Second phase of town centre revamp agreed for autumn

THE second phase of work to revamp a North Yorkshire market town’s historic centre is due to begin this autumn after the controversial scheme was scaled back to allay residents’ concerns.

The original proposals for Easingwold – announced two years ago by North Yorkshire County Council – including re-laying the market place’s cobbles and introducing parking restrictions and were revised after a public outcry.

But town councillors have now written to County Hall to express their gratitude over the way the first phase of the scheme has been handled.

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The county council’s executive member for highways, Gareth Dadd, said: “It has been a long task to ensure that the scheme is carried out in the right manner.

“And in view of the controversy surrounding the proposed work, we carried out extensive consultations and listened to the public’s concerns.

“We really do appreciate the fact that the town council has taken the time to write to us to express its thanks.

“We will continue to work closely with the town council to make sure that the second phase of work goes smoothly as well.”

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The amended £200,000 works, which started in March, were drawn up following consultations with residents and businesses as well as Easingwold Town Council, the Easingwold Market Place working group and English Heritage. The package of improvements includes new footways, crossing points, cycle parking stands, an information board, and bus boarding facilities.

However, concerns were raised that the moves to improve access in the centre of Easingwold would undermine and erode the town’s heritage and historical character, leading to the scheme having to be scaled back.

But Coun Dadd stressed that the work was vital to ensure there is adequate provision for disabled people and pedestrians in the town centre.

The first phase of the programme saw improvements to main footways, crossing points, and cycle parking stands.

The scheme is part of a county-wide project overseen by the council, which is North Yorkshire’s highways authority, throughout the last two years to improve transport links to towns and villages.