This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Politics
    • Transport
    • Lifestyle
    • Community
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Education
    • Sport
    • Harrogate
    • Ripon
    • Knaresborough
    • Boroughbridge
    • Pateley Bridge
    • Masham
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Newsletter
  • Podcasts

Interested in advertising with us?

Advertise with us

  • News & Features
  • Your Area
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Newsletter
  • Podcasts
  • Politics
  • Transport
  • Lifestyle
  • Community
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Education
  • Sport
Advertise with us
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Latest News

We want to hear from you

Tell us your opinions and views on what we cover

Contact us
Connect with us
  • About us
  • Advertise your job
  • Correction and complaints
Download on App StoreDownload on Google Play Store
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comments Participation T&Cs
Trust In Journalism

Copyright © 2020 The Stray Ferret Ltd, All Rights Reserved

Site by Show + Tell

Subscribe to trusted local news

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

  • Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.

Already a subscriber? Log in here.

17

Jan

Last Updated: 16/01/2025
Transport
Transport

Academic raises fresh road accident concerns in west Harrogate

by Calvin Robinson Chief Reporter

| 17 Jan, 2025
Comment

1

parametersplan
Some of the sites allocated for housing in the west of Harrogate.

An academic has raised concerns about an increase in road accidents in the west of Harrogate caused by increased housebuilding.

Professor John Wann, a Harrogate resident and road accident researcher at the University of London, questioned whether North Yorkshire Council had accurately assessed the "acceptable impact" of the new homes on roads.

Up to 4,000 homes are being built or awaiting planning permission in the area, including schemes on Otley Road, Whinney Lane and Yew Tree Lane.

The latest scheme for 480 homes on land between Otley Road, Beckwith Head Road, Howhill Road and Howhill Quarry Road was approved on December 10, 2024.

Professor Wann raised concern over the council's assessment on the impact on local roads during the application process and wrote to the local authority to suggest there could be an increase in accidents.

He argued the impact on rural roads, known as “B” roads, which surround the area covered by the West Harrogate Parameters Plan — a document which outlines how the west of Harrogate’s roads, schools and health services will cope with extra homes — had not been fully considered.

Professor Wann said while car drivers were most at risk, motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists would also be "disproportionately affected".

He said:

The problem with rural roads such as those surrounding the West Harrogate Parameters Plan is that they have a narrow carriageway, there are many blind spots and pinch points, no pedestrian walkways and most of the traffic is approaching 60mph. At that speed a pedestrian, cyclist or horse rider has little chance of surviving a collision.

Professor Wann told the Stray Ferret that there were a number of accidents on minor roads in the area. He cited House of Commons Library statistics, which show a cluster of “minor” accidents in the west of Harrogate.

The figures, which cover the period between 2020 and 2024, show central Harrogate and the Stray had the most accidents with 499 recorded in total — 415 of which were classed as “minor”.

accidentsmap

Maps of accidents in Harrogate, including west Harrogate. Picture: House of Commons Library.

But, Professor Wann pointed out that increasing the number of cars in the west of Harrogate could see an “equivalent increase in accident rates”.

He said:

There is a real risk that roads, such as Lady Lane, Shaw Lane, Pot Bank and Otley Road to Leathley will become 'rat-runs' with accident black spots and may become unusable by walkers, horse riders or cyclists.

He questioned whether it was time for the council to re-evaluate the access roads in the area and bring in more comprehensive speed restrictions and speed monitoring on rural roads to avoid "growth in accident blackspots".

He also said that accidents to the east of Harrogate were much lower and that the upcoming Local Plan should focus on housing in that area due to its access to the A1(M).

The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire Council for a response to Professor Wann’s concerns.

A spokesperson said residents should raise concerns with the council in the first instance so that officers can respond directly.

The move comes as residents and councillors have long raised concern over a lack of infrastructure in the west of Harrogate to be able to deal with the increase in homes.

Cllr John Mann, who represents Oatlands and Pannal division on North Yorkshire Council, wrote the council’s executive in September 2024 to call for a moratorium on any new housing sites being allocated to the area.

He said the area has had “its fair share” of new schemes and its road infrastructure is “already under strain”.

StarCouncil quashes hopes of west Harrogate bypassStarCall for halt in further housing developments in west of HarrogateStar480-home plan in Harrogate approved despite infrastructure fears