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Jan 2021

Last Updated: 19/01/2021

Transport

Alert motorist averts double road closure travel chaos

by Tim Flanagan

| 18 Jan, 2021

Villagers living in the Ripon and Boroughbridge areas could have found themselves marooned by two road closures today. But a sharp-eyed motorist saved the day.

Road users in the Ripon and Boroughbridge areas have been spared potential travel mayhem today thanks to a sharp-eyed motorist.

Paul Stockburn, who lives with his wife Sandra in Copt Hewick, noticed both North Yorkshire County Council and Yorkshire Water were due to have diversions in place on the same day.

Copt Hewick is located on the outskirts of Ripon between the Dishforth and Boroughbridge roads.

Mr Stockburn told the Stray Ferret:

"Every household in the village received a letter from Yorkshire Water giving advance notice of an eight-week programme of pipe replacement work that would close a section of Dishforth Road between New Road and Strait Lane. That work started last week.

"Enclosed with the letter, was a diversion map showing Boroughbridge Road as the crucial alternative route for Copt Hewick road users to follow.

"Then I saw yellow signs put in place at both ends of the bridge on Boroughbridge Road that crosses the River Ure near Ripon Racecourse, saying that the bridge would be closed for a day on 19 January, so that inspection works could be carried out.

"I thought, does this mean that an extra one day diversion for diverted traffic would need to be put in place - and where would it be diverted to?"

"What made this confusing situation even more ridiculous was a paragraph in the Yorkshire Water letter about the Dishforth Road closure, which read: 'We understand that these works will be inconvenient, which is why we've liaised closely with North Yorkshire County Council highways department regarding every aspect of this essential scheme.'"

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The Stray Ferret raised Mr Stockburn's concerns about the confusing and apparently contradictory advice on the Yorkshire Water and NYCC's respective road closure signs.

Yorkshire Water said it would look into the matter — then diverted the Stray Ferret to NYCC.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, for North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“As Yorkshire Water is undertaking an eight week programme of works on Dishforth Road our contractors have agreed to reschedule the one-day bridge inspection. We will remove the advance warning sign as soon as possible. We apologise for the concerns this caused.”

When told the potential double diversion road closure chaos had been averted, Mr Stockburn, said:

"I have let as many people as possible in the village know the good news - including one gentleman in his 80s, who was wondering how he was going to get to Harrogate for his covid vaccination."

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Alert motorist averts double road closure travel chaos

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