was passed.

The 40mph limit will be implemented as soon as council workers erect the new signs on the road.

Inspector Andy Oddy told Pool Parish Council that he would consider targeting the road with radar guns in an attempt to slow motorists down.