COUNTY council departments are to be asked to stop charging the authority's social services for promoting the need for foster parents on its vehicles.

Councillor Betsy Hill, of Pickering, said at the Ryedale area committee meeting that it was "totally unacceptable" that the department had to pay to have advertisements on council vehicles because of the valuable service the carers provided.

The deputy leader of the council, Murray Naylor, agreed to look into the matter after members of the committee agreed there should be a re-think.

The committee also heard that the county council's agents, Mouchell, are currently carrying out a detailed traffic management study of Malton and Norton, and a public meeting is planned for September.

Meanwhile, cyclists are to get facilities on the A166 Gate Helmsley to Stamford Bridge road. A scheme has been agreed to create a shared footway and cycletrack following support from Stamford and Gate and Upper Helmsley parish councils.

However one resident, Mr F W Johnson, of Stamford Bridge Road, Gate Helmsley, objected, saying it would be dangerous for pedestrians to negotiate a shared path.