'Drastic changes will spoil market place' (From Gazette & Herald)

'Drastic changes will spoil market place'

CHANGES planned to Helmsley's historic Market Place have upset town councillors.They believe that building a modern-style glass bus shelter alongside the landmark Feversham Memorial will spoil the picturesque square.

The town council has decided to tell Ryedale District Council (RDC), North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) and the North York Moors National Park Authority that it is against the scheme put forward by the county highways department as part of the new Helmsley traffic management strategy.

Lord Feversham said: "We need to say we are unhappy about these drastic changes in the Market Place." The scheme also involves the building of a ramp for bus passengers.

In other council matters, members were told that work on painting the cemetery railings, tidying up the station area, and general smartening up of corners in Helmsley by the North Yorkshire Works Project has been completed.

Villages in the Helmsley area are being urged to get involved in the production of the Community Investment Prospectus to influence the future of their areas. The next meeting is to be held at Helmsley Town Hall on Thursday, August 7.

Coun Jane Barker gave a big thank you to businesses and residents in Helmsley who supported the town's entry in the Yorkshire in Bloom contest which has now been judged. The results will not be known for some weeks.

A major audit of all highways and other signs is to be carried out in a joint venture between the national park authority, RDC and NYCC.

Lord Feversham said policies were needed to improve the quality of signs and members said they wanted to see better signs on the approach to Helmsley indicating its attractions.

Two abandoned cars and other debris has been cleared from Northwood Yard, the council heard, by the management of the Black Swan Hotel.

Couns Martin Vander Weyer and Peter Silk called for a feasibility study to be carried out on the swimming pool facilities in Helmsley. Lord Feversham suggested the exercise could be done as part of the proposed town plan, the blueprint for the area, which was likely to be funded from outside agencies.

Helmsley's toilets are due to be refurbished this autumn.

A scheme by Macdonald Hotels to build a swimming pool in the former Hutchinson's Yard, and a health and fitness centre and meeting rooms by converting an existing barn, got a mixed reception.

Councillors said that while they were not opposed to the concept of the scheme, they were against the design of the swimming pool hall.

Updated: 10:47 Wednesday, July 30, 2003