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22
Sept 2022
Harrogate council says it can’t take action on complaints of ‘poisonous’ construction dust in Kingsley area
Fed-up residents living in one of Harrogate's busiest areas for new housing have called a ban on open-top construction lorries - but the council says it has no powers to take action.
After years of disruptions from the building of 700 new homes, Kingsley residents last night called on Harrogate Borough Council to only allow sealed wagons in and out of the area, which has rapidly expanded in size and will continue to do so for years to come.
John Hansard, a member of Kingsley Ward Action Group, told a full council meeting that the authority had an obligation to protect residents from harm and that this has “fallen very far short of acceptable levels”.
He said:
However, Cllr Tim Myatt, cabinet member for planning at the council, said the authority did not have evidence that the dust was toxic and that a ban on open-top lorries could not be enforced.
He said:
Cllr Myatt also said housing developers had repeated their offer to clean roads and pavements in the area, but this was “vociferously opposed” by residents.
Read more:
- Plea for ‘moratorium’ on controversial 181-home Kingsley development
- Starbeck residents pledge to fight 181-home Kingsley Drive plans ‘tooth and nail’
Construction work in Kingsley began in 2019 and residents have long complained that not enough has been done to minimise disruptions to their daily lives.
There have also been complaints that improvements to roads, public transport, health services and community facilities have not kept up with the level of new housing in the area.
Around 700 new homes are already built or under construction, with hundreds more in the pipeline.
Mr Hansard told yesterday’s meeting that without action from the council, residents would continue to be left to “suffer the consequences”.
He said:
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