Village Stumps up Cash for Vital Road Scheme - Gazette - 7th March 2007

by David Jeffels

Reproduced with kind permission of the Gazette

ROAD safety has been given a big boost in the little village of Great Habton thanks to residents, the parish council and the area’s North Yorkshire County Council member, Coun Mike Knaggs.

For years the parish authority has been pressing for improvements to help combat speeding traffic, said the clerk, Richard Scott. But the county council’s highways department said it was cash-strapped and couldn’t afford all the bill of nearly £7,000.
So the parish council and the 100 residents set about holding a series of events and raised more than £2,000.

Coun Knaggs, vice-chairman of the county council, also stepped in and arranged for the village scheme to get a further £4,000.

Now sign-posting to Malton and Amotherby has been re-erected, a new footpath built, a 40mph buffer zone created and rumble strips laid, said Mr Scott. “The whole scheme has not only improved road safety for the 30 youngsters in Great Habton and other residents, but it has also tidied up the village,” he added.

One of the biggest problems, said Mr Scott, has been traffic leaving Flamingo Land using the road through Great Habton as a route to the main roads.

“We did look at having speed bumps built in the village street but there was some opposition from residents,” said Mr Scott. “Now the junction in the centre of the village is much more visible and safer as a result of the scheme.”

The improvement will particularly benefit children going to the sports field and playground because they had to either walk on the road or on a muddy verge because there was previously no footpath, said Mr Scott.

Coun Knaggs said: “I was delighted to help bring about this improvement in Great Habton. The residents did a splendid job helping the funding package. The scheme will improve the quality of life in the village as well as its appearance and road safety.”

Parish councillor Paul Andrews said the scheme would improve road safety for villagers especially those with young families and he commended the local fundraising group for its work.