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- ‘Shocking state’ of Sharow roads prevents motorists from going green
- No end in sight to Sharow’s pothole plight
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04
Jan
Last Updated: 03/01/2024
Will Sharow's potholed roads ever be top of a levelling up agenda?
Will enough of the pots of money for pothole repairs announced by the government find its way to sorting out Sharow's unresolved road issues?
The village near Ripon has 195 potholes of varying dimensions along 300 metres of Sharow Lane — its principal throughfare — and New Road.
When Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancelled the HS2 high speed rail project and promised to use the billions saved on solving the nation's persistent pothole problems, Sharow resident and former parish councillor James Thornborough initially felt that his lobbying on the issue would finally reap reward.
But the long-time road and environmental campaigner now believes that his village could be overlooked as the re-directed HS2 is spent on other locations across North Yorkshire.
Spending of £630,000 to solve nearby Ripon's long-running rocky road issues around Market Square looks a certainty, but Mr Thornborough has already spotted the potential get-out clauses that would enable North Yorkshire highways to make a last-minute swerve around Sharow's resurfacing request.
The potholes run the length of New Road
An email sent to him last month by Barrie Mason, North Yorkshire's assistant director for highways and transportation said:
"The Highways Capital Annual Programme for 2024/25 was recently approved. The roads in Sharow were not included in this programme, however, North Yorkshire Council has been awarded additional funding as part of the government’s Network North funding.
"We are currently in the process of developing an updated programme for 24/25 which will outline how this additional funding will be spent.
"Both New Road and Sharow Lane are being considered for this additional programme in 24/25. It is the intention that the updated programme will be finalised and formally approved in late January 2024."
'So many false dawns'
For Mr Thornborough, it's the words 'being considered' which gives him most concern. He told the Stray Ferret:
"There have been so many false dawns on this long and bumpy journey and I currently feel pessimistic rather than optimistic, but have fingers crossed."
He believes that the on-going situation is unsustainable and pointed out:
"All we are getting is reactive repairs to an increasingly worsening situation
"The current default of filling every new pothole does not constitute 'corrective action'. Corrective' action requires a sustainable solution and filled in Sharow potholes barely survive three months."
Sharow Lane, where temporary-fix repairs have been made to the deteriorating road surface
Mr Thornborough added:
"New Road and the top of Sharow Lane bear manifest evidence of a failed defect strategy. At last count 195 repaired pot holes spanned 300 metres of highway. No other road section in the region bears evidence of such wholesale degradation. Driving over the road surface is a 'bone shaker'.
"The North Yorkshire highways director has conceded repairs amounting to £200,000 are needed. To date that sum has never received capital award, despite the appalling condition. Intervention is required.
"In the case of Sharow, future tarmac repairs will only survive if the road is returned to a level surface. Highways engineers will need to complete a graded mechanical scrape followed by a new tarmac top. North Yorkshire Highways have no other option because they have admitted that the road surface is so decrepit that it will not support 'dressing' with chippings."
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