COUNCILLORS in Pickering have backed moves to close the Market Place on Mondays. The experiment is part of a controversial proposed traffic strategy for the town. About £500,000 is to be spent on schemes to improve traffic flows, road safety projects for pedestrians and cyclists, but long-held hopes of a bypass have been ruled out by North Yorkshire County Council because of the multi-million-pound cost.

PLAN UPDATED: Hambleton residents are being asked to help update a district-wide plan they helped create two years ago. Published in 2003, the Hambleton Community Plan collated the wishes of residents on how the area should be developed over the next 15 years. The local strategic partnership now wants to update the plan and has arranged a series of feedback sessions and exhibitions over the next month. Full details are in the October edition of the council newspaper, Hambleton News.

DIABETES MEETING: The Northallerton and District Voluntary Group of Diabetes UK next meets on Thursday, October 27, at 7.30pm, in the postgraduate lecture room at the Friarage Hospital. Group president Dr Roger Fisken will give a talk on his recent experiences teaching in Ghana.

LOVELY WAR: Tickets are on sale for the Easingwold Players' production of Oh What A Lovely War. It runs at the Galtres Centre, Easingwold, from November 8 to 12, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6 for adults and £4 for children, available from the centre on (01347) 822472.