Revolution (From Gazette & Herald)

Revolution

MULTI-million pound plans to revolutionise the traffic system in Malton and Norton were unveiled by highway chiefs yesterday.

The moves will, at a stroke, remove the heavy lorries from Castlegate, the main route into the towns presently from the A64, and provide an alternative route for people trying to reach Norton, reducing congestion at the bottlenecks of Butcher Corner and the level crossing at Norton.

Other proposals would see part of Malton Market Place being pedestrianised, and schemes to improve road safety for cyclists and pedestrians, and to curb speeding.

Stuart Hurst, group engineer with responsibility for transportation projects for North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) told county, district and town councillors, business leaders, property owners and police that it was vital that joint funding schemes were drawn up with other agencies including the Highways Agency, Yorkshire Forward and Ryedale District Council to enable the much-needed improvements to go ahead.

He added that future developers in the two towns could also be asked to contribute towards the schemes.

"I believe the communities of the two towns will sign up to the strategy," said Mr Hurst. "There will be full consultation because we want to get the right quality of improvements."

He said the schemes would have to be prioritised because of the high costs involved. "The big challenge is putting together the package of improvements."

NYCC has already earmarked £250,000 in the current financial year towards some improvements, with a further £250,000 next year. The authority, added Mr Hurst, had £1m worth of expenditure planned in its local transport plans.

Matthew Steele, of Mouchel Parkman, the county council's agents, said there were several major issues affecting both towns.

These included lack of access on the A64 at both ends of the bypass and at the B1257; HGV access to Showfield Lane, Norton Grove, and York Road industrial estates; potential conflict between racehorses, pedestrians and vehicles in Norton; parking and congestion outside schools and lack of safe pedestrian access to schools. There was also a lack of safe cycling routes and cycle parking.

Mr Steele added: "There is conflict between on-street and off-street parking policies and a lack of parking dedicated to residents and commuters."

Congestion was particularly bad at Butcher Corner, Malton.

Updated: 11:25 Wednesday, April 28, 2004