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, 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.”

The meeting will be at 7.30pm in Pickering Memorial Hall, Attendees are welcome to bring maps, sketches, ideas or photos of likely routes.