Frustration at delay in solving traffic 'chaos' (From Gazette & Herald)

Frustration at delay in solving traffic 'chaos'

"LET'S just do it," was the opinion of one Ryedale district councillor about proposed moves to improve the dire traffic conditions in a Ryedale town.

Members of Ryedale District Council's community services and licensing committee met last week to discuss what action should be taken to curb traffic in Pickering market place during the weekly market on Mondays.

Council officers told the meeting that North Yorkshire County Council, the authority responsible for highways, planned to carry out a full review of the Pickering traffic situation next year.

"I'm very sorry to hear you say that we should wait for North Yorkshire County Council," said Coun Linda Cowling. They're talking about 2004 or 2005, but they don't say they'll start in May 2004 - it could be as late as April 2005 when they start this consultation process.

"I believe, if everyone agrees, that it would improve Pickering if we banned parking in the market place and moved stalls into the spaces. It's far too long to wait until April 2005."

Coun Lindsay Burr said: "There's definitely a problem with that market. It's absolute chaos, quite honestly. When you go there, you risk someone knocking your car, you risk knocking someone over and you risk someone running you over. Why do we have to wait? It's not a big issue. Why can't we just sort it? It's not a big problem. Let's just do it."

Coun Arthur Aslett said: "Whatever we do, we need to have a full consultation with the public."

He also said there should be a clampdown on inconsiderate parkers in the market place.

A report to the committee said that despite introducing traffic calming road humps to reduce vehicles' speed four years ago, the road is still busy and congested on market day.

Paul Crossley, principal environmental health officer, recommended that vehicles be permitted into the street for access purposes only, so people would find it easier, safer and more pleasant to shop at stalls and shops in the Market Place.

In 1999, a one-way system was introduced but it was very unpopular with locals and two-way traffic flow was reinstated.

Chairman Coun Elizabeth Shields instructed the council's officers to write to North Yorkshire County Council to ask for a meeting date so the matter could be discussed.

"The letter should be marked urgent - and that should be underlined three times," said Coun Burr. "This is a matter of urgency. We need to forge forward and make something happen."

Updated: 10:45 Wednesday, October 08, 2003