There is concern that the proposed upgrading of the A1 north of Leeds could lead to more traffic in Boston Spa and the surrounding villages.

Residents have formed an action group and 300 people attended a public meeting on Monday night.

The Highways Agency is planning to turn the A1 into a three lane motorway standard road from the A64 junction to Walshford.

The present junctions with the A1 at York Road in Wetherby would be closed and a new access road built.

Short cuts

Residents fear this will mean a longer journey for many of the 6,000 people who work at the Thorp Arch trading estate tempting them to take short cuts.

Peter Lock, who chairs the action committee, told BBC Radio Leeds: "There's virtually no public transport meaning people have to travel by private car.

"The shortest way to the trading estate after the closure of the two junctions will be rat-runs through local villages."

However, he added that the action group does support upgrading the present A1 past Wetherby.

Full consultation

"But please don't improve it in a way that throws traffic through our local villages," he said. "That's silly."

The meeting was attended by Karen Sanderson who is the project officer for the Highways Agency.

She assured residents that there would be full consultation about the upgrading which will include putting information on the internet.

"Keep in touch with us and we will keep in touch with you," she said.