A PETITION calling for a review of a key road junction has taken a major step forward.

Tony Boorman, who runs Tyke2000 Ltd, in Norton, launched a petition to return the junction between Church Street and Welham Road to its previous layout in June.

After receiving more than 600 signatures, he has now handed it to North Yorkshire county councillor Keane Duncan, who represents Norton.

Receiving the petition last week, Cllr Duncan said he hoped to use it to push for a full feasibility study of options for the “uniquely problematic” junction.

He will now present the petition to council chiefs in a bid to secure a special debate at a meeting of the county council’s Ryedale Area Committee.

He said: “There is no greater local challenge than this junction in terms of tackling congestion and improving air quality. It is vital we get it right.

“The radical changes have sparked a phenomenal number of comments – and also a wide range of suggestions for improvements.

“I am keen to see the full effects of the new layout understood, all potential options considered and problems ironed out.

“Plans already under consideration include improved pedestrian access, clearer signage and linked traffic signals to manage approaching traffic.

“The aim now is to achieve a comprehensive appraisal of these options as soon as possible.”

Mr Boorman said: “This is an issue that affects everyone living, working or travelling in Norton and Malton.

“The junction was altered overnight without a full consultation and without full knowledge of the consequences.

“If the intention of North Yorkshire County Council was to ease traffic at the junction by encouraging the use of Brambling Fields then what they have is the opposite.

“Not only that, this ill thought out junction is now confusing, difficult and with such poor visibility from Church street, dangerous.”

Mr Boorman added: “Local residential streets are being used as ‘rat runs’. I assume this was not what the county council had in mind. I hope they are big enough to accept that there are issues with their change of priority and find a rapid solution.”

The petition is expected to be debated in November when the Ryedale Area Committee meets at Norton Bowling Club.