CHANGES to a major junction in Norton have been described as a "complete shambles" with fears it will lead to further chaos in the town and potential accidents.

The railway crossing was closed on Friday night to allow resurfacing and road marking to take place.

However, the new markings have given priority to traffic travelling in Welham Road, with vehicles driving along Church Street required to give way.

Patrick Swindell, from Norton, said: "What a complete and utter shambles. Church Street onto County Bridge is the main through road from Norton into Malton.

"Before these alterations traffic already tailed back up Church Street at peak times. Now the free flow along this main thorough fare has been stopped.

"This will only cause more congestion and more air pollution and this is without adding in the number of stoppages due to the level crossing being down."

Ruth Kneeshaw, also from Norton, said: "Who in the powers that be has decided that Welham Road has priority over Church Street. With no signage it is an accident waiting to happen. Pedestrians will be at risk with probability of speeding down Welham Road. The traffic will now back up in Norton and cause chaos there which will add to more frustration and accidents."

Di Keal, Liberal Democrat district and town councillor for Norton West, said: "The whole situation over the change of priorities at the Norton railway level crossing has been so badly managed by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC). As far as I am aware there has been no notification of the changes posted locally and neither has the town council been informed.

"Add to this the fact that absolutely no signs have been erected notifying motorists to take care approaching the junction due to a new layout, I am amazed that there haven't been a string of accidents - I certainly witnessed several 'near misses'.

"I do believe that when people get used to the change it could help traffic flow, but we will need to judge its effectiveness over a few weeks and see what impact it has on traffic in Church Street.

"But just to put the changes in place overnight with no notification is appalling. I think the council has some serious explaining to do."

A spokesman for NYCC, said: "The council’s ambition to alter the priorities at the level crossing has been known for many years and was tabled as one of the complementary measures associated with the opening of the Brambling Fields junction.

"The detailed design for the altered priorities was only recently finalised and agreed with Network Rail. The opportunity to implement the changes at the same time as the new surfacing of the junction prevented us carrying out a long programme of informing the public.

"It is regrettable that our contractor failed to put out signs advising motorists of the revised layout, and, similarly, that diversion signs were not in place around the unrelated St Nicholas Street closure. Signs have now been erected. We apologise for any confusion caused and we are investigating the reasons behind the failure to put out signs.

"However, as with any new junction layout, there will be a degree of confusion and drivers will, as always, need to exercise caution.

"We believe that once drivers become familiar with the new layout the junction should perform as anticipated, improving the ease of manoeuvres at that location, helping with road safety and helping to improve air quality."

l As part of the ongoing roadworks, St Nicholas Street is available for residential access only. Car park traffic can exit to Welham Road only as there is no access to Langton Road, which is closed to facilitate the resurfacing on this phase of the works, including Wold Street.

On Thursday, December 15, St Nicholas Street will close for resurfacing until the evening of Monday, December 19. There will be a priority system of entry and exit for the car park via Church Street during this time.

Details of forthcoming road works can be found online at www.northyorks.gov.uk/roadworks.