Malton and Norton A64 Junctions Action Group

MALTON’S HISTORIC BUILDINGS AT RISK FROM TRAFFIC POLLUTION WARNING

Traffic congestion in Malton is not only threatening the town’s economic revival and putting pedestrians at risk it is also having an extremely damaging effect on the town’s historic buildings – say experts.

Ryedale District Council’s Buildings Conservation Officer Emma Woodland and Nigel Copsey, stone mason and consultant, have added their support to the Junctions Action Groups (JAG) efforts to upgrade junctions of the A64 in Malton and Norton due to the problems caused to historic buildings by traffic pollution.

They say that the combination of high volumes of traffic and long slow moving queues passing through the town centre, has now reached the point where the very fabric of the town’s Georgian architecture is under serious attack. Without improved access to and from the A64, b uildings in the town will continue to discolour and decay.

“Most stone buildings in town are suffering adverse effects from vehicle-related pollution, “ said Mr Copsey.

“For many, the effects are highly visible with soiling and discolouration from deposited carbon particles in the form of a fine soot. Others are under threat from pollution related structural damage.”

Problem areas include Yorkersgate, Castlegate and Wheelgate, with the facades of the buildings are universally dirty, being soiled by deposits contained in exhaust fumes, especially diesel particulates from HGVs.

“The level and progress of damage depends very much upon the geology of the stone used, with buildings in M alton constructed mainly of brick, sandstone and two distinct types of limestone, “ added Mr Copsey.

“There is brickwork from the earlier medieval period onwards. The older the bricks, the softer many of them tend to be and the more vulnerable, therefore, to decay caused by air borne carbon particles from exhaust fumes.”

Unfortunately, the stones of which Malton’s buildings are constructed are particularly vulnerable to decay by exhaust gases and by carbon particulates, as well as by salts.

This vulnerability is seen along the road-sides of the town, where the lower courses of limestone and calcareous sandstone have eroded far more extensively than those higher up the buildings. This is a result of the concentration of vehicle emissions at this low level, as well as of the regular splashing of road-salt laden water against these sections of the walls in winter.

At higher levels, there is also decay. The accumulation of soot leads to the creation of black calcium sulphate (gypsum) skins on the face of limestone blocks which cause the stone behind to disintegrate. A similarly damaging concentration of calcium sulphate occurs in the face of calcareous sandstone, but the pattern of decay differs: the face powders away steadily, rarely having time to form sulphate skins.

“Malton has a rich stock of medieval and later buildings, “ said Mr Copsey.

“The damage caused by traffic pollution to two of the town’s most architectural significant buildings is extremely worrying.

The Old Lodge exterior wall on Old Maltongate has thick sulphation crusts in many places. Where it does not, it is because these crusts have blistered and detached, taking significant volumes of stone with them. These sulphation crusts will re-establish over time and continue the process of decay.

The Vanbrugh Arch on Yorkersgate is also heavily soiled with such crusts and has suffered significant decay and loss of detail as a result.

It is clear that the current levels of vehicle traffic within Malton are doing quantifiable damage to the historic fabric of its urban environment. Without change the damage will continue.

It is vital to the well-being of this historic fabric that the volume of traffic generally, and especially the volume of HGV traffic, must be reduced and traffic flow improved.

Through traffic must be diverted away from town and the campaign to improve access to and from the A64 must be supported. If not, we will all be collectively responsible for an unnecessary and unacceptable level of damage to our fantastic buildings”.

Emma Woodland, Building Conservation Officer for Ryedale District Council, has added her support to Nigel Copsey’s views.

“ Not only is the high volume of traffic causing structural damage and decay to the buildings of Malton, it is compromising peoples' enjoyment of them,” said Ms Woodland.

“Pedestrians are often busy watching the traffic and minding their safety rather than appreciating the fine architecture of many of the buildings in Malton. Yorkersgate alone has close to 40 listed structures ranging from the 1920's war memorial to York House dating from the late 1600's. The Natwest bank of Italianate design and 30 Yorkersgate the Hardcastle France offices, are fine 19th century buildings that often get overlooked. It is a fascinating street that is currently blighted by traffic.'

“A reduction in traffic passing along our streets is critical to the enjoyment of our public spaces. You often need to look up at buildings to fully appreciate their architecture. At the moment just finding a gap inbetween the lorries to cross the road takes up most observation skills. Residents and visitors to Malton alike deserve to enjoy their town and this includes strolling around and occasionally being able to look up.”

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