Councillors in call to cut congestion in Pickering (From Gazette & Herald)

Councillors in call to cut congestion in Pickering

11:07am Wednesday 29th August 2012 in News

COUNCILLORS are asking for a re-think on traffic in the Market Place in Pickering .

Mayor Coun William Oxley told the town council last week that it was becoming a car park in its own right because of vehicles parking on each side of the road.

The council is also asking the police to step in to help resolve the congestion problem.

Meanwhile, the council heard that the planned Lidl supermarket site at the junction of the A170 and Vivis Lane, was continuing to be used as a temporary car park by a Middlesbrough company.

Coun Tommy Woodward said he had made inquiries at Ryedale District Council and understood that the land could be used as a temporary park for 28 days.

Town clerk Andrew Husband said the company could face enforcement action if it persisted in using the area, Pickering’s former coal yard, without approval from the district council.

He said that a planning inspector who gave the go-ahead for the supermarket had said that highway improvements were needed.

Several councillors said they were anxious to see the Lidl scheme go ahead.

A formal planning application to use the site as a car park for 18 months has now been submitted to the district council for consideration by the planning committee.