DETAILED plans to ease congestion in a busy town centre have been unveiled by North Yorkshire County Council.

Officers have put together a strategy to help traffic on Northallerton High Street flow more easily and cut the risk of the accidents.

Changes could see a circular taxi rank created near the town hall and pedestrian crossings outside County Hall and in the High Street, to the south of Zetland Street.

Area traffic manager Eddie Hayward said: "We think we can create a circular taxi rank and we are confident it will work. District council officers are quite supportive of the idea.

"We are also looking at banning a right turn out of that area because there have been a lot of accidents involving pedestrians there.

"The entrance by the zebra crossing would be closed off."

He said disabled parking would have to be catered for elsewhere in the High Street.

Proposals for a puffin crossing on the town hall side of Zetland Street have been scrapped following a bad response during consultation. Mr Hayward said: "It would have affected the Saturday and Wednesday markets and the May fair."

However, he said there seemed to be a difference of opinion on whether a crossing in the High Street south of Zetland Street, would work, or if it was even necessary.

The aim of the crossing would be to solve problems caused by pedestrians trying to cross Zetland Street while vehicles are turning into the road from the High Street.

Town councillors have expressed fears that an extra set of traffic lights would cause traffic to back up.

Mr Hayward said: "I agree there could be a danger of traffic stacking up between the three sets of lights."

The strategy also contains measures to improve traffic flow in other parts of the town.

A traffic calming scheme in Malpas Road, improvements to the Yafforth Road/Darlington Road roundabout and changes to the entrance and exit of the Applegarth car park are among the ideas.

The plans will now be subject to consultation with residents and businesses.