THE Mayor of Malton Mayor has won an award for his volunteering work calling for safer streets throughout North Yorkshire.

Ian Conlan was chosen by 20’s Plenty for Us from 700 local campaigns across the UK as their Campaigner of the Year.

Ian set up 20’s Plenty for North Yorkshire in 2021 before he became Malton Mayor.

He worked with similarly-minded campaigners across the county and felt their key task was to show the support within communities for 20mph limits.

The efforts of Ian and his team in contacting Parish Councils quickly resulted in 153 of them passing motions in support of 20mph for most of their roads.

Ian also took part in the 2022 20’s Plenty national conference where he presented on the North Yorkshire way of campaigning. This included monthly zoom meetings with parish councils, seeking cross-party support and working with town councils. Whilst, unlike 61 other highway authorities in England, the ruling administration in North Yorkshire has not yet adopted a 20’s Plenty policy, Ian has shown that its communities want 20mph limits for most of their roads to make their Yorkshire places even better places to be. It will only be a matter of time before they do.

Ian travelled to Edinburgh to the 20’s Plenty for Scotland conference December 7 for the award ceremony and was applauded by more than 100 delegates.

Former winner Anna Semlyen, National Campaign Manager from York, presented Ian with the award.

She said: “Ian Conlan is a force for good. Ian has been leading an impressive 40 local branches of 20’s Plenty in the county, who have been influential in the county moving forward in its adoption of 20mph being normal in communities with higher limits only where evidentially appropriate. It’s a credit to how he has helped the hundreds of 20’s Plenty supporters and campaigners in North Yorkshire. 20mph reduces casualties, is climate friendly and doesn’t significantly extend journey times. Ian has shown that there is huge latent support for 20mph limits and fully deserves this award.”

Ian said: "It’s a national level win for North Yorkshire residents volunteering as a team for the past two years - schools, GP surgeries, paramedics and many County Councillors voting for default 20mph limits.

"The team is also gaining election pledges from Mayoral Candidates to 20mph limits as part of their Vision Zero for no-one to be killed or seriously injured on North Yorkshire’s roads by 2030.

"This year has been very busy and our 40 North Yorkshire branches expect to continue our efforts throughout 2024. We all want healthier places to be for our families.”

20’s Plenty for Us is the national Not-for-Profit organisation that advises communities wanting lower speeds for most of their urban/village streets with exceptions only where evidentially safe for pedestrians and cyclists.

For more information go to 20’s Plenty for North Yorkshire Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2012586572255626

or contact Ian Conlan at 20splentyfornorthyorkshire@gmail.com