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04
Oct
'Disappointment' as traffic calming measures halted in Pannal Ash
Traffic calming measures planned for one of Harrogate's busiest areas have been delayed indefinitely.
North Yorkshire Council planned to introduce speed cushions on Pannal Ash Road and Green Lane.
The council was also due to resurface the two roads during the summer holidays.
But Paul Ryan, the council's project engineer, has written to residents informing them that the traffic calming measures, which proved popular with residents during a consultation, had been 'set aside'.
Resurfacing work is, however, still due to take place. Work is expected to be carried out from Monday next week (October 7) and until November 13.
The traffic calming measures were due to support a 20mph speed limit.
Mr Ryan's letter said:
Whilst there is generally broad support for the introduction of the speed cushions, officers consider that further detailed review of future measures associated with the West Harrogate Parameters Plan and their impact upon the current scheme proposals needs to be undertaken.
Traffic calming schemes are also being assessed and designed for Yew Tree Lane and Beckwith Road (which already has traffic calming measures but where speeds remain too high for a 20mph speed limit).
Accordingly, a decision has been taken to set aside the current proposal to install speed cushions at both Pannal Ash Road and Green Lane which allows instructions to be issued to the contractor awarded the tender for the resurfacing schemes to proceed with the surfacing works as detailed below.
Previous road works on Pannal Ash Road.
Heidelberg Materials UK has been chosen as the contractor for the resurfacing.
Work on Pannal Ash Road is scheduled to last from October 7 to November 1 before the resurfacing programme moves to Green Lane from November 4 to 17.
Councillor John Mann, a Conservative who represents Oatlands and Pannal on the council, said:
As a campaigner for better and safer roads in the west and southwest of Harrogate, I welcome the news that Green Lane and Pannal Ash Road will be resurfaced this autumn. However, I’m disappointed that traffic calming measures for these two roads will be delayed with no fixed date for their introduction.
I understand that the proposed traffic calming measures for these two roads need to be considered as part and parcel of the overall package being proposed by the council highways team to mitigate the effect of traffic congestion caused by the extensive house-building programme in the west of Harrogate.
Pannal Ash Road
He added:
Surely any consideration of the thousands of houses which are planned to be built in this area would lead to the immediate conclusion that traffic calming measures need to be introduced on Green Lane and Pannal Ash Road as soon as possible rather than being delayed while further considerations and consultations take place.
There is a high risk that all these additional vehicle movements will cause a reduction in road safety unless urgent steps are taken to install traffic calming on roads such as Green Lane and Pannal Ash Road. I therefore strongly urge North Yorkshire Executive to expedite measures for traffic calming in these two streets, together with the proposed 20mph limit for Green Lane, as soon as possible. This work needs to be done urgently and a date needs to be set please.
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