JUST minutes after appointing two new councillors, members of Norton-on-Derwent Town Council found themselves with another vacancy on Monday night when Coun Howard Griffiths resigned.

He told the Mayor, Coun Keith Mennell, in a letter that he had decided to quit the council because he had moved from the town to live at Bulmer and felt he could not justify continuing his membership. He said he was sorry to leave Norton as several generations of his family had lived and worked in the town.

Earlier, the council had received three applications from Norton residents to fill the two vacancies caused by the recent resignations of Couns Rosemary Carter and Jimmy Pennock.

Following a secret ballot, the successful candidates were Anthony Vinnell, of Langton Road, and Dinah Keal, of St Nicholas Street, Norton.

Mr Vinnell is an administrator at Castle Howard, having retired from RAF Fylingdales. He is involved with several community organisations including the community and police committee, Ryedale District Council environmental forum, Adult Basic Education and the local Liberal Democrat party.

Mrs Keal is well-known in Norton as the leading campaigner of the Derwent Action Group and its campaign for flood defences for Norton and Malton. She is also involved with the Derwent Riverside Project, Norton Youth Brass and is vice-chairman of the governors of Langton County Primary School, as well as a member of Norton Trinity Methodist Church.

"While living in Norton, I have been aware of the town often being misrepresented as a 'poor relation' to Malton despite having a larger population," she told the council.

The vacancy caused by Coun Griffiths' resignation is being reported to the district council. If there is no call for a poll, the council will be seeking nominations to fill the position.

Ryedale District Council is to be asked for more information and to carry out a site visit on plans by Grampian Country Pork to erect an electricity sub-station and switchroom together with three electrical generators and an oil free tank at Norton Grove Industrial Estate. Coun Mennell said he was concerned about nearby residents being affected by the developments. "We have had problems in the past," he said.

Approval was recommended for a horsewalker and lunging ring at Beverley House, Beverley Road; conservatory at 5 Lakeside Way; extension at 9 The Avenue; residential development at 67 Commercial Street; and for the proposed skateboard park at Norton Road, for the Fitzwilliam Estate.

Moves to curb the speed of traffic in Beverley Road were backed by the council. North Yorkshire County Council highways department wants to install speed cushions at three points in the road - near Bright Steels factory, Norton School, and Wood Street. Coun James Kench said he would have preferred rumble strips rather than speed cushions or humps in the road which he felt would have been more effective.

A site meeting is to be held to investigate the possibility of car parking being provided at the allotments at the rear of Vine Street.

Norton Town Council is to meet with representatives of Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Malton and Pickering town councils on January 14 to discuss various issues.

Vandals have again attacked equipment on the King George playing field in Norton. Town clerk Roger King said one of the swings needed repairing and another piece of equipment had been damaged beyond repair and would cost £500 to replace. It was agreed to remove the remains of the damaged equipment and to await any reaction from parents and children before deciding whether to replace it. Coun Mennell said: "I don't think we should give in to the vandals."

The Royal British Legion is holding a meeting on January 14 to discuss possible changes to the Remembrance Day services for next year. Councillors were told that there were currently three services held at different churches in Norton together with a Festival of Remembrance.

Moves are being made to switch the Festival of Remembrance from the Milton Rooms to Norton College and to have just one Remembrance Day service, but to alternate it annually between the churches. Coun David Lloyd-Williams said: "It can be something of a nightmare trying to get to each of the services at present."

Motorists and residents face major upheaval in South Parade when work starts on reinforcing the gas main, the council heard.

Updated: 11:05 Thursday, December 20, 2001