Residents are calling on highways bosses to take action to improve a "dangerous" Aireborough road junction.

People living in Belmont Grove, Rawdon, say drivers face problems turning into Harrogate Road at its junction with Belmont Grove and Green Lane, Yeadon, and pedestrians have trouble trying to cross the busy road.

They claim there is a high density of fast moving traffic, including articulated lorries, and that vehicles often mount the kerb when entering Harrogate Road from Green Lane. A lamp post and a wooden fence have also been smashed and the Belmont Grove sign has been uprooted by a vehicle.

Councillor Graham Kirkland, Lord Mayor of Leeds, who represents Otley and Wharfedale ward which takes in part of Rawdon, has had a site meeting with the area engineer from Leeds City Council's highways department.

Coun Kirkland said the ideal solution would be traffic lights with a pedestrian phase to help pedestrians cross "this busy and dangerous road." He said the lights should include a phase for traffic turning into and out of Belmont Grove.

Alan Pinder, who lives in Belmont Grove, said pedestrians had trouble crossing the main Harrogate Road at most times of the day - but at peak times it was almost impossible.

"There have been occasions when I have had to wait at least ten minutes in order to drive out of Belmont Grove. There is no way I can turn right and drive up Harrogate Road so I have to turn left and travel as far as Canada Drive and then turn round and come back up the hill," he said.

"We suffer because of Green Lane which is used by many heavy, large lorries which often mount the kerb. This junction is dangerous and there have been a number of accidents involving vehicles hitting a tree and the Belmont Grove sign being damaged."

Mr Pinder believes the development of Leeds-Bradford International Airport caused the increase in traffic using the road.

June Binns, who has lived in Belmont Grove for 20 years, said she and her husband Robert had great difficulty in getting out of the Grove.

"We cannot turn right in the direction of Yeadon so we have to cross straight over Harrogate Road and reach Yeadon by Windmill Lane," she said.

Mrs Binns said there had been a number of accidents at the junction, including one in which a car had overturned. "We would like traffic lights at the junction," she said.

A spokesman for Leeds City Council said: "We shall be considering a package of improvements to the area as and when funding becomes available."

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