Your Town Council - Aspiring to Quality status 

“Pride in Pickering”

Work is progressing on this project and, recently, children in the parish, through their schools, have been invited to    participate in a competition to find a logo for the campaign. There will be two categories of entrant: tens and under, over tens. The winning logo will be chosen from the two winning categories. The deadline for receipt of entries would be Easter with the winning entries chosen on 8 April 2008.

If you have any suggestions on the ways in which the town centre could be    improved, please contact the Town Clerk.

Local Flood Plan

The Town Council has worked with the Environment Agency to produce a Local Flood Plan and the packs will be distributed in the near future. Copies of the Environment Agency’s 'Preparing for flooding' leaflets which give general   advice and practical steps on what home owners can do to prepare for flooding, also a DVD called “flooding protect your home” can be picked up at the Town Council office.

Traffic management

Discussions took place recently between the Town Council and the Area Manager, Highways North Yorkshire, on traffic management in the town and areas where work could be done to improve safety for pedestrians and ease of movement for the disabled.

A scheme has been devised to help traffic management in the Norman Close-Castlegate area, work is being done on the junction of Goslipgate and the A170 to help pedestrians and the disabled and a pelican crossing is to be installed in Ruffa Lane. Improvements to the parking bays on the north side of Hungate are being considered too.

Should you have your own suggestions for improving traffic management and improving the safety for pedestrians and ease of movement for the disabled, please contact the Town Council or the Area Manager.  The contact number for Highways North Yorkshire is 08453 669504.

Wells Walk

The Planning Inspectorate is to hold an inquiry into whether Wells Walk should be a byway open to all traffic on 6 May 2008, 10am in the Memorial Hall.

The inquiry is open to anyone who has made an objection or representation and anyone else with an interest in the issue. If you wish to speak, give evidence or contribute to the inquiry in any way, it is important that you attend the opening day.

For further information please contact John Greenslade, The Planning Inspectorate, 0117 372 8889, or e-mail: john.greenslade@pins.gsi.gov.uk

Litter

Several residents have complained recently about the amount of litter that is being dropped in the streets.  Sometimes some of Pickering’s young people are blamed, not always fairly. Local schools encourage their young people to respect the built environment and use the litter bins. The Town Council asks all residents to help keep the town tidy.

The Roundabout

Red Australian palms, Lavenders and Cotton Lavenders will be planted in the Autumn to provide a permanent display at this important junction. Illustrations showing the proposed display will be posted on the Town Council notice boards for all to see.

Expressions of interest in sponsoring the roundabout are invited. Details of the   sponsorship scheme are available at the Town Council office.

Manor Drive Play Area

Pickering Community Events Group have access to funds from the Ryedale Play  Strategy and plan to use the money to install additional equipment for toddlers next to the multi-play unit that was installed last Autumn.

Street Lights

Should you wish to report a fault with a street light, please ring or e-mail the Town Council office. Please provide details of the location of the light and its number (which can be found on the column). 

Grants

The Town Council has allocated £3000.00 in its budget for 2008-09 for grants. Please contact the Town Clerk or visit the council website for details of eligibility.

The next three Town Council meetings are on 17 March, 21 April and 19 May. Members of the public are entitled to attend the meetings and may address the Town Council at 6.55pm. Agendas are available on the Tuesdays preceding the meetings from the Town Council office and its website.

Town Council Office

Kitching Room, Memorial Hall, Potter Hill, YO18 8AA,  9am-1pm, Monday to Friday; Tel. 476503; e-mail: pickeringtowncouncil@pcxinternet.com ; website: www.pickering.gov.uk 

The Town Clerk is Mr J A Husband.