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05
May
Cyclist injury renews calls for action at notorious Killinghall junction
Residents have renewed calls for action to improve safety at a notorious junction in Killinghall after another collision.
A cyclist had to be taken to hospital after crashing with a car at the junction of Ripon Road and Otley Road on Friday (May 4).
The full extent of his injuries is not known.
He is believed to have been turning on to Ripon Road when the collision occurred.
James Houseman, head of the community group Killinghall Together, said it was “deeply saddened” by the news and wished the cyclist a “full and speedy recovery”.
Mr Houseman added:
This incident is not isolated. It underscores longstanding and escalating safety concerns at this junction. Near misses are a daily occurrence, with drivers frequently failing to stop at the lights. The turn onto Ripon Road is already hazardous, with the bus stop and vehicles entering Tesco creating constant conflict points.
The temporary relaxation on larger vehicles using Otley Road has only compounded the danger, with heavy traffic continuing past the school despite restrictions being reinstated.
How many more warnings do we need before meaningful action is taken? Residents have repeatedly raised concerns about the cumulative impact of multiple housing developments proposed for the village. Increased traffic will only intensify the risks at an already dangerous junction.
We urge the parish and county councils to give these applications the scrutiny they demand and to prioritise decisive action to improve safety, before more people are put in harm’s way.
James Houseman of Killinghall Together, next to one of the fields targeted for development.
Killinghall’s population could increase by 1,000 if several current planning applications are approved, heightening fears about the junction becoming even busier.
‘Ticking time bomb’
In February, a 45-year-old father-of-two who was hit by a car as he walked over a pedestrian crossing near the junction when traffic was on a red light described the junction as a “ticking time bomb”.
The villager, who suffered a broken ankle and bleed on the brain and now has metal plates in his ankle, said at the time:
“There needs to be more consideration around infrastructure. Nothing has changed since my accident. I don’t want this to come across as a rant, but people need to know the consequences of not paying enough attention to road safety.”
When informed about the latest crash, the man — who asked not to be named — said:
“Sadly, we knew it was only a matter of time before there were more accidents at that junction.”
North Yorkshire Council conducted a safety audit at the junction after the previous collision but it didn’t lead to any changes.
Councillor Michael Harrison, a Conservative who represents Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate on North Yorkshire Council, said previously the new Tesco had compounded problems, but a better alternative has yet to be identified.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said it didn’t provide statements on road traffic collisions and “any broader concerns regarding the safety of the junction should be directed to North Yorkshire County Council”.
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