Town blighted by air pollution set for major traffic shake-up

The multi-million pound transport action plan for Malton and Norton will go before Ryedale District Council’s commissioning board tonight following a major study of the problems caused by traffic queues in the towns which have plagued residents and visitors for decades.

The proposals include 20mph speed limit restrictions, limiting heavy goods vehicle traffic, one-way systems and urgent action to address the current and projected levels of nitrogen dioxide which breach legal air quality levels in Malton.

Heavy traffic in Malton has previously been cited for one of the reasons contributing to a £90m black hole in the economy.

It is estimated that tens of millions of pounds are being spent outside Malton by residents every year, taking their custom to York or Scarborough instead.

Following tonight’s meeting, the proposals will go out for a 12-week public consultation.

Coun Keith Knaggs, the leader of Ryedale District Council, said: “People have been urging action for years to remove heavy goods vehicles from Malton town centre.

“It is one of only three locations in North Yorkshire to break statutory air quality limits, the other two are in Harrogate.

“I’m pleased that, at long last, we’re able to do something about it.”

Key to the traffic reduction proposals, is the £5.5m improvement work at Brambling Fields Interchange on the A64, which will see a slipway and roundabout built to take traffic away from the town centres.

North Yorkshire County Council’s planning committee has just given the green light to the project and work is expected to start early next year and take about nine months to complete.

Anne McIntosh, the Conservative MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey, says the proposed relocation of Malton’s historic livestock market, will also help reduce heavy goods traffic thundering through the town.

“Any move to ease congestion, improve traffic safety and reduce air pollution is very welcome,” she said.

“But it is extremely important that people respond to the project during the consultation.

“I am a big fan of having markets in market towns but if we can take traffic away from the town centre that will make a big change in one fell swoop.

“This is a major opportunity and the idea is for everybody to respond to this consultation.

“I urge the council to work closely with the local community on this.

“Anything that makes Malton town centre more attractive and more welcoming to visitors is welcome but it has to be something that works for residents who live there all the time.”

Ryedale District Council’s head of environment and Steve Richmond, the health and environment manager, say in the report to the commissioning board, that the 14-point action plan is to be sent to Defra.

The officers say that the plan is key to the district council’s aims of having a high quality, clean environment and to create conditions for economic success.

Under the proposals, heavy goods vehicles will be banned from using the level crossing on Castlegate and from using Railway Street and Norton Road - where one-way traffic will also be put in place.

The traffic lanes in Castlegate will be reduced from two to one on the approach to the notorious bottleneck Butcher’s Corner.

A 20mph speed limit would also be introduced Malton’s main streets and Commercial Street, Norton, with more residents encouraged to car share, cycle, walk, and use public transport.

The details are available on the Ryedale District Council and North Yorkshire County Council websites.