£69m Kex Gill road scheme set for December start after contractor named

A contractor has been lined up to carry out the £68.8 million re-alignment of the A59 at Kex Gill in the Harrogate district.

North Yorkshire County Council has awarded preferred bidder status to John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd, an Irish civil engineering and construction firm. A council spokeswoman said the value of the contract was “commercially confidential”.

John Sisk & Son was involved in the delivery of the 2012 London Olympics and the capital’s Crossrail project.

The decision is dependent on funding from the Department for Transport, which is currently reviewing the full business case. A decision is expected next month.

Contractors will move on site in December to clear the moorland by late February next year to avoid the bird nesting season. An estimated completion date is May 2025.

The A59 at Kex Gill, near Blubberhouses, is the main route between Harrogate and Skipton. Since 2000, the route has been closed 12 times following landslips.

The DfT awarded a £56.1 million grant for the realignment towards an original budget estimate of £61.6 million. The county council agreed to pay the remainder from its capital reserves.

The project has faced numerous delays and following tender returns, the estimated cost of the scheme increased by £7.2m to £68.8m, which the council attributes to due to inflation affecting constructions costs.

It therefore approved an increase in its allocated funding from £5.5m to £12.7m, given the DfT grant is fixed.

Asked whether the scheme would require detours and road closures, a council spokesewoman said:

“It’s very early to say for certain at this stage. However, we don’t envisage road closures or detours. The majority of work is offset from the existing A59 alignment being on the opposite side of the valley.”

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways on North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Keane Duncan

Cllr Keane Duncan, the council’s executive member for highways and transportation,  said:

“This is a key step forward for the Kex Gill re-alignment, which is one of the council’s most ambitious ever highways projects.

“The A59 provides a very important east-west connection in North Yorkshire and the route is listed by the government in the top 10 for strategic importance nationally.

“Re-aligning the route is the only real solution so we are pleased to now be at the stage where we are ready to appoint a contractor.

“We remain committed to carrying out this key project as quickly as possible and in the most cost-effective way.”

‘Light at end of tunnel’

Cllr Nathan Hull (pictured above), a Conservative who represents Washburn and Birstwith on the council, said:

“There’s light at the end of the tunnel with this project now that we have a preferred contractor and a start date in mind.

“The re-aligned route, which will leave the A59 at North Moor Road and re-join the existing road at Blubberhouses, will be safe and reliable for residents, businesses and visitors for generations to come.”

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Sisk’s Yorkshire projects include completing the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme City Centre Gateways and is delivering major infrastructure work at York Central.

Dominic Hodges, managing director of Sisk, said:

“The scheme is technically challenging with complex engineering solutions required within an environmentally sensitive area.

“We are working collaboratively with all stakeholders to develop an innovative scheme and look forward to working with the local community to leave a lasting legacy.”

 

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update

Planned roadworks in areas of the Harrogate district could still cause delays for drivers this morning.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Three way traffic lights are in still place at the junction with Dragon Road in Harrogate which are causing delays on Skipton Road. 

Northern Gas Networks is carrying out maintenance work in the area until tomorrow.

As previously reported, a main road out of Pateley Bridge will be closed for six weeks as repairs are carried out at Fellbeck bridge on the B6265.

The work will start on Monday and signs for a diversion will be in place.

Northern Gas Networks is undertaking work at Oakdale in Harrogate to replace a gas main, which has seen a road closure put in place. The closure will remain until September 23.

The company is also set to implement a road closure on Montpellier Road until September 30 as part of maintenance work.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting no cancellations on its services this morning.

You can find out more on the disruption to services here.

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Ainsty Farm Shop says if new PM was chosen sooner it could have saved their business

The owners of Ainsty Farm Shop have said if a new Prime Minister had been appointed sooner it could have saved their business.

This morning, the government announced a huge package of support for businesses that will see energy bills cut in half for the next six months.

Despite the energy crisis growing all summer, the measures were only announced after the two-month Conservative Party leadership battle between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

For the farm shop off the A59, which closed last week, it’s come too late.

The Stray Ferret reported in August how farmers Lily and Stuart Beaton had run the popular store for 22 years but planned to close due to spiralling bills.

They had been given an energy quote of £90,000 — a massive increase from the £20,000 a year they had previously been paying.

Ms Beaton said:

“In all honesty, if they’d got on with choosing the Prime Minister quicker, and made the announcement [on energy bills] sooner, we might have sat down and worked out the figures and looked if we’d be able to go on. gone on.

“I think we would have had a go at putting our prices up and seeing what the reaction was from people.”

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The package of support will last for six months, which Ms Beaton described as a “stay of execution”.

She is worried that next winter, businesses could again be placed in a perilous position with no guarantee of another government bailout.

She added:

“I think there are a lot of businesses that will benefit but I feel it’s moving the problem on. In six months time we won’t have all the renewable power in place, that’s the way we need to go.”

The couple are now busy removing the fridges, tills and shelving from the store as they prepare to simplify their business.

They will continue to sell meat and produce from their farm via an online mailing list and through their online shop.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update

Traffic is moving as normal during rush hour in the Harrogate district.

However, drivers are warned to expect some delays for roadworks which remain in place in areas.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

On Skipton Road in Harrogate, three way traffic lights are in still place at the junction with Dragon Road which are causing delays. Northern Gas Networks is carrying out maintenance work in the area until September 23.

The work could cause delays for drivers during this morning’s rush hour.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Water is due to put temporary lights in place on the A59 Harrogate Road in Knaresborough according to North Yorkshire County Council’s roadworks map.

