A MAJOR consultation exercise, including a three-day public exhibition, is under way as North Yorkshire County Council tries to develop a traffic management strategy for Bedale.

The council has been working with a wide range of local organisations on the development of an overall plan for managing traffic in future years and people in Bedale and Aiskew are being asked to help decide the way forward.

The strategy, similar to those already undertaken in Northallerton and Easingwold, will try to reduce traffic congestion in Bedale and make walking, cycling and public transport more attractive as alternatives to the private car.

Leaflets describing options for traffic management in Bedale and the adjoining community of Aiskew, together with questionnaires for the public to fill in, are being delivered to householders and will also be available at a forthcoming exhibition in the town.

It will be held at Bedale Hall on June 2 (noon-6pm), June 3 (10am-5pm) and June 4 (9am-11am). Representatives from the county council and its partner consultant, Mouchel Parkman, will be present to explain proposals and answer questions.

All questionnaires returned, along with comments and views expressed at the exhibition and written representations, will be analysed and considered in making any recommendations on the way forward which will be included in a report to the county council area committee for Hambleton later this year.

Mike Moore, corporate director of environmental services at County Hall, said: "The strategy is one of a series being drawn up for market towns across North Yorkshire.

"The questionnaire and the exhibition give the community the opportunity to comment on traffic management problems and issues. I would encourage people to return their questionnaires and visit the exhibition."

The county council has already held two informal workshop sessions with invited representatives of local organisations to take preliminary soundings pending the launch of the wider consultation.

Issues covered included options for dealing with the difficult main road junction at Bridge Street, Sussex Street, South End and Market Place and a potentially controversial suggestion for moving the site of the historic market cross in an attempt to improve conditions at the top of Emgate.

Local people also drew attention to traffic speeds and danger to pedestrians in Firby Road and highlighted its hazardous T junction with Sussex Street and Masham Road.

The possible effect on traffic conditions of a local relief road planned by the county council was considered and officers of the authority were also asked to take account of the needs of walkers and cyclists while trying to solve problems faced by motorists.