'Superstore is holding our town to ransom' (From Gazette & Herald)

'Superstore is holding our town to ransom'

THE future of the former coalyard at Pickering and of supermarket giant Safeway's plans for the site need resolving as a priority, members of the town's civic society decided at their annual meeting.

They heard that the company's indecision on whether to build a new store on the site was thwarting the long-held ambition to re-open the railway link between the market town and Malton to the south, and to Whitby in the north.

The whole area came under the spotlight at the meeting, including traffic congestion in Eastgate and the need for the long-awaited bypass, while calls were made for the highways depot to be moved to the town's industrial estate to free up more land in the busy town centre.

Former town councillor Peter Gorrill told the society's meeting at the Memorial Hall that Safeway was holding Pickering to ransom because the company has first refusal on the coalyard site but nothing had been done.

The chairman, Betty Hood, said: "Not only is Pickering frustrated about the coal yard situation, but so are we. A plan should be prepared, taking into account what the people want to see on the site. They can make a contribution to the future of this important area."

In addition, action was needed by North Yorkshire County Council's highways department to improve the junction at The Ropery, Eastgate and Vivis Lane, with the suggestion that the traffic light system should be replaced by a roundabout.

Members rejected Safeway's suggestion that an eight-foot fence would need to be erected along each side of the railway track running through Pickering if the £19m the scheme went ahead.

Some members were concerned that if two level-crossings had to be built to accommodate the railway, it would cause further traffic congestion and pollution.

But it was pointed out that it would be a diesel service operating through the town. "The railway system could be treated like the trams which have made a comeback in such places as Sheffield and Manchester."

Coun Natalie Warriner said: "We have been told there is to be a traffic management plan for Pickering which should have gone ahead next year but has now been delayed until 2005."

She added that there was growing criticism of the large, boarded-up house at the junction of Eastgate and Vivis Lane, part of the coalyard site, which should be demolished. "It is an eyesore and potentially dangerous."

She added that she understood Safeway's lease on its present store is due to expire in 2014.

She said that in the short term, Pickering needed more car parking, and solving the town's traffic congestion was vital.

"The civic society needs to start talking to Safeway about the coalyard site."

David Griffiths, former chairman of the society, said it should work with Pickering Town Council, Ryedale District Council and the county council in partnership to bring about improvements.

There were suggestions that the over-60s' club on the bridge side in Eastgate could be relocated and it was understood the club was in sympathy with the idea, but there were problems over the ownership of the building. If the club was re-located, it would enable Safeway to expand its existing store without the need to build a new one. Alternatively, Safeway could build a new store on the highway depot site.

When contacted by the Gazette & Herald, a spokeswoman for the Safeway company, which is currently the subject of a takeover bid, said there had been no further developments in the plans for its Pickering store.

At the meeting, it was suggested that the highways depot would make an attractive riverside park. Walter Johnson, of the Whitby Civic Society, said his town would welcome the re-instatement of the railway to Whitby. "It would encourage more people to travel by train - Whitby station is already thriving."

His suggestion that the Whitby and Pickering societies should hold a joint meeting was agreed.

Mr Gorrill said it was important that the civic society, which is now at its strongest ever with 66 members, should initiate projects to improve Pickering.

Other issues raised at the meeting included the need for improvements at the junction with the A169 road to Whitby for pedestrians who, it was claimed, would not walk 20 yards up the road to cross the road in safety. Action was also urged for safety improvements in Ruffa Lane, especially in the vicinity of the infants school.

The society agreed to provide a plaque for the new Young Citizen Award for Pickering, being run as part of this summer's Celebration of Youth.

Speeding motorists - adults as well as teenagers - are putting lives at risk in Pickering's streets, claimed Mike Potter, of Newbridge, who urged action in the Ropery, Park Street and Newbridge areas. He said there was concern about the speed of lorries, often, he claimed, with drivers using mobile phones.

The society has also asked for an investigation into the future of Newbridge Quarry because it was understood to have only about 18 months of workings left. Members said the North Yorkshire Moors Railway was believed to be interested in the site as a store for its carriages which are currently on the line side outside Pickering station.

Updated: 12:21 Wednesday, May 21, 2003