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04
Feb 2021
Killinghall bypass 'yesterday's solution' to congestion
Proposals for a £20 million Killinghall bypass have been criticised by environmental group Zero Carbon Harrogate.
North Yorkshire County Council has put forward plans to build a bypass, with a likely route from the Old Spring Well pub on the A59 to the roundabout in Ripley that goes to Pateley Bridge and Ripon.
It would be one of range of measures, including a park and ride bus scheme and enhanced cycling routes, to ease congestion in the Harrogate district.
But Rod Beardshall, transport lead at ZCH, told the Stray Ferret awareness of climate change had increased locally and building a major new road would "send out the wrong message".
Mr Beardshall described the decision to refuse Harrogate Spring Water's expansion plans into Rotary Wood as a "tipping point" for the town, where environmental concerns outweighed other factors.
He called a bypass "yesterday's solution" to tackling congestion:
Killinghall has been bedevilled by traffic for decades and the problem has worsened recently as new housing developments have swelled the size of the village.
Read more:
Killinghall bypass ‘could cost in excess of £20 million’
Killinghall bypass proposed as part of plans to tackle congestion
Mr Beardshall highlighted a 2017 study by countryside charity CPRE that suggests new roads actually increase traffic rather than ease congestion.
He described roads "a very clumsy tool to address congestion" and called on the council to focus on better bus services and walking and cycling access for Killinghall. He even suggested charging motorists to drive through the village:
Last month, councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, said the bypass would ease congestion in the “fastest-growing village in the county”.
He said:
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