A new study of road usage in Catterick Garrison could be carried out as part of efforts to reduce congestion.
North Yorkshire councillors today (MONDAY) backed plans for round-table talks to look at improving traffic flow on the A6136 through the military town.
Members of North Yorkshire Council’s Richmond area committee gave their support to the talks after receiving a petition calling for measures to tackle congestion on the road.
More than 1,000 people have signed the petition, which was launched by Hipswell and Colburn division councillor, Kevin Foster.
Cllr Foster said a council report stated that the petition wanted to see a “bypass” built around the town, but this was incorrect.
He added: “The report focuses on why a bypass is not required and we accept that.
“However, that is not what the petition is asking for. The petition is calling for a relief road to relieve pressure on existing streets.”
Cllr Foster also disagreed with the report’s finding that the majority of journeys on the A6136 were made by local motorists travelling to another part of the garrison town.
“If this was the case, why is the traffic backed up close to the A1 as you come on to the A6136?” he added.
The meeting to discuss potential improvements to the A6136 has been arranged by Richmond and Northallerton MP Rishi Sunak.
He told the committee: “I’ve organised a meeting with all the stakeholders, so that includes the Ministry of Defence, North Yorkshire Council, the Mayor and local councillors, which will happen in a couple of weeks in the garrison.
“Given that it’s been, I think, quite a few years since this was last looked at, I actually think a review of the capacity on the A6136 and a full assessment of the problem would be helpful.”
Councillor Carl Les, member for Catterick Village and Brompton-on-Swale division and leader of the authority, agreed that a new study was needed.
He said: “The survey that was done by Richmondshire (District Council) is about ten years old.
“Now, it may well still be relevant, but we don’t know that.”
Cllr Les said he would be asking the transport director if there was a better way of carrying out the review than stopping motorists and asking them questions, which he said could add to the congestion.
We could do with light controlled crossings over the road. There are some at colburn but try crossing the road further down at brough st giles. Whether people like it or not there are two new build estates and there are
Children. The crossings in place are not acceptable its like playing frogger. The speed limit is 30 and there are speeding cars and bikes. Pedestrians need to be considered in all this.