A DECISION whether to make safety improvements at a junction where a 20-year-old motorcyclist died, is to be held over until a coroner makes his report.

North Yorkshire County Council Craven area committee agreed it would be premature to debate the tragedy despite a 6000-name petition calling for action at the Knaresborough Road junction with the A65 on Skipton bypass.

Edward Brier of Earby was riding his Suzuki motorcycle towards Skipton along the A65 when he was in collision with Jeep Cherokee.

Two councillors have already come out in support of action - Cllr Andy Solloway and Cllr John Dawson who wants a ban on traffic turning right from the A65 towards Skipton.

He suggests traffic should continue to the roundabout on the A59/65 returning back towards the Skipton junction in Knaresborough Road.

Councillors heard that a freedom of information request had been made by the organisers of the petition to discover the number of accidents at the junction. It is expected to be available by November 28.

Cllr Richard Welch, chairman of the committee which was meeting in Herriot Hotel in Broughton Road, Skipton, said it would not be appropriate to discuss the petition until the inquest had been heard and there was chance to read the coroner's conclusion.

An investigation of the site was carried out following the accident by North Yorkshire County Council and North Yorkshire Police.