Contact Details:

Cllr Mrs Elizabeth Shields

Firby Hall

Firby

York

YO60 7LH

cllr.elizabeth.shields@ryedale.gov.uk

Tel: 01653 618474

 

 

Elizabeth Shields currently represents Norton East. She  established the Environment Working Party to emphasise green issues. She is a former MP and Chairman of Ryedale District Council, champions local housing for local people and strongly supports the building of a new sports centre.

....................................................................

 

RAGWORT  -  THE  YELLOW PERIL

Councillor Elizabeth Shields, who has for many summers past drawn attention to this poisonous weed, is again asking for Ryedale residents to help in removing this 'yellow peril' from our verges, hedgerows, gardens and fields.

'Ragwort poses a deadly threat to the lives of horses, ponies and donkeys' she said, 'and it can also have a lesser but unpleasant effect on cattle and sheep.  Although the animals do not seem to eat ragwort when it is growing and flowering, it may be among grass and other weeds cut at harvest time and inadvertently fed them as fodder when dry.'

The most effective way of getting rid of ragwort, which has curly green leaves , bunches of bright yellow flowers and grows to a height of two or three feet, is by pulling it up by the roots and destroying it.  Burning is the best solution but if this is not an option, it can be placed in a bag, tied tightly and put among household rubbish in the green bin. Please note that  it is important to wear gloves wnen handling the plant.

..................................................................................

 

ST. NICHOLAS STREET CAR PARK

The status of Norton’s car park on St.Nicholas Street has been the subject of debate for several years. Councillor Elizabeth Shields, one of the town’s representatives on Ryedale Council says: ‘This is the ONLY FREE car park in the district and should remain that way.’

This year the District Council will again be reviewing charges on car parks throughout the area and the current status of Norton’s parking facility will also be debated.

Not only have local residents in St.Nicholas Street and on the Bruntwood and Derwent Terraces, who have no garages and must necessarily use the car park, expressed their dismay at the possibility of charging, but so have the Police.

As far back as 1999, a letter from the then Inspector expressed concerns ‘about the potential impact on neighbouring streets which the ‘Pay and Display’ proposals may have'. The Inspector also envisaged ‘a not inconsiderable increase of on-street parking in the vicinity of St. Nicholas Street car park, which may bring increased congestion and nuisance.’

Whatever the final outcome of Ryedale’s decision on the matter, we shall ensure that both residents and school parties using the Derwent Pool will have special arrangements made for them: both the Pool and the Car park are important features for Norton-on-Derwent.

 

More photographs HERE

 

....................................................