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Jun 2024
Crash reignites calls to reduce speed limit at Burnt Yates
A parish council has renewed calls on North Yorkshire Council to reduce the speed limit on a stretch of road near Harrogate.
Geoff Walker, chairman of Clint-Cum-Hamlets Parish Council, told the Stray Ferret that councillors and residents have been campaigning to reduce the speed limit on the B6165 between Clint and Burnt Yates.
Mr Walker said since moving to the area in 2021 he and other parish councillors had campaigned to reduce the speed limit from 50mph to “40mph or less”.
Following a crash on the B6165 near Clint last week, Mr Walker added:
People came out and commented the current speed limit is too high for the road layout.
They said there had been multiple crashes here before, all due to vehicles going too fast for the road.
Mr Walker said the parish council has “advised North Yorkshire Council there is a issue”, adding videos of speeding cars and dangerous drivers have been sent to justify councillors’ arguments.
What I fail to understand is why North Yorkshire Council strongly resist decreasing the speed limit.
If you simply reduce the limit in a known dangerous area and around 70% to 80% of road users adhere to the lower limit – you will always get some who ignore road traffic laws – then the road becomes a safer place.
Mr Walker also told the Stray Ferret he feels input from local councillors and members of the public would help identify parts of the road in need of a speed reduction, adding this would “reduce risk and save lives”.
We shouldn't wait for fatality to trigger change.
'Continue to liaise with the parish council'
The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Council if it supported the decision to reduce the speed limit, as well as what measures would be taken to address concerns.
Area highways manager Melisa Burnham said in response:
We are aware of the concerns raised by Clint-Cum-Hamlets Parish Council following the accident on the B6165 on June 1.
While we cannot comment on the incident, we will continue to liaise with the parish council on this matter.
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