WALKERS are warning that someone could be killed unless urgent safety measures are put in place on a stretch of the Dales Way.

Members of the Dales Way Association are stressing the danger on a section of Bolton Road in Addingham, which links two footpaths.

They argue that pedestrians walking the popular route are being put at risk from traffic on the sharp bend and hill on the B6160 between Fairfield House and Bolton Bridge. Now they are urging North Yorkshire County Council to take action to improve safety before it is too late – and they are asking the public to support them by writing to the council and by giving their views on the association’s Facebook page.

The group claims the council has refused to accept that the road is dangerous for pedestrians despite previous complaints. This week DWA members met at the site to assess the situation in a bid to find a long term solution to the problem.

Footpaths spokesman Alex McManus said: “The fact that upset us is that North Yorkshire County Council have a points scheme as to whether they are going to do anything. These point are caused by fatalities or injuries.

“We really need people to write to North Yorkshire County Council highways department and say why wait until someone is killed and a family is bereaved.”

Association secretary Kath Doyle said: “There is increased usage now by cyclists because of the impact of the Tour de France and we have got the Tour de Yorkshire coming up. It is an accident waiting to happen.”

In an email to the council in December, Alex said: “My point is that this section of road is not normal. As the Dales Way footpath, it carries more than 3,000 walkers plus local traffic each year. In the six years since the original official request for action was made, no attempt appears to have been made to accommodate walkers with any sort of basic maintenance to improve the surface.

“Could I therefore request, on behalf of the Dales Way Association, that a serious initiative is set in progress to remove the built up soil, vegetation and protruding shrubbery which forces walkers onto the road.”

In a reply, the council said: “North Yorkshire County Council’s Highway Operations are currently directing all available funding to the maintenance of the Public Highway and unfortunately this means that there is no funding to allow for the improvements you requested.”