An instability problem on the A59 at Kex Gill has cost North Yorkshire County Council £1.42 million, according to a report published by the authority.

Multiple incidents including landslides over the last 10 years has seen authority officials intervene to fix the road.

According to recently published county council documents, the cost to taxpayers for the road has been “increasing over the last ten-year period”.

But an instability issue in May 2018 caused road closures for several months, which council officials say led to a "complex repair scheme" being carried out.

Barrie Mason, assistant director highways and transportation at the authority, said:

Meanwhile, between October 2000 and May 2019, five landslides were recorded at the site and the retaining wall failed four times.

In January 2016, the road was closed for eight weeks and traffic diverted through Ilkley and Otley after heavy rain caused a landslide.

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• Half-a-million pounds to offset environmental damage of new Kex Gill road


• Public inquiry could delay £60m Kex Gill scheme by 15 months

It comes as the county council is pressing ahead with a £60 million project to create a diversion west of Blubberhouses at Kex Gill.

The project would take a year to complete and could start in autumn this year.

Authority officials are currently in the process of procuring a contractor to start work on the project.

However, this could be delayed by 15 months if a public inquiry is called.

Such as hearing could be held if an objection is lodged to the council’s compulsory purchase orders

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, told a full council meeting last month: