Petition calls for A6136 'gridlock' to be tackled

More than 500 people have signed a petition calling for action to tackle the "frequent gridlock" on the main road between a military town and the A1(M).

Launched by North Yorkshire councillor Kevin Foster, it urges improvements on the A6136 through Catterick Garrison and a better bus service.

The Green Party councillor said residents were "fed up with the congestion on this vital route" and called for a "forward-thinking approach" across the region to ease traffic.

The petition was launched as North Yorkshire Council accepted £1.2m of funding from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to develop investment plans for 32 areas across the county, including Catterick Garrison and Colburn.

The three-year programme will address key themes, including revitalising town centres, improving travel options and reducing health inequalities.

Foster said: "I have campaigned for improved travel infrastructure in Colburn and Catterick Garrison since becoming a councillor.

"Now, Colburn Town Council has the perfect chance to ensure these plans include a comprehensive, much-needed travel plan for our area.

"[The A6316] is frequently gridlocked, causing pollution and making people late for work, hospital appointments, school, college and everything else.

"As a consequence of the congestion, buses run late or not at all. Everybody should be able to depend on a reliable bus service to get them where they need to be.  We all deserve better."

The petition gained 500 signatures in 24 hours, and will be sent to York and North Yorkshire mayor David Skaith, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In April, Skaith met with local bus operators to discuss improvements, saying "services aren't good enough".

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