A MAJOR traffic consultation exercise is being carried out to reduce congestion in three of the county's towns.

North Yorkshire County Council is developing a traffic management strategy for Easingwold, Malton and Norton, with the aim of making walking, cycling and public transport more attractive than using cars.

The first stage of the consultation process will be for the council to identify the main traffic problems and issues faced by residents, businesses and visitors in the towns.

A questionnaire will be posted to ten per cent of homes and business in the towns and the council is urging people to have their say.

Mike Moore, the council's director of environmental services, said: "This survey gives the local community the opportunity to comment on traffic management problems and issues and to say what improvements they think are required in the towns."