HGV vehicles could be banned from entering Malton and Norton town centres

Councillors wish to see large vehicles banned from Malton and Norton town centre.

Norton councillors Di Keal and Elizabeth Shields will press Ryedale District Council at its meeting tomorrow night to rid the level crossing area of heavy trucks at the County Bridge over the River Derwent and level crossing Malton and Norton.

They will also ask for a complete HGV ban through the twin towns centres, except for access, as well improving access for pedestrians and cyclists.

Coun Keal said: “There is growing public concern about traffic congestion and pollution levels especially in Castlegate, and the impact it is having on people walking the streets.

“The proposed HGV ban is long overdue - it was promised as a follow up to the Brambling Fields sliproad construction. But it still hasn’t happened and the County Council is proposing yet another round of consultation on the issue.”

Coun Keal said that in addition to the ban she and Coun Shields want the county highways department to re-align traffic priorities in Malton and Norton to reduce congestion, ease traffic flow and encourage more people to walk and cycle between the towns.

She said: “By reducing congestion and providing paths and cycle lanes we can encourage other ways for people to get between the towns which would be better for their health and the environment.”

She added that with a few days of the issue being posted on Facebook more than 100 people had responded.

“It is a hot topic in Malton where people are thoroughly fed up of the congestion,” she said.

Ryedale District Council’s planning committee is being asked for its view on the North Yorkshire County Council highways department’s move to restrict the size of HGVs using the bridge over the River Derwent, to either 7.5 tonnes or 18 tonnes.

Malton Town Council has already backed the clamp down on HGV’s to improve the quality of health and life in the town’s traffic choked main streets.