NORTON’S re-elected mayor has said the past year had been a both a testing and rewarding one.

Councillor Ray King was re-elected mayor at the council’s annual meeting last week for a fifth year with Councillor Antony Croser as deputy for a third year.

In his annual report, Cllr King said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the past year as mayor as it has been for both testing and rewarding times.

“Regrettably, with police cut backs resulting in fewer police officers actually on patrol, we appear to be suffering from an increase in ‘petty crime’ within our town.

“We should all stand up to this problem and report any unusual incident immediately, only by working as a tight community can we overcome these problems.”

Cllr King said he also hoped Norton has seen the last of roadworks for a while.

“One can be forgiven for thinking that the roads around Norton resembled a ‘building site’ in 2016, there being so many road repairs in town due to utility company upgrades,” he said.

“The revised road markings at Church Street and Welham Road have divided opinion but I believe it has simply transferred the congestion from Butcher Corner in Malton into Norton, with traffic now backing up into Commercial Street at peak times, and St Nicholas Street being used as a ‘rat run’ with easier access onto Welham Road.”

Cllr King said the well used skatepark in Norton Road, which is jointly managed with Malton Town Council, was in need of an upgrade, due to its age.

“Unfortunately this may see the removal of the large Half Pipe. I am however certain that replacements will compensate for this loss,” he added.

He also said the Malton and Norton Area Partnership was working on various projects within the towns, the most noticeable being the clearance of the bankside along the riverside walk.

“The possibility of a circular walk either side of the River Derwent, linking our towns is also being explored, very exciting times,” he added.

Successful events during the year included the Senior Citizens Christmas Party, Yorkshire Day events and the Tour de Yorkshire last month,

“I was pleased to see the Cycle Tour of Yorkshire once again head through our town,” he added.

“Thanks go to all those members of our community who embraced the whole ethos of the tour. Well done Norton, I am sure we would all welcome a return visit in the future.”

Cllr King said: “As we move into a new council year, I would like to thank all the members of the council for their continued support, as we look forward to the many and varied challenges that lie ahead.”