Northern Gas Networks is undertaking work at Oakdale in Harrogate to replace a gas main, which has seen a road closure put in place. The closure will remain until September 23.

The company is also set to implement a road closure on Montpellier Road until September 30 as part of maintenance work.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting cancellations on its 1, 1A, 7 and 36 services this morning.

You can find out more on the disruption to services here.

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Dog walker seriously injured in collision with motorist near Ripon

A dog walker was taken to hospital with serious injuries after he was hit by a vehicle near Ripon.

The driver failed to leave any details and police are now trying to trace him.

The victim was walking his black Alsatian dog when a vehicle struck him and his dog.

The dog is believed to have been injured and ran off.

The incident happened at around 6pm on Sunday, September 11 on a country lane at Gate Bridge Road, which is between Grantley and Galphay.

The driver is described as a white man with short brown hair, a local accent, a short stubble beard and aged 30 to 40 years old.

He drove the victim to Harrogate District Hospital, left him outside and drove off without leaving any details.

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The victim, who is in his 30s, cannot recall the make of vehicle but remembers it was black.

He suffered serious injuries, which are not life-threatening. The dog has yet to be found.

North Yorkshire Police today urged anyone who has information, dashcam footage from surrounding roads at the time, or saw anything in the moments leading up to the incident is asked to email craig.taylor@northyorkshire.police.uk

You can also contact Traffic Constable Taylor on 101, select option 2 and ask for Craig Taylor.

Quote reference 12220163189 when sharing information.

Man to appear in court charged with arson at Knaresborough pub

A 45-year-old man will appear before York Crown Court this week charged with arson at a pub in Knaresborough.

Stephen John Pearson, of Nutwell Court Road in Lympstone, Devon, is charged with committing arson that damaged Blind Jack’s pub on Market Place in the town on August 21 last year.

He appeared before York Magistrates Court on August 25 for the alleged offence, when the case was referred to York Crown Court.

Mr Pearson is due to appear before the crown court on Friday.

The Grade II pub is named after Knaresborough’s John Metcalf, the first professional road builder to emerge in the Industrial Revolution.

Blind Jack's on Market Place, Knaresborough.

Blind Jack’s on Market Place, Knaresborough.

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Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update

Motorists should be aware that ongoing roadworks on Skipton Road continue this week which could cause delays during rush hour.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

On Skipton Road in Harrogate, three way traffic lights are in place at the junction with Dragon Road which are causing delays. Northern Gas Networks is carrying out maintenance work in the area until September 23.

The work could cause delays for drivers during this morning’s rush hour.

Northern Gas Networks is undertaking work at Oakdale in Harrogate to replace a gas main, which has seen a road closure put in place. The closure will remain until September 23.

The company is also set to implement a road closure on Montpellier Road until September 30 as part of maintenance work.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting no cancellations on its services this morning.

You can find out more on the disruption to services here.

Read more:

 

Harrogate district pays final respects to the Queen

Many organisations across the Harrogate district closed today as people paid their final respects to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Streets were quiet and there was a sombre mood as the nation watched the state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London.

Ripon Cathedral and Harrogate’s Royal Hall broadcast the event live on big screens, as did numerous pubs and churches.

Many other people watched the day’s events unfold live on BBC One.

Here are some photos taken during today’s funeral capturing local tributes and the unusually quiet state of the district.

Cambridge Street deserted during the funeral.

Bearer Party arrives at Westminster Abbey

Ripon Cathedral today

Flowers to the Queen at Harrogate’s war memorial.

Floral tributes in Knaresborough Market Place.

St Andrew’s Church in Starbeck broadcast the funeral live.

Starbeck High Street devoid of traffic.

A shop front tribute in Harrogate town centre.

The Queen’s funeral: Harrogate district arrangements for Monday

Events across the Harrogate district are being cancelled or rearranged on Monday when the state funeral for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is held.

The service at Westminster Abbey will be broadcast at Ripon Cathedral and the day has been declared a national bank holiday.

Our list below, which is continually updated, details how the district is affected. If you have any news for inclusion, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate

Ripon

Transport

Supermarkets

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‘Heartless’ Morrisons stops pharmacy deliveries from Ripon store

A concerned son has complained to the chief executive of Morrisons after its in-store pharmacy in Ripon stopped delivering prescriptions.

Jonathan Parkin’s mother, who lives in sheltered accommodation in Ripon, received free deliveries from the pharmacy for several years.

But the service ceased this month — leaving Mr Parkin’s family rushing to find alternative arrangements before her medication ran out.

During a recent visit to his mother, she told him she was worried about her supply of tablets expiring in a day or two. He helped her call the pharmacy, which told them its delivery van was no longer in use and the service had ended.

Mr Parkin subsequently wrote to David Potts, chief executive of Bradford-based Morrisons. His letter, which was also sent to the Stray Ferret, says:

“My mother is obviously heavily dependant on her medications so to be told this delivery, which she had come to rely upon, and I’m sure many other elderly people have as well, had now been stopped was devastating and very worrying to her.”

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The letter also accused the company of not communicating the news adequately to customers, some of whom, like his mother, are vulnerable. He added:

“We will obviously now have to find an alternative pharmacy with a delivery service, which is a pity as my sisters and I always did our own family shopping as well as our mother’s when we took her prescription in and so will not now be shopping in Morrisons again due to this heartless, penny-pinching decision.”

Mr Parkin, who lives near Pateley Bridge, today told the Stray Ferret he was glad his family became aware of the situation before Monday, when the Queen’s funeral could have caused major problems getting hold of the various tablets his mother takes.

He added he had yet to receive a response to his letter from Morrisons.

The Stray Ferret has contacted Morrisons but has not had a response.