DISTRICT councillors have called for a traffic study at a Richmond trading estate amid concerns of increasing use by heavy goods vehicles.

The move follows the decision in December to grant planning permission for the building of eight new offices and five industrial units at the Gallowfields trading estate.

Concerns were raised at the time regarding the use of Quarry Road as a short cut to the estate and that heavy vehicles approaching the estate on Green Howards Road were fed on to the footpaths when passing.

At the request of the district council's access, travel and transport committee, the county council's Richmondshire area committee was due to discuss the matter at a meeting yesterday.

In his report to the area committee, North Yorkshire's environmental services director, Mr Mike Moore, says: "I believe it would be appropriate for members of the county council to meet representatives of the district and town councils in view of the concerns which have been expressed relating to traffic movements associated with the trading estate.

"Furthermore, I do feel that if a traffic study is to be carried out, as suggested by the district council, it should be a joint exercise. One issue which any study would need to address is how its recommendation should be funded and implemented."

Cliff collapses

A 5,000-tonne chunk of cliff at the Whitby Abbey headland collapsed on Tuesday night.

The landslide is believed to have been caused by recent heavy rainfall working its way down from the surface.

The slip occurred above a coastal protection scheme which has involved huge boulders and rock armour being shipped in to stop the area known as the Haggerlythe from disappearing.

Hotel taken over

AFTER ten months' caretaking by receivers, the George Hotel at Piercebridge has been taken over by Gunn Hotels and the new manager is Mr Eric Barlow.