Subscribe to trusted local news
If you are accessing this story via Facebook but you are a subscriber then you will be unable to access the story. Facebook wants you to stay and read in the app and your login details are not shared with Facebook. If you experience problems with accessing the news but have subscribed, please contact subscriptions@thestrayferret.co.uk. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
25
Feb
Viaduct Terrace landslip — council finally provides answers
Seventeen days after a pedestrian walkway on Waterside in Knaresborough collapsed into the River Nidd, North Yorkshire Council has finally provided information on its investigation.
Viaduct Terrace buckled on February 8, a Sunday afternoon, following a prolonged wet spell.
Nobody was hurt but trains between Harrogate and York were cancelled for several hours.
Viaduct Terrace is almost directly beneath the viaduct that carries trains on the line between Harrogate and York.
Viaduct Terrace on Waterside before the landslip.
A landslip on a Sunday afternoon on one of the most popular streets in the Harrogate district raised questions about public safety, and the Stray Ferret has been pressing the council for more details.
Today (February 25), the council sent written responses to the questions we posed six days ago.
You can read them below:
What investigations have been conducted so far?
Since the incident of February 8, a drone survey and visual assessment of the survey data has been carried out by civil and structural engineers at Align Property Partners, North Yorkshire Council’s property consultancy. Additional investigations have been carried out by Network Rail.
What have the investigations discovered?
While the cause of the collapse has yet to be identified, the investigation has determined that a section of the masonry river wall rotated outwards towards the river, taking with it parts of the pavement. This has been a significant event, requiring further detailed examination to determine its extent.
What action, if any, is being taken?
The viaduct and surrounding area remain open, with the affected area cordoned off. As well as surface examinations, it will be necessary to carry out an underwater inspection of the structure and riverbed.
What is the estimated cost of any repair work?
Until the full extent of the repair work is known it is not possible to estimate the overall cost of repairs.
There has been a dearth of information from public bodies in the aftermath of the incident.
It was left to Councillor Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West, to provide updates and safety messages.
Asked to comment on the council response, Cllr Walker said:
I am deeply disappointed by North Yorkshire Council’s poor engagement and the absence of a clear timeline for repairs. Knaresborough cannot afford to remain a permanent construction site of orange barriers and disruption as we approach our peak tourist season. The public deserves transparency and action—not just more surveys—to ensure our historic infrastructure is safe, maintained, and that there isn’t another dangerous near miss.
0