Meeting told of Stokesley town centre road safety concerns

He said that he was a retired chartered highways engineer and that his main concerns covered the area from the Showfield through the High Street and on to both Thirsk Road and Westlands.

He noted that uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, such as where there were dropped kerbs, were ignored by most drivers. He thought that they needed to be made more visible and suggested that they should be marked out as zebra crossings.

The resident was also concerned about on road parking near junctions and bends. He noted that vision was often obscured and that this was particularly the case with cars parked near to Carrick’s Corner. He suggested that there should be double yellow lines at West End and near the junction of Thirsk Road and West End. He thought that, ideally, this junction should be signal controlled. He considered that 20mph limit through the town might help, but would not solve the problem. He was also concerned about the lack of safe off road parking at the West End of town. He thought that there might be an opportunity for a layby on the eastern side of Allen Grove.

The resident suggested that the town council should request that North Yorkshire Council do a safety audit. North Yorkshire Councillor Bryn Griffiths said that he had taken most of these points up with Area 2 Highways in the past and had asked for double yellow lines. Highway had refused since there had been no reported accidents on Thirsk Road, or near to the junction. He had also asked for the bus stop to be removed, but they would not do so, as it is on the route of the summer Moorsbus route. He thought that it was unlikely that Highways would agree to carry out a safety audit, but thought that the town council should look at the viability of appointing an independent safety review and risk assessment.

Road safety concerns have been voiced in Stokesley town centre Picture: GOOGLE

Police report. – Sergeant Chris Ross noted that there had been a spate of burglaries within the previous month. There had been an attempt to gain entry to a property in Meadowfield and the rear door had forced open at a house in Linwood Avenue, with property stolen. Garages had been forced open on Queen’s Drive, Eastfields, Elmwood and Roseberry Crescent and items had been removed. Cars had also been broken into at the Leisure Centre and on Linwood Avenue.

There had been 14 reported incidents of antisocial behaviour, including excluded teenagers on school grounds and youths causing a nuisance in the Health Centre grounds. Most incidents however involved people who were known to each other.

Sgt Ross commented that staffing numbers had been down last month, but a new beat manager was due to start April or May and a new PCSO had just started.

North Yorkshire Council. – Cllr Griffiths noted that the unitary authority was now in operation. Planning in the Stokesley area was now under the jurisdiction of a combined body from the previous Richmond and Hambleton districts. Former District Councillor Andy Wake said that he could foresee problems with the new planning system and Cllr Mike Canavan thought that the plan for the location of planning meetings to alternate between Richmond and Northallerton was constitutionally unsound and unfair to residents.

Cllr Griffiths noted that the gully near Stokesley Motors was still flooding, despite the work carried out there. He believed that it flows into an old culvert, which could be blocked. Cllr Chris Johnson commented about recent flooding outside of Pistachios on Bridge Road.

Concern was expressed that Brierley Homes were looking at altering the mix of housing on their Leven Pastures development off the Tame Bridge road. It was noted that the company was a wholly owned subsidiary of North Yorkshire Council, who were now the planning authority and concern was expressed that this might compromise the inspection process. It was observed that Brierley had ripped out all of the hedging along the roadside, despite the plans showing 25 metres being retained. Cllr Canavan suggested trying to get tree preservation orders along the edge of field with the Riverslea/Riversdene estate in order to preserve that boundary.

Cllr Audrey Scott thought that mixing social housing with private housing was causing real issues on the Tanton Fields Estate. She had received many complaints of antisocial behaviour and drug taking. Cllr Griffiths explained that this was the current policy nationally. The clerk felt that there was lack of oversight by the social housing providers.

Cobbles and parking. – It was observed that the notice of the work by North Yorkshire Council on the cobbles had now been displayed. Councillors were asked for formal approval of the off street parking disc parking on the cobbles and unlimited parking on College Square and The Plain and it has been foreseen that enforcement would be able to start on July 1. New signage would be required and it would be necessary to review if extra double yellow lines needed to be drawn on College Square. It was noted that lines for designated parking spaces would be remarked after cobbles had been refurbished

Other matters. – Cllr Canavan suggested that the town council should request information from North Yorkshire Council and ZZOOMM regarding what had been inspected and what remedial work had been identified as being required.

The town council had received an offer for the lease for the land off Silver Street, which amounted to £240 per annum subject to CPI increase for a 60-year lease, plus a back-dated payment of £540. Councillors agreed that this was a satisfactory conclusion.

The double devolution bid for all off street parking in Stokesley, as part of the NYC Pilot Scheme, had been submitted and acknowledged.

A quote had been received to remove the tree and hedge, along with associated work, on Jackson Drive.

It was agreed that the work was necessary, but the resident would be asked for a contribution.

Cllr Griffiths noted that SPIOTA would need to replace all 125 planters in the near future, as they were coming to the end of their life. He had offered to fund 25 per year from his locality grant and asked the town council for a small contribution to support this. Councillors were happy to support the project.

The annual town meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 25 and the next town council meeting will be on Tuesday, May 9.