EDNA Clapham hires a taxi to travel just a few yards from her home each week to collect her pension.

Fear of being mown down by speeding traffic on the A650 Leeds Road means that she dare not walk across the road to the post office on the other side.

So she rings for a taxi to take her across the road and back.

The Government's Highways Agency has spent thousands of pounds installing traffic calming measures on the A65 Leeds Road, Ilkley, but they have made no difference, said Mrs Clapham.

"The only time we get any help is when the traffic is held up in summer which we look forward to," she said.

Mrs Clapham, who is sightly disabled and walks with a stick, said she and other residents of the area, both pensioners and Ashlands schoolchildren, take their lives in their hands when they try to cross the busy road.

Because of the traffic, Mrs Clapham said she had resorted to getting a taxi to collect her pension from the Post Office on the other side of Leeds Road.

Mrs Clapham said that the journey cost around £2 each week but she sometimes combines it with a trip to the shops once she has collected her weekly pension.

Other residents of the old people's flats where Mrs Clapham lives refuse to try to cross the road. They are forced to ask relatives to collect their money for them or travel to the centre of town to collect their money.

Mrs Clapham said: "They really should do something - there have been accidents in the area."

In March last year, a pensioner died after being struck by a vehicle as she tried to cross Leeds Road near Colbert Avenue.

She said that the Highways Agency should have installed traffic islands in the area and put up larger 30mph signs to help slow traffic down.

"All they want to do is keep traffic moving but we look forward to traffic jams because it is the only time we can get across in safety. It's lovely when all the traffic is jammed up," Mrs Clapham said.

A possible solution to the problems of roads like Leeds Road has been suggested by Ilkley's Labour MP, Ann Cryer.

Mrs Cryer said that the Government were looking into ways of extending the powers of lollipop men and women, possibly including crossing patrols for adults as well.

Existing powers enable lollipop men and women to stop traffic, but only for children on their way to or from school between the hours of 8am and 5.30pm.

Mrs Cryer said: "Lollipop men and women already have the safety of our children in their hands and there is no doubt that they play an extremely important part in road safety.

"This Government intends to do all it can to make journeys to or from school as safe as possible. Community Crossing Patrols are also a great idea - walking should be a safe and pleasant way of getting about for everyone," said Mrs Cryer.

Mrs Cryer's suggestion of Community Crossing Patrols for everyone was welcomed by Mrs Clapham who thought it would be a perfect way to allow people to cross Leeds Road in safety.

"If Mrs Cryer wants any support she will certainly get some around here - it would be a good idea if it can be made to work," said Mrs Clapham.

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