We were excited at the prospect of a new North Yorkshire Council and the efficiencies it would bring, and their promises to deliver better things for the area. But so far in Helmsley we are having to “put up” with worse service than we ever had from Ryedale Council.

So far NYC have put up car parking prices, put up ugly plastic market signage all over town and yet are unable to “put up” the little bridge which has been in the river for two months, also no visible street cleaning upgrade of facilities, nor any promotion of the town.

Just how long do we have to put up with poor service from Northallerton – hopefully not as long as we had Ryedale – do they even know where Helmsley is? There’s no money being put in, only taken out – is that going to their wages or to other towns?

It won’t be long before more businesses here shut up rather than put up, with no promotion of the area and an unloved town centre falling to pieces but costing both visitors and locals more to visit.

Hopefully their new Mayor will sort them out and bring some love back to our town?

Local business owner