End to traffic row is in sight (From Gazette & Herald)

End to traffic row is in sight

HELMSLEY residents are giving a cautious welcome to plans to change the town's traffic arrangements, which could bring an end to a long-running row.

Officers at North Yorkshire Council will today (Wednesday) recommend that an overhaul of some parts of the town's traffic system goes ahead.

But they have also recommended that several controversial ideas - including banning parking in the Market Place - be dropped.

Hundreds of residents and businesses responded to a consultation on the plans, which presented three options, A, B and C for the future of traffic management.

Many wrote letters condemning Option C, which proposed the parking ban, and others also added their names to a petition entitled "If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It".

Highways officers have now recommended that Option A be approved at today's Ryedale area committee meeting.

Option A proposes lowering the speed limits and improving road safety around the area of the town's primary school, and also in Ashdale Road, and from Canon Garth Mews to Carlton Lane.

The proposals of Option A were supported by 60pc of the people who responded to the consultation. Only 23pc backed Option C.

Lord Feversham, chairman of Helmsley Town Council, said he was pleased that public opinion had been recognised, but added that the matter was not yet resolved.

"This looks as though it's a fairly sensible response to the public consultation, but there are one or two things to discuss about the details," he said.

He raised concerns over part of the officers' recommendation, which states: "It is the committee's view that the council should not proceed with Options B or C, but that some minor modifications in the Market Place may be appropriate."

Lord Feversham said: "I imagine there will be a few people going along to the meeting to find out what that is all about; in fact, I hope they do."

Updated: 09:22 Wednesday, October 09, 2002