PROPOSALS to ban lorries from using the level crossing in Norton are still being consulted on with no date set for the implementation of the weight limit.

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) agreed to the 18-month order banning vehicles weighting more than 7.5 tonnes before Christmas.

The move, which is aimed to assist Ryedale District Council in improving air quality in the area and around Butcher Corner in Malton, and was expected to in place by late spring.

However, NYCC corporate director David Bowe said it was still difficult to give a timeline detailing the implementation of the weight restriction as there were a number of tasks yet to be completed, including the design of about 21 new signs in and around Malton and Norton.

“These signs are being designed by our partner consultant WSP and we are in the process of commenting on their initial draft,” he said. “Once the signing has been agreed the locations of some of the new signs will have to be consulted upon as they are outside residential properties.”

Mr Bowe said the extent of the exclusion zone also needed to be determined.

“While we have carried out some initial consultations over the scope of the restriction, the exact details of this still need to be determined and consulted upon,” he said.

“I am aware of the comments saying we are unwilling to implement the restriction, but this is not true.

“It is inevitable that there will be periods where the public see little or no movement, and I can understand that this view can give rise to the belief that we are not progressing the matte.”

Cllr Di Keal, town and district councillor for Norton West, said: “These delays are simply unacceptable and suggest that the county council is still unsure of the position it intends to take on exemptions to the restriction.

“The council told a member of our group that the restriction will be in place by October, but at this speed this looks unlikely.

“The group Action on Traffic has fed back to the county council that we think the restriction will be meaningless unless exceptions are limited to businesses that are very close to County Bridge within a quarter of a mile radius for those businesses who need to use it for access.

“The county council needs to stop dragging its feet on the HGV restriction and introduce it without further delay in order to reduce both congestion and the high pollution levels in the area.”