A POTENTIAL shake-up of the traffic system in Helmsley could see part of its market place pedestrianised and action taken to curb the problem of heavy lorries thundering through its centre.

The town council heard this week that a traffic management study carried out by business and community leaders and councillors highlighted 49 problems.

Councillor Jane Barker said the group had priorities including: parking; traffic speed; noise; overloading of the Market Place; increasing HGV numbers; congestion in Castlegate and Bridge Street; the need for a 20mph speed limit; a pedestrian crossing at Ashdale Road and probelms caused by an inadequate service route to an industrial estate in Sawmill Lane.

The aim of the study, said Coun Barker, is to develop a traffic management strategy over the next five years.

Representatives of local organisations and agencies such as local authorities are being invited to be involved in workshops to explore problems and solutions, and there will be public consultation before the group's final report is produced early next year.

Coun Barker said she was concerned that no more industrial development could be allowed in Sawmill Lane, as young people needed work. Council chairman, Lord Feversham, said he believed one or two new units should be built every year.

North Yorkshire County Council is to call a meeting of the study group in the next few weeks to pursue the action points.

He added that the landmark bridge had again been damaged by a vehicle - one of the worries of the study group which said that its condition could deteriorate because of the weight of lorries using it en route from Teesside to Thirsk.