A CONSULTATION on a weight limit on vehicles using the level crossing in Norton finishes this week with campaigners arguing it will fail to make a difference to congestion or air pollution.

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) is proposing to impose the ban for vehicles over 18 tonnes crossing the railway line between Malton and Norton despite calls for the limit to be 7.5 tonnes.

Members of Action on traffic - Malton and Norton, set up to campaign for action on traffic congestion and air pollution has said it will continue to lobby for the lesser ban as part of a series of measures.

Chairman Jason Aldrich, who lives in Castlegate and has businesses in both Malton and Norton, said: “Action on traffic - Malton and Norton thinks that the proposed 18.5 tonne restriction is not sufficient to make a real difference to traffic congestion or air pollution levels in the towns.

"Our members are responding to the North Yorkshire County Council consultation asking for a 7.5 tonne weight restriction which would have much more impact on congestion, air pollution and public safety. Some of the huge HGVs that pass through the towns are positively dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists as they try to negotiate our narrow streets.

"We welcome the news that the weight restriction will be in place by the end of the year as it is long overdue, but it must be the 7.5 tonne level and must also be part of a suite of other measures that are needed to reduce congestion, such as realigning travel routes through the towns to improve traffic flow."

Norton Town Council has also written to NYCC calling for a 7.5 tonne ban.

Councillor Hugh Spencer said: "With all the development going on in Malton and Norton we are going to see even more vehicles coming through the two towns. It is a cop out banning 18-tonne vehicles instead of 7.5. We also need to ask the county council how they intend to enforce it."

Councillor David Lloyd-Williams said: "We also have to consider the future of County Bridge - it is not strong enough to take all the vibration."

A spokesman for NYCC said: ‘‘The consultation on the HGV restriction finishes on September 29. After that we will review the comments received and determine the way forward.

‘‘Once we have done this, any recommendation will have to be put to a meeting of the business and environmental services corporate director and executive members. If this group agrees to implement a weight restriction, then our legal services need to formally draw up and seal the Traffic Regulation Order.

‘‘It is anticipated that any implementation of a weight restriction across the level crossing is unlikely to occur this calendar year.’’