Council joins in clean-up call (From Gazette & Herald)

Council joins in clean-up call

NORTON Town Council has joined the growing campaign for action to improve the appearance of the unsightly footpaths in Malton and Norton.

Councillors are so concerned about the lack of maintenance to clear wall sides of weeds and other vegetation - in some cases nearly a metre high - and to have footways renovated, that they have agreed to ask North Yorkshire County Council and Ryedale District Council if they can take over the responsibility for the work.

The calls for action follows close on the heels of similar protests form Malton Town Council and residents.

Norton's town clerk, Roger King, said: "We are disappointed with the level of maintenance."

In other business, Norton Town Council deferred a decision on which options it preferred under the proposed local government re-organisation in North Yorkshire.

The decision followed two letters to the council, one from Jeremy Walker, the county council's chief executive, who said it was proposing a unitary system for North Yorkshire based on the county council because, he said, it would "build on the many existing services which the county already delivers".

The other was from the Boundary Committee for England director, Archie Gall, who said it had been directed to review the present two-tier structure of local government in North Yorkshire - the county council and the districts of Ryedale, Scarborough, Hambleton, Richmondshire, Selby, Craven and Harrogate.

The date of September 8 has been signalled for last submission of proposals, with the draft recommendations being published on December 2, and the final recommendations to the deputy prime minister by May 25 next year.

Some Norton councillors said they did not favour an all-embracing unitary council based at County Hall, Norhallerton, and they wanted much more information on other options, which could include a merger of Scarborough and Ryedale, before making a decision.

CCTV security systems have now been installed at Malton railway station, two on the platform, one each in the waiting room and on the outside of the station. New signs, street furniture and information cases have been ordered to enhance Malton and Norton. Mr King said cycle lockers are to be provided at Malton station.

Members were told in a report from Malton and Norton Transport Interchange that the possibility is being pursued of improving feeder services into the main transport network, using the bus-rail interchange as the hub.

The council agreed to make the following grants: Citizens' Advice Bureau (£500), Malton Museum (£200), Malton and Norton Road Safety Committee (£30), YMCA (£25), Ryedale Child and Youth projects (£50), Swinton and District Excelsior Band (£88), Ryedale District Council chairman's appeal (£60).

Updated: 10:48 Wednesday, July 30, 2003