A "GREEDY claims" culture may have scuppered plans for a "do-it-yourself" BMX dirt track in Pickering.

Land at Greenlands Way was set to be handed over to local youngsters to convert into a track, with mud ramps and jumps.

But Pickering Torn Council has heard that the plan looks set to fail because two major insurance companies have refused to cover the council against accident claims.

Youngsters were set to be allowed to take spades and shovels on to the land and build dirt ramps themselves.

Coun Peter Gorill, who is behind the scheme to provide a BMX track for local cyclists, blamed a 'greedy claims culture' which he said had emerged in the UK in recent years.

"I am absolutely disgusted with this decision," he told fellow members at last night's town council meeting.

"What has the world come to when kids can't go into an open space and play because we might be sued if an accident happened?

"This sort of thing is happening all over the country and it's all because of the greedy American claims culture which has emerged."

Town clerk Andrew Husband confirmed two companies which specialise in insuring local authorities - Cornhill and Zurich - had refused to provide cover.

Coun Gaynor De Barr said there was no chance the council could allow the dirt track to be built without proper insurance.

Councillors resolved to contact the insurance companies and ask them for specific reasons why they refused insurance.

* Finalised flood defence plans for Pickering came under fire from councillors angry that dredging and weir management have been ruled out by the Environment Agency.

Mayor Betsy Hill said at an exhibition staged by the agency, people were calling for dredging.

"It was felt that the silt should be removed - the town was rarely flooded when these operations used to take place.

"The residents know the history of flooding in Pickering and how it is affected - they should have taken a greater role in decisions made about the defences."

Coun Gorill said he was upset the option of removing weirs along the beck was not being considered.

"I have been told that this would reduce flooding levels by 360 mm," he said.

Councillors decided they would seek a meeting with the Environment Agency to discuss their concerns.

* The town council building is to get new blinds to stop staff getting headaches from the sun.

The decision to spend £641 on the blinds followed a fierce debate about the cost.

"Apparently (the sun) is particularly bad for the clerk in the summer because it reflects off the monitor on his computer," explained Coun Hill.

But Coun Natalie Warriner said: "I think this is a phenomenal amount of money.

"Can we really justify spending this amount on sun blinds?"

Councillors resolved to buy the blinds as they had a responsibility to provide a comfortable working environment for their staff.

Updated: 11:46 Tuesday, October 16, 2001