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01
Nov 2024
Local Tory MP urges council to remove overtaking lane on A61 at South Stainley
Conservative MP Sir Julian Smith has urged North Yorkshire Council to take further action to improve road safety on the A61.
The council's environment directorate is expected to approve reducing the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph today.
A report published ahead of the meeting recommends the reduction but it does not suggest any action regarding the short overtaking lane at South Stainley.
However, the report says the 50mph limit "is effectively the first step in a series of measures to improve road safety on the A61".
A South Stainley woman, who lost her parents in a crash on the road 12 years ago, has since led a campaign to make the road safer.
Four people, including two children, were last year killed on the A61 at South Stainley in the space of eight days. One of the incidents left a young girl orphaned.
She and other residents, supported by Sir Julian, have called for the speed limit to be reduced to 40mph and for the overtaking lane to be removed.
Sir Julian, who represents Skipton and Ripon, this week wrote to North Yorkshire Council’s chief executive, Richard Flinton, urging council members to approve plans to reduce the speed limit on the road from 60mph to 50mph.
But his letter to Mr Flinton urges the council to go further. He said:
I note that this week the council will consider the proposal for a 50mph speed limit on the A61 either side of South Stainley and the Bishop Monkton crossroads.
Whilst the meeting I held with community members and wrote to you about in October last year sought a 40mph speed limit, I urge the council to accept these proposals and at least move towards a safer driving environment on this notorious part of the North Yorkshire road network.
I would also ask the council to look at the removal of the overtaking lane at South Stainley. This was another key request from a meeting I held with constituents and wrote to you about in October last year.
Overtaking lane is a ‘perilous stretch’
Ripon City Council objected to the speed reduction in July, citing concerns that it would increase congestion and make overtaking more difficult.
But the South Stainley woman, who asked to remain anonymous, sent the Stray Ferret a statement in support of today’s proposal.
It says:
I am writing to express my unwavering support for a reduction in speed limits on the A61, where the current layout has proven dangerously conducive to aggressive driving and high-risk overtaking. Tragically, I lost both my parents in a collision on this road — a heartbreak that has left an indelible impact on my life.
The existing overtaking lane, though intended to aid traffic flow, has become a perilous stretch where aggressive manoeuvres are frequent and highly dangerous. It is not long enough to accommodate safe overtaking and instead promotes split-second decisions that often end in collisions and encouraging aggressive behaviours.
Removing this overtaking lane and implementing traffic-calming measures are essential steps to prioritise safety over speed and convenience.
Reducing speed limits and adopting a safer, more controlled road layout could prevent other families from enduring the same loss and suffering, the woman adds.
She also said:
I urge the local authorities to act on this crucial matter – lives depend on it.
The report for today's meeting says surveys found people currently tend to drive under 50mph on the road, meaning the speed reduction would be appropriate.
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