Pollution action plan approved (From Gazette & Herald)

Pollution action plan approved

1:05pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in News

AN action plan to reduce pollution and improve the air quality in Malton and Norton has been given the green light by Ryedale councillors.

The authority’s commissioning board was told that the worst blackspot is the Butcher Corner crossroads in Malton.

Phil Long, the council’s head of environment, said emissions from queuing traffic were to blame.

The council has been working with Defra, Norton Town Council, the Environment Agency, North Yorkshire transport planners, the Freight Transport Association and representatives of haulage firms on a solution, a key part of which is the multi-million pound scheme to build the slip road at the Brambling Fields A64 junction which, it is estimated, will remove 30 per cent of the traffic from the town centres.

Mr Long said a number of local hauliers had raised concerns about the possible impact of trucks being banned from using the railway level crossing at Castlegate given that restrictions will remain on access on the A64 at Musley Bank and Broughton Road. The County Council has delayed any prohibition to study their representations.