AMBITIOUS plans for a cycle route between five Ryedale market towns are to be discussed at a public meeting.

The Raising Cycling in Ryedale Group and Pickering Town Council are holding the meeting on Tuesday, September 30 at Pickering Memorial Hall and are inviting residents from across Ryedale to give their views.

Organiser Helen Gundry said the aim of the meeting was to increase the number of safe greenway, car-free routes between communities, suitable for walkers, cyclists, dog walkers, wheelchairs, pushchairs and horse riders.

Sustrans, a charity which aims to provide sustainable transport links and practical solutions that help people to get around by foot or by bike, is already working on long-distance cycle routes through Ryedale as part of the National Cycle Network.

Mrs Gundry said: “We are trying to pull people together from across the district to find out where their priority routes would be to get a plan that includes as wide an area as possible.

“Sustrans are already working on the possibility of a route between Norton, Malton and Pickering, and I know the parish council at Sinnington would like a cycle link alongside the A170, and that Amotherby would like a route into Malton.

“We want to collect all these ideas so we can apply for funding and be ready to go – we want to think big and hopefully that will improve our chances of getting the funding we need.”

The group plans to open up existing but overgrown tracks, create roadside pathways and build links between routes to create access between Ryedale market towns Norton, Malton, Kirbymoorside, Helmsley and Pickering.

She added: “Not only are there health benefits in this scheme to get people more active, but it can also help mental health, enable nervous cyclists to avoid using busy roads, and help both residents and tourists get around to enjoy the Ryedale countryside.”

Rupert Douglas, Sustrans cycle consultant for North and East Yorkshire, said: “We are currently developing cycle routes in Ryedale to allow better access to the countryside from the Yorkshire Wolds to the North York Moors National Park.

“We are working with North Yorkshire County Council and other partners so we can get everything in place so that when funding becomes available we can apply and deliver the project smoothly.”

The meeting will take place at 7.30pm in Pickering Memorial Hall, and will be attended by Ryedale parish and town councils, and Sustrans.

Attendees are welcome to bring maps, sketches, ideas or photos of likely routes.