Malton and Norton A64 Junctions Action Group

WE WANT ACTION

A new action group is demanding improved junctions on the Malton bypass section of the A64 to help reduce heavy lorries and congestion in the historic town centres of Malton and Norton.

Led by Cllr Lindsay Burr, Chairman of Ryedale District Council, meetings of the Malton and Norton A64 Junctions Action Group (JAG) - made up of key partners in the Malton and Norton area - have already been held to start a campaign to improve the junctions. Attention is focussed on Musley Bank and Brambling Fields at either end of the bypass, where the existing junctions only allow limited accesses to and from the A64. This means that significant amounts of traffic, including many heavy vehicles, have to travel through the congested town centres of Malton and Norton instead of using the A64.

Members of the partnership – which includes Ryedale District Council, the Malton and Norton Partnership, Malton and Norton Town Councils, North Yorkshire County Council, the Fitzwilliam Estate, road safety groups and local police and fire services – are committed to ensuring that the benefits for the community of improving the junctions, in terms of health and safety and improved environment and economy – are achieved so that both towns can continue to flourish.

The campaign trail has already received a boost with an early meeting between JAG representatives and Roger Wantling of the Highways Agency (Leeds), held on Wednesday October 19, to discuss ways forward.

Mr Wantling explained that the Highways Agency had no plans to fund improvements to the Brambling Fields junction or to provide a junction between the B1257 Broughton Road and the A64 – but it is looking at changes to the Musley Bank junction, where York Road joins the A64. These changes are intended to address an accident problem but would also, if approved, allow improved access to and from the A64. Further investigations are now taking place to help decide whether the Highways Agency will agree to fund and implement the project. The key issues for any scheme were cost, accessibility, traffic flow, safety and community need – and the JAG agreed to assist with work on these issues to build the case for improved junctions.

And a further boost has come from Ryedale MP John Greenway who is supporting the campaign and has already requested an urgent meeting with roads minister Stephen Ladyman to discuss the junctions.

“The problems with traffic in Malton and Norton are getting worse and worse, when we could be making much better use of the A64 Malton bypass,” said Cllr Burr. “The aim of the action group is to work together to apply pressure and draw attention to this major problem so that the junctions are improved. We will act as the voice of our community to make sure that the safety and well-being of both local residents and users of the A64 are taken fully into account. Too many of us have had a near-miss with a lorry at Butcher Corner – and we need an alternative to waiting in queuing traffic to get between Malton and Norton.”

Although the Highways Agency say they will not pay for changes to the Brambling Fields junction, they would implement an acceptable scheme if others can find the cash. To progress this, Ryedale District Council has committed £20,000 to designing an upgrade of the junction, which links with Scarborough Road to provide access to Norton. The aim is to allow Norton-bound traffic coming from the York direction to leave the A64 at this junction, instead of travelling through the centre of Malton to reach Norton. Although the Council is to seek contributions from developments that take place in the towns, at this stage, funding for the multi-million pound scheme is yet to be agreed – and the JAG is demanding that this be remedied.

Additional support for the campaign is continuing to come from all sectors of the community, with local businesses rallying behind the new group.

“The improvement of the Musley Bank and Brambling Fields A64 junctions is a key part of the future of the Malton and Norton area and would be of significant benefit both in terms of quality of life and economic development to residents and businesses, “ said Roddy Bushell, Estate Manager for the Fitzwilliam Estate. “To accommodate the housing and employment development that is needed to secure a bright future for the towns, we must release some capacity in the local road network, critical parts of which are presently ‘full-up’ because of the volumes of unnecessary ‘through’ traffic. The junctions as they are now effectively prevent the towns from moving forward.”

If you would like to add your support to the campaign please contact Hilary Bridgmount on 01653 600666 ext 335.

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