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02
Oct
'Pitch black' diversion footpath is suddenly lit up following Stray Ferret probe
A footpath so dark that some people were choosing to walk in the road instead – creating what one resident called "an accident waiting to happen" – has suddenly been been lit up, after the Stray Ferret started asking difficult questions.
Pedestrians near the new Tesco superstore in Harrogate are currently being diverted along a footpath that for weeks has been so dark that the resident feared for the safety of people using it.
The diversion has been caused by work to replace the Skipton Road footbridge over Oak Beck.
The work started on September 8, and the diversion footpath, which is set back from the road but runs parallel with it, has been unlit – until now.
Pedestrians are being diverted a longer way around to the New Park roundabout.
Due to the diversion, pedestrians heading from Tesco towards the New Park roundabout are being prevented from turning right and taking the short, direct route, and instead are directed across the road and into Oak Beck retail park, before turning right along the previously unlit path to the north of the beck.
They then have to cross the A59 again if they want to go towards the town centre.
Pedestrians leaving Tesco are now diverted to the left.
Adrian Davy, who lives nearby, contacted North Yorkshire Council about the problem last month.
He told the Stray Ferret yesterday:
Pedestrians are being diverted over Oak Beck to walk along a path with no street lighting. It's pitch black after dark along this path, and pedestrians are risking walking over the road bridge.
This is an accident or incident waiting to happen.
The unlit footpath gets very dark at night.
This view, which faintly shows the 'Pedestrians' sign, is how the same view looks after dark. Photo: Adrian Davy.
He added:
I've seen young kids going along the road, and I've seen a couple of girls take that route at night. Well, they're not going to go along that dark path, are they?
I fear someone could be attacked. I walk two dogs along that path, and they'll tell me if there's anyone about. But if I was a single girl, there's no way I'd want to go down there.
Mr Davy suggested to North Yorkshire Council that temporary lighting should be installed, as happened when the Tesco superstore was being built, but he said the council told him it was the responsibility of the sub-contractor, Beaver Bridges.
The new bridge is scheduled for completion in November 2026.
The Stray Ferret contacted Beaver Bridges, but a site agent for the company said the diversion and associated works were the responsibility of the main contractor, Key Property Solutions (KPS), which built the Tesco store.
So we contacted KPS, which assured us that its managing director, Rob Wilson, would contact us. We have not so far received any phonecall, but late last night Mr Davy contacted us to say:
Suddenly this evening lighting has been installed on the pedestrian diversion. Thanks for your help resolving a problem.
It's not the first time that long-standing problems have suddenly been resolved after the Stray Ferret started asking questions.
Last month, Ripon City Council revealed action had been taken to remove a car stuck in the River Ure for over eight months – and cited the Stray Ferret as a reason for the action.
There are other similar instances where our intervention made a difference, which you can read about here.
Work to replace the Skipton Road footbridge started about three weeks ago and is due to be completed by November 20. In the meantime, the road is scheduled to be closed on two consecutive nights, from 7pm on Tuesday, November 3 till 6am the next morning, and from 7pm on Wednesday, November 4 till 6am the next day.
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