NORTH Yorkshire County Council is hoping to tempt motorists out of their cars by developing a traffic strategy for Malton, Norton and Easingwold.

A major consultation is under way as part of the planned strategy, which aims to reduce traffic congestion in the towns and make walking, cycling and public transport more attractive as alternatives to the private car.

The first stage is to identify traffic problems and issues faced by the residents, businesses and visitors to the towns.

As part of the process, the county council held a workshop in Malton and in Easingwold where representatives from local groups could say what they thought were the key issues needing to be addressed.

Now people in the local communities are being urged to review the key issues and to say if there are any other problems that should be addressed.

A sample survey will be carried out by posting questionnaires to ten per cent of the residential and businesses addresses in Malton, Norton and Easingwold.

Mike Moore, the county council's director of environmental services, said: "We have made good progress with the development of traffic management and transportation strategies for other towns in the county.

"This sample survey gives the local community the opportunity to comment on traffic management problems and issues, and to say what improvements they think are required in the towns.

"I would encourage residents and businesses to return their questionnaires so that the views of the community will be well represented."

The county council will use the results of the survey to develop a number of strategy options for the towns and will consult on these options with all residents and businesses in Malton, Norton and Easingwold later this year.

Updated: 11:44 Tuesday, January 21, 2003