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06
Mar
Knaresborough land train trial derailed by funding deadline
A trial of Knaresborough’s proposed land train has been derailed due to funding problems, a meeting of Knaresborough & District Chamber was told last night.
In September, North Yorkshire councillors approved spending £15,000 on a feasibility study for the scheme, which is intended to improve connectivity in the town, especially between the elevated town centre and the riverside.
The trial was originally due to take place during last year’s October half-term break, and was then postponed till this year’s Easter holiday.
But Peter Lacey, who is a member of the Chamber’s executive and chaired last night’s meeting at the Mitre pub, said that the council money had to be spent by the end of March, and delays getting the trial off the ground meant that would not be possible.
He said:
In the last few weeks, we’ve explored the possibility of flexing the requirements, for example by using other kinds of vehicle to move people between the top and bottom of the town. But North Yorkshire Council thought that would be too much of a variation of the conditions, so we can’t spend the money.
We did spend £550 on advice from a land train owner, but the rest of the £15,000 will stay in North Yorkshire Council’s coffers and contribute to its deficit. It’s disappointing, but it’s the only course left open to us – the deadline means we can’t proceed.
The delays to the scheme were largely concerned with gaining various permissions, such as a Vehicle Special Order, which was required by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and needed to be approved by North Yorkshire Police on advice from the council.
Another issue was the intended route, which included Waterside, an ‘access only’ street.
Waterside resident Ian Fozard said he supported the concept of connectivity in the town, but said the main problem with the scheme was its "sheer impracticality".
He said:
The land train can’t reverse. Quite often, I have to reverse if large vehicles are coming the other way, and we find a way of getting past each other. But the land train can’t do that.
The road is ‘access only’, and the land train would never comply with that. This will be carnage if it happens.
He added that he would feel very differently about the issue if alternative routes were used.
Mr Lacey said that although the trial was no longer feasible, he hoped the land train scheme, or something like it, would be possible at some point, as “some form of connectivity between Waterside and the town centre is recognised by all as a desirable development”, and added that the Chamber was “all ears for ideas”.
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