Ripon councillors are calling for new safety measures to be put in place near a city centre junction where four accidents have occurred in two years.
Concerns were raised at Monday night’s full city council meeting about the junction of Fishergate and Old Market Place, where a pedestrian was involved in an accident on the morning of September 1.
Councillor Eamon Parkin said:
“There have been four accidents here in two years and something needs to be done.”
A number of measures to make crossing the road safer for pedestrians were discussed, after Cllr Pauline McHardy proposed a zebra crossing be installed by North Yorkshire Council.
She said:
“This is a dangerous place for people to cross, but we could make it safer at little expense by putting white paint on the road.”
Councillors Barbara Brodigan and Andrew Williams, who represent Ripon on North Yorkshire Council, said the council doesn’t install zebra crossings any more.
Cllr Williams also said:
“The installation of a Pelican (light controlled) crossing would cost thousands of pounds and be unlikely to be approved.
“We do, however, need to ensure that people can cross the road safely and I recommend that we ask North Yorkshire to put signs on posts at the approaches to the junction that say ‘Beware Pedestrians Crossing’.”
Councillors agreed to write to North Yorkshire Council requesting that new measures be put in place to make the junction safer.
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Safety audit rules out traffic lights at notorious Killinghall junction
A safety audit at a notorious Killinghall junction has ruled out introducing traffic lights.
North Yorkshire Council, which conducted the audit after a pedestrian was badly injured in February, has also rejected installing a mini-roundabout.
Instead it has recommended repainting the yellow box junction and investigating other measures, such as shortening the length of the Ripon Road bus shelter to create more space for cars going in and out of the Tesco car park.
Councillor Michael Harrison, a Conservative who represents Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate, updated residents in a recent email.
Cllr Harrison instigated the safety audit after February’s accident heightened longstanding concerns about the Ripon Road and Otley Road junction.
The new Tesco has added another dimension to the issues facing motorists and pedestrians in the centre of the village.
His latest email said the council discovered about 4,600 vehicles exited the B6161 Otley Road junction every 24 hours. of these, 90% turn left to Ripley. A third of the right-turning traffic then go to Tesco.
Cllr Harrison’s email concluded that “we know this junction is not ideal, but working out what to do about it remains a challenge”.
Read more:
- Accident reignites calls for traffic lights at ‘horrendous’ Killinghall junction
- Safety audit to be carried out at Killinghall junction
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Villager Tom Beardsell remains in favour of traffic lights. He said:
“I feel a fully smart signalised junction is the most sensible and safe before there is a fatality at this junction.
“There is far too much going on around that junction especially now the Tesco connivence store is in full swing.
“Re-painting the road markings and yellow box area will help initially, but it doesn’t distract from the fact there is limited visibility from the Tesco carpark in both directions especially when a bus is at the stop.”
The Ripon Road entrance to the Tesco car park.
Mr Beardsell added he didn’t see any benefit in widening the Tesco entrance and would prefer to see the bus stop moved elsewhere.
He said:
“I first reported the issues at this junction in late January this year, eight months later we are here and there continues to be incidents. How long will it take to make the solution clear and be implemented?”
Asked by the Stray Ferret what he would like to see done, Cllr Harrison said:
Busy Knaresborough junction reopens after roadworks end early“I would like to see a bypass for Killinghall – that is the only solution to remove all of the issues.”
A main road in Knaresborough has reopened after Northern Powergrid finished roadworks ahead of schedule.
The company initially planned four weeks of works to install electricity cables on King James Road and York Road from May 27.
The work involved excavating a trench and laying cables to connect to the new Knaresborough Leisure Centre, which is due to open this year.
However, Northern Powergrid confirmed today the project had been completed ahead of schedule.
It means that the roads have been reopened and the diversion route removed. Temporary traffic lights will also not be in place at the A59 King james Road and York Road junction.
It comes as the town prepares for Saturday’s Great Knaresborough Bed Race — its busiest day of the year,
Richard Appleyard, Northern Powergrid’s connections delivery project engineer, said:
“We’re pleased to announce that work to connect a new electricity sub station, at the new Knaresborough Leisure Centre, has gone very well and has been completed sooner than anticipated.
“King James Road has now re-opened to traffic and the diversion route has been removed.
“In addition, the early completion of cable installation and jointing works has also allowed the pedestrian walkways and temporary traffic signals to be removed from the A59 York Road/King James Road sooner than planned.
“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank local residents and businesses for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
“The new electricity supply connection is now in a position to be energised to the new leisure centre, once the new building is ready to receive the supply.”
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Fresh concerns over Knaresborough’s ‘most dangerous junction’
Concerns have again been raised about the safety of pedestrian crossings at what has been described as Knaresborough’s “most dangerous junction”.
Former town councillor James Monaghan first raised the issue of drivers ignoring red lights at the four-way junction where York Place, High Street, Gracious Street and Park Row meet in 2017 – and he now says the problem is “as bad as ever”.
He said:
“On a daily basis cars and vans drive through the green man when pedestrians should be able to cross safely.
“This is dangerous enough, but on a crossing used by hundreds of school children daily it is an accident waiting to happen.
“With all the new houses that have been built across the district and the associated cars, congestion has only got worse and it needs to be addressed for everyone’s safety and convenience.”
Mr Monaghan said the problem has not been tackled by North Yorkshire County Council, which changed the traffic lights four years ago to allow more time for the junction to clear before pedestrians are invited to cross.
The county council said the detection system failed “a few months ago,” but has now been fixed with works being completed last week.
