RESIDENTS are being consulted about the next stage of an £800,000 plan to improve a town's traffic system.

North Yorkshire County Council has created a traffic management plan for Easingwold, to be implemented over the next five years.

The public is being consulted about the main scheme -Market Place improvements.

The strategy aims to improve the town centre, making it easier for pedestrians, people with impaired mobility and people with wheelchairs, prams and pushchairs to get about.

The scheme should reduce problems between pedestrians and vehicles and provide improved facilities for bus passengers, including raised kerbs for boarding and a bus shelter. There will also be space for disabled parking and loading bays.

County Councillor Peter Sowray, the executive member for environmental services, said: "North Yorkshire County Council is making a significant financial commitment to Easingwold of more than £800,000.

"Some projects have already been completed, and now we are consulting on a major improvement scheme for the Market Place. A number of other projects which are included in the strategy will be constructed in the later years of the five-year plan."

The Market Place project has been developed by the county council through discussions with Easingwold Town Council and Hambleton District Council. The cost of the scheme has been put at £200,000.

Anyone wanting to view the plans can do so at the Galtres Centre from Friday, November 26, to Friday, December 3. Council officers will be present on November 26, from 3pm to 6pm, and on November 27, from 10am to 1pm to explain the proposals and answer any questions.

The closing date for responses is Friday, December 10.