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Feb 2022

Last Updated: 01/02/2022

Transport

'Shocking state' of Sharow roads prevents motorists from going green

by Tim Flanagan

| 01 Feb, 2022

Villager James Thornborough says the 'shocking state' of the roads near Ripon are so bad it's 'not safe to drive on them in smaller vehicles that use less fuel and produce fewer emissions.'

sharow-31st-jan-2022-potholed-road-in-sharow

The 'shocking state' of roads in Sharow is preventing motorists from going green, according to villager James Thornborough.

Mr Thornborough is so upset about the state of the roads that he has raised the matter with Skipton and Ripon Conservative MP Julian Smith and North Yorkshire County Council chief executive Richard Flinton.

He told the Stray Ferret:

"The road surfaces are in such a shocking state, that it is not safe to drive on them in smaller vehicles that use less fuel and produce fewer emissions."

In email correspondence with Mr Smith and Mr Flinton, Mr Thornborough said:

"Given the national government wishes us at our expense to go green ASAP, how can that be achieved If you force village owners like myself to abandon my small commute car in favour of a mid-size SUV to traverse Sharow roads?

"Please note that I did not say navigate our roads because that is now impossible. Every journey stresses suspension parts, grazes tyre side walls, and forces one to meander from one side to another attempting to choose the path of least damage."

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Mr Thornborough's email, which was copied to the Stray Ferret, added:

"The local Sharow roads consist of pot holes, fissures, and bald tarmac top interrupted by the occasional neat tarmac patch and useless NYCC highways tarmac toothpaste repairs. The tarmac toothpaste repairs started disintegrating the day after application.

"We still have large pot holes marked for repair but not filled."

The uneven surface on Sharow Lane

In an emailed reply to Mr Thornborough, Mr Flinton, said:

"I have copied in Nigel Smith who is head of highway operations for the council, Mr Smith will look into the issues that you have raised and respond directly with you."

At the time of publication, no response had been received from Julian Smith.

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'Shocking state' of Sharow roads prevents motorists from going green

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