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Melisa Burnham, highways area manager at the county council, said:
“We know of the concerns around the pedestrian stage of the signal cycle at the junction of High Street and Gracious Street.
“The signals team will continue to monitor the effective operation of the signal equipment and timing.”
Ms Burnham also said it was the responsibility of motorists to ensure they follow the rules of the road. She said:
Road closure warning as delayed A1 (M) junction 47 works come to end“We do all we can to ensure this junction operates as effectively as possible, but we also ask drivers who use this junction to respect all road users and the traffic light systems in place, ensuring they are driving safely in accordance with the local conditions.”
A multi-million pound project to upgrade junction 47 on the A1(M) at Flaxby will be completed by the end of this month.
Work began at the start of September 2020 to widen slip roads and install traffic lights to prevent vehicles queueing.
The project, carried out by contractors Farrans Construction on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council, also involves upgrading the road network just off the junction.
Work was originally due to be completed in September 2021 but has encountered several delays. The council blamed ‘unforeseen ground conditions’ and the discovery of great crested newts for setting the project back.
Final repair works on the A168 bridge and verges along with resurfacing of the A59 will run from March 14 to 26 under overnight weekday closures.
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Once the traffic signals are installed there will be a period where the signal timings are adjusted by engineers to the optimum settings for traffic flow conditions. This may result in some extra delays during March and April.
Conservative councillor Andy Paraskos, member for the Ainsty division, added:
“The upcoming works will involve repairs, resurfacing as well as the installation of road markings and traffic loops. For the safety of our workforce this must be carried out under a full road closure and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience this essential work may cause.
Conservative county councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said:
“The finish line is in sight for this important scheme which will support the future growth of the Harrogate and Knaresborough areas.
“The scheme promises to reduce congestion and improve road safety at this major junction. It is a great example of how we are delivering on our aim to improve east-west connections across North Yorkshire.”
Rising costs
The council initially earmarked £7.7m for the project, but it said last year it now expected it to cost over £10m.
The project is being funded by the council, with £2.47m from the government’s Local Growth Fund along with contributions from Highways England and developer Forward Investment LLP.
The Stray Ferret has asked the council for the current cost of the project but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Harrogate police officer keeps job after running red light and crashingA Harrogate police officer who was found guilty of dangerous driving after running a red light at 50 miles per hour and crashing has kept her job.
DC Quita Passmore was responding to reports of an officer in distress on May 5 in 2018 when she drove through red lights at the junction of Otley Road and Cold Bath Road.
Patricia Bulmer and Janet Roberton, who were travelling in the car she hit, sustained severe injuries, including broken bones as well as a punctured lung.
Passmore received a 10-month jail term, suspended for two years, and was disqualified from driving for two years at Bradford Crown Court in February.
North Yorkshire Police subsequently held a misconduct hearing, two years after the incident, in May this year.
During the trial, Passmore admitted that her conduct amounted to gross misconduct and the panel agreed. The panel, which had the power to dismiss her, opted instead to issue a final written warning.
Following the outcome, the Stray Ferret has written several times to both the Crown Prosecution Service and North Yorkshire Police to ask when CCTV from the night of the crash, which was shown in court, would be released.
The CPS did not respond numerous times before passing the enquiry onto North Yorkshire Police. North Yorkshire Police told us it was in fact the responsibility of the CPS.
We were then told by both organisations this week that the video was “no longer contemporaneous” and would therefore not be released.
Read more:
- Police officer avoids jail after 50mph red light Harrogate crash
- Police officer guilty of dangerous driving over Harrogate crash
- Police officer ‘very sorry’ after high speed crash with Harrogate women
Last week North Yorkshire Police released a compilation of video footage showing what it described as “some of the worst driving” in the county by members of the public as part of a new “fatal five” campaign focussing on the most common causes of fatalities.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:
Community invited to share NHS support on Harlow Hill railings“The officer faced the allegation that she had breached the standards of professional behaviour Duties and Responsibilities and Discreditable Conduct.
“The officer admitted that their conduct amounted to gross misconduct and the panel concluded the same. The outcome was a final written warning.”
The hard work of NHS staff is being recognised with a piece of community artwork on Otley Road in Harrogate.
Railings at the junction with Harlow Moor Road have been decorated with blue ribbons, a yellow heart and the letters NHS in tribute to those saving lives around the country.
Andrew High, who put the ribbons onto the railings, said he wants members of the community to add their own decorations too. He said:
“If you’ve got family who have been treated, or people you know who work for the NHS, it doesn’t matter. In your own little way, just attach your bit of string or ribbon – whatever you have to hand.
“It will be nice to see more ribbons attached to it so we feel part of something. There are a few more slowly appearing.”
New ribbons are already being added to the railings by members of the community
Andrew was also the mastermind behind the decorations put up on Otley Road for the UCI Road World Championships last year. A member of the congregation at Harlow Hill Methodist Church, which was open every day for the community to gather and watch the cycling, he wanted to draw attention to the stretch of road which was a prominent feature in the racing routes throughout the week.
As well as the UCi colours in ribbons around the trees and benches, Andrew put lettering on the railings at the junction spelling out “Harlow Hill”, “Welcome” and “Yorkshire”. He said:
“I had planned this year to do the Olympic rings and every time someone from Yorkshire got a medal, I was going to put a gold, silver or bronze medal on with their name on. Of course, that hasn’t happened.
I thought it would be nice for the NHS to go up and people to add their own little bits. After the UCI, there was a nice feeling among the hill that we had joined together. That was an enjoyable experience. This isn’t, but it is nice to know we’re a community and people are thinking of and looking out for each other.”