Showpiece spot is in a Dickens of a mess (From Gazette & Herald)

Showpiece spot is in a Dickens of a mess

MALTON'S historic Chancery Lane - close to the spot where Charles Dickens is reputed to have set his classic A Christmas Carol - needs a facelift, say town councillors.

The lane, which links Yorkersgate with the Market Place, runs alongside the landmark property where Scrooge was in business and employed Bob Cratchit.

But what should be a showpiece part of Malton, says Coun Jason Fitzgerald-Smith, is now something of an eyesore. "We need to improve the whole vista of Chancery Lane - it needs refurbishing because it is being used as a late-night urinal and the police say it has become an intimidating area," he told Malton Town Council.

"We need some joined up thinking to make it more attractive."

It is now hoped to involve Ryedale District Council, North Yorkshire County Council's highways department and the police in a renovation of the alleyway.

Coun David Lloyd-Williams said the lane particularly needed good lighting.

The council is to give £1,500 towards providing double glazing at numbers 11 12 and 14 Queen's Court to limit the noise and impact of stray balls from the multi-play unit. The move follows talks with Ryedale Housing Association. In addition, the council is to look at planting a hedge between the unit and the footpath.

The town clock on the tower of St Leonard's Church is to be renovated in a £4,000 scheme. The town council is to contribute half the cost to renew dangerous wiring.

One improvement, said town clerk Mike Skehan, is that in future the clock will be able to strike on the hour. Because of the problem, it currently only strikes the quarter, half and three-quarter hours, he said.

Malton and Norton Rotary Club has offered to refurbish the "welcoming" road signs at the entrance to the towns and to put the words "Have a safe journey" on the flip-side.

Updated: 15:18 Wednesday, February 02, 2005