Calls have been made to create a new relief road to ease 'horrific' traffic issues and ongoing pressures on bus services and drivers.

Cllr Kevin Foster, who covers the Hipswell and Colburn division for North Yorkshire Council, has made a renewed plea to create a relief road that would divert traffic from the "increasingly busy" A6136, which runs through Catterick and into Richmond. 

The councillor believes that by creating a new route, the traffic and congestion on the A6136, including buses, school traffic, workers, and military personnel, will be eased and will not remain a 'hotspot' for cars and lorries at a standstill.

A Catterick/Catterick Garrison signA Catterick/Catterick Garrison sign (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Due to the ongoing issues with the road, Cllr Foster alleges that people can't get to work, children can't get to school, and people can't get to doctor appointments, which has seen him contacted by residents from Catterick and Colburn 'daily'.

He said, "The road is a major route and vital to the people in Catterick and Colburn. People need it to get to work, school, and the doctor's - but very soon, it will be too blocked that people won't be able to get anywhere.

"With more housing being developed at sites in the area, this will lead to more pressures on the A6136 and a solution is needed.

"A relief road that will run from Catterick towards Richmond is needed desperately."

Alongside the worries for people in Catterick and Colburn, Cllr Foster is also worried about the impact that not creating a relief road could have on military personnel based at Catterick Garrison.

The councillor, who is an Armed Forces Champion for North Yorkshire Council, believes that if there is an emergency, soldiers and reservists currently at the Garrison will struggle to move as quickly as they need with the current A6136 road. 

The A6136The A6136 (Image: GOOGLE MAPS) "With more development coming to Catterick, including the £19m town centre regeneration, it's time to sort out the roads," added Cllr Foster, who has been campaigning for this project since 2019. 

"In the grand scheme of things, it will take a lot of funding, but if you look at other roads that have got funding and don't have as much impact as this one - it's just a drop in the ocean."

Cllr Foster's plea has seen him call on York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith to back the relief road and said he will contact the Mayor on this project.

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In response, Mr Skaith has said that he 'recognises' the importance of the A6136 and will work with North Yorkshire Council to identify the improvements needed. 

He said: “The Combined Authority has worked with both North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council to determine the key route network across our region.

"This includes our busiest roads and critical routes to ensure our residents and visitors can get to where they need to be and to enable growth in the region.

"We recognise the importance of the A6136 and will work with North Yorkshire Council to identify any improvements that may be needed.”