Residents are demanding urgent action to tackle traffic chaos that has turned their neighbourhood into a "rat-run."
People living on St Nicholas Street in Norton say the congestion is part of a wider traffic problem affecting Church Street, Commercial Street, and Welham Road, and fear it will only get worse once a new supermarket opens in the town.
Alex Young, who lives on St Nicholas Street, said: "Ever since North Yorkshire Council changed the priority at the Church Street junction onto County Bridge, giving priority to traffic from Welham Road – which they introduced overnight after no consultation with anyone – St Nicholas Street has turned from a quiet residential street into a rat-run.
"At peak times it is blocked both ways with nose-to-tail traffic, and at quieter times of the day people drive down the road like a race track, risking the lives of pedestrians and cyclists.
"Car drivers seem incapable of waiting in the queues and we regularly witness people driving on the pavement to pass cars on the opposite side of the road in the gridlocked traffic. It is appalling."
Alex and neighbour David Colthup are calling for part of St Nicholas Street to be made one-way from Welham Road towards Langton Road, looping down Wold Street and Church Street towards the railway crossing.
They say the original junction layout, which gave Church Street traffic priority, should be reinstated.
David said: "Under the current layout, the junction from St Nicholas Street onto Welham Road is incredibly dangerous with regular ‘near misses’ as drivers try to force their way into the traffic in the approach to the railway crossing.
"At least one cyclist has been knocked off their bike and received serious injuries.
"We believe that this short section of one-way traffic will at a stroke get rid of this hazardous junction and will lead to much less congestion and improve traffic flow around this area of Norton.
"We are also calling for a 20mph limit to be installed on St Nicholas Street to deter the speeding we frequently see."
Their campaign has been backed by Norton Mayor, Councillor Di Keal.
Cllr Keal said: "I absolutely support this campaign.
"The traffic in this area of Norton is chaotic and often dangerous.
"Local people need these sensible and pragmatic solutions putting in place as soon as possible, which we believe can be delivered at a reasonable cost to the council.
"The opening of a new supermarket in Norton is only going to make matters worse as even more traffic will be using already at capacity roads.
"We need North Yorkshire Council to recognise just how serious a problem this is for our community and take these proposals – being put forward by residents who live with the chaos on a daily basis – seriously."
Norton on Derwent Town Council has invited officers from North Yorkshire Council and local police to its next meeting, taking place on September 14.
The meeting will give councillors and members of the public an opportunity to discuss traffic congestion, road layouts, and illegal parking in the town.
Cllr Keal said: "The level of traffic congestion, illegal and inconsiderate parking and driving in Norton has reached a point where the council receives so many complaints that we feel we need to speak to North Yorkshire Council and the police directly to see what can be done to alleviate these problems.
"It is a miracle that no-one has been killed on our roads and we want North Yorkshire Council and the police to take town councillors and residents’ concerns seriously and take urgent action before a serious accident happens."
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