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16
Mar
'The lack of communication and transparency over Kex Gill is appalling'
A resident whose house overlooks the A59 at Kex Gill has accused North Yorkshire Council of an "appalling" lack of communication and transparency over the road closure.
The road, which is the main route between Harrogate and Skipton, closed suddenly at Blubberhouses on February 2 when a crack appeared on the verge.
The council blamed a landslip caused by wet weather and in an update a week ago said repair work had yet to begin due to the amount of rain. No indication of timeframe has been given.
Alistair Young, who lives in Blubberhouses, claimed the landslip was due to the nearby £68.8 million road realignment scheme.
He said previous landslips had occurred about half a mile away higher up the gorge rather than in the flatter area where the road is currently blocked.
The scheme has seen the near destruction of Myer's Wood; Hall Beck is being diverted, and dry stone walls have been moved. Mr Young said he had been informed 20,000 trees, including saplings, had been felled, which would have destabilised the banks of the valley leading down to the road.
Contractors' lorries continue to use the closed road each day to ferry material from Coldstones Cut quarry near Pateley Bridge to build the new road as well as access roads for construction vehicles. The Stray Ferret saw lorries frequently using the closed road when we visited Mr Young this week.
A contractor driving on the closed road.
Mr Young said contractors from Sisk had taken time to show residents around the site and been helpful.
But he was less complimentary about the council:
Mr Young said he fully supported the £68.8 million realignment, which is mainly being funded by the Department for Transport. But he added it was disingenuous of the council to blame a landslip and rain rather than its own scheme and questioned whether a permanent closure was necessary to all non-works traffic.
He suggested the road could at least open to non-HGVs at weekends, when the contractors don't use it:
The latest of many landslips
The Stray Ferret put a list of specific questions to the council about Mr Young's claims, including that 20,000 trees had been lost. It did not give a figure.
But in a general statement, Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director of environment, reiterated previous comments that this was the latest of many landslips in the area and was the "result of the poor weather".
Mr Battersby, whose response is published in full at the end of the article, said environmental assessments were carried out which included consultation with public bodies, adding:
He said the council was finalising its repair scheme, which will "involve driving long sheets of interlocking steel into the ground to create a continuous structural wall which provides strength and stability. He added:
Mr Young said the statement was "flawed throughout". He added:
MP Julian Smith visits
Mr Young sad he had also raised concerns with Skipton and Ripon Conservative MP Julian Smith and Cllr Nathan Hull, a Conservative who represents Washburn and Birstwith on the council, but neither had replied. However, he received a response from Mr Smith shortly after the Stray Ferret contacted the MP's office.
Mr Smith issued a press release on Thursday, which said he had met council chief executive Richard Flinton the previous day "to seek clarity on the progress that has been made to re-open the road as safely and as quickly as possible".
He said:
The Stray Ferret also contacted Cllr Hull but has not received a response.
Mr Smith (right) at Kex Gill.
Council's response in full
Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director of environment, said:
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