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17
Jan
Academic raises fresh road accident concerns in west Harrogate
An academic has raised concerns about an increase in road accidents in the west of Harrogate caused by increased housebuilding.
Professor John Wann, a Harrogate resident and road accident researcher at the University of London, questioned whether North Yorkshire Council had accurately assessed the "acceptable impact" of the new homes on roads.
Up to 4,000 homes are being built or awaiting planning permission in the area, including schemes on Otley Road, Whinney Lane and Yew Tree Lane.
The latest scheme for 480 homes on land between Otley Road, Beckwith Head Road, Howhill Road and Howhill Quarry Road was approved on December 10, 2024.
Professor Wann raised concern over the council's assessment on the impact on local roads during the application process and wrote to the local authority to suggest there could be an increase in accidents.
He argued the impact on rural roads, known as “B” roads, which surround the area covered by the West Harrogate Parameters Plan — a document which outlines how the west of Harrogate’s roads, schools and health services will cope with extra homes — had not been fully considered.
Professor Wann said while car drivers were most at risk, motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists would also be "disproportionately affected".
He said:
The problem with rural roads such as those surrounding the West Harrogate Parameters Plan is that they have a narrow carriageway, there are many blind spots and pinch points, no pedestrian walkways and most of the traffic is approaching 60mph. At that speed a pedestrian, cyclist or horse rider has little chance of surviving a collision.
Professor Wann told the Stray Ferret that there were a number of accidents on minor roads in the area. He cited House of Commons Library statistics, which show a cluster of “minor” accidents in the west of Harrogate.
The figures, which cover the period between 2020 and 2024, show central Harrogate and the Stray had the most accidents with 499 recorded in total — 415 of which were classed as “minor”.
Maps of accidents in Harrogate, including west Harrogate. Picture: House of Commons Library.
But, Professor Wann pointed out that increasing the number of cars in the west of Harrogate could see an “equivalent increase in accident rates”.
He said:
There is a real risk that roads, such as Lady Lane, Shaw Lane, Pot Bank and Otley Road to Leathley will become 'rat-runs' with accident black spots and may become unusable by walkers, horse riders or cyclists.
He questioned whether it was time for the council to re-evaluate the access roads in the area and bring in more comprehensive speed restrictions and speed monitoring on rural roads to avoid "growth in accident blackspots".
He also said that accidents to the east of Harrogate were much lower and that the upcoming Local Plan should focus on housing in that area due to its access to the A1(M).
The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire Council for a response to Professor Wann’s concerns.
A spokesperson said residents should raise concerns with the council in the first instance so that officers can respond directly.
The move comes as residents and councillors have long raised concern over a lack of infrastructure in the west of Harrogate to be able to deal with the increase in homes.
Cllr John Mann, who represents Oatlands and Pannal division on North Yorkshire Council, wrote the council’s executive in September 2024 to call for a moratorium on any new housing sites being allocated to the area.
He said the area has had “its fair share” of new schemes and its road infrastructure is “already under strain”.
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