Public control of North Yorkshire bus network ‘not realistic’, says transport chief

Public control of North Yorkshire’s bus network is not a “realistic answer” to the system’s current woes, says the county’s transport chief.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transport at North Yorkshire County Council, said such a move would be too expensive for the authority to take on.

It comes as officials at the county council have warned passengers that some services may be scrapped if not enough people use them.

Cllr Duncan told an executive meeting that bringing the network under public authority ownership – often referred to as franchising –  would lead to “20 to 30 thousands pounds of subsidy” per passenger every year.

He said:

“I think that no matter what political party you may come from in North Yorkshire County Council and beyond, or whatever political persuasion you might be, you’re looking at those figures at potentially subsiding per passenger per year at ten, twenty, thirty thousand pounds and it just doesn’t stack up.

“The case is not there. We know we have got some unique times in North Yorkshire and we have got to work through those. It is potentially more difficult than just ‘lets have public authority control’, that is not going to be a realistic answer to the problems we face.”

Local control is ‘better value’

Matthew Topham, of the Better Buses for North Yorkshire campaign group, said that bringing the county’s network under local control was “common sense”.

Mr Topham said a franchising model – which Transport for London and Greater Manchester operate under – would be better value for passengers.

He said:

“Far from being “unrealistic,” taking buses into local control is the only common sense answer. It’s better value. It’s popular. It unlocks unique powers to improve services.

“Findings from London show franchising is a more efficient use of public money. In Jersey, it helped the council add routes while cutting costs by £800,000 a year. Imagine if we had it here!

“Polls show over two-thirds of the public back local control. Experts from the Countryside Charity CPRE, levelling up think tank IPPR North, and even the UN agree: local control is the way forward.

“If the mountainous areas of France or Switzerland all find it cheaper to coordinate services through local control, we can trust that North Yorkshire will too.”

The network’s woes come as seven months ago the government rejected North Yorkshire County Council’s bid for a £116m share of Boris Johnson’s high-profile Bus Back Better initiative, saying the local authority’s plans lacked ambition.

Since then, local politicians have raised concern over the future of services in their area.

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Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate, said he feared up to 80 services could be under threat across the county.

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat councillor for Pateley Bridge, Andrew Murday, said residents of his division faced having just two services a day to Harrogate.

He said:

“We just have to do something about bus services, and encourage more people onto buses. We need to know how we are going to go about discouraging people from driving and encouraging people on to buses, so bus services can thrive.”

Council sets aside £11m for A59 Kex Gill contingency funding

North Yorkshire County Council has set aside £11 million to cover any contingencies for a major realignment of the A59 at Kex Gill.

The project is set to cost £68.8 million and construction was due to start this month, but no precise date has been given.

The authority awarded a £50.7 million to John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd, an Irish civil engineering and construction firm, to build the scheme.

The project is due to be funded by a £56.1 million grant from the Department for Transport, with the council covering the rest from its reserves.

Now, Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways, has confirmed that £11 million has been factored into the £68 million budget to cover any issues with ground conditions or bad weather.

Cllr Duncan said:

“The re-alignment of Kex Gill will undoubtedly be one of the council’s most ambitious ever highways projects. The road has been identified by the government as one of the most important strategic routes nationally and this project is vital to maintaining east-west connectivity.

“Within the budget of £68.8 million there is an £11 million contingency. This includes a contingency for both price inflation and potential construction issues that may arise such as unexpected ground conditions or prolonged bad weather. The risk of price inflation sits with the contractor and this has been factored into the total bid price.

“There is always the risk of cost increases on any major construction project, however, we believe we have secured as much certainty as we can.”

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It comes as senior county council officials have warned about the risk involved with the authority’s major projects amid soaring inflation.

Gary Fielding, the council’s director for strategic resources, warned previously that the “burden of risk” for major projects, such as the realignment of the A59 at Kex Gill, will fall on the authority amid soaring inflation.

The last update said contractors were expected to move on site this month to clear the moorland by late February next year, to avoid the bird nesting season. The 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 project has faced numerous delays and following tender returns, the estimated cost of the scheme increased by £7.2 million to £68.8 million, which the council attributes to due to inflation affecting constructions costs.

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

Business Breakfast: Harrogate College event links employers with students

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Harrogate College is holding an event that gives businesses the chance to talk to customer service-trained students about part-time work that fits around their studies.

The college’s employer network recruitment fair enables Harrogate district firms the opportunity to come into college and speak to students directly.

Each business can approach the recruitment fair in its own way: it can conduct an interview and offer work that day, or share information about the business before inviting students for a formal interview at the place of work.

The free event takes place at the college, on Hornbeam Park, on November 2 from 11am to 1.30pm. Tickets can be booked here.

Construction firm wins award for junction 47 upgrade 

Junction 47 A1

Junction 47

Building contractor, Farrans Construction, won the Best Highways and Transportation Project award at a recent CIHT Yorkshire and Humber event for its delivery of the junction 47 A1(M) upgrade for client North Yorkshire County Council.

The project, near Flaxby, involved widening of three of the four slip roads onto and off the roundabout to increase capacity as well as a number of junction improvements.

Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways and transport, said:

“It is one of the busiest junctions in North Yorkshire and since the scheme was completed earlier this year we have seen a significant difference in reducing congestion and improving road safety.

“It represents a successful collaboration between the county council, Farrans, AECOM and National Highways in overcoming difficult situations without major delays to the travelling public during construction on this key route which unlocks future growth in and around Harrogate.”

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Otley Road cycle path could be re-routed with new traffic restrictions

The next stage of Harrogate’s Otley Road cycle path could be re-routed onto side streets with restrictions for traffic under new proposals currently out to consultation.

North Yorkshire County Council is considering diverting part of the route onto Queens Road or Victoria Road in order to build wider cycle paths and footways.

Both of these options would link with Beech Grove which is seen as a key route for cyclists and could become a one-way traffic system – or see the return of bollards blocking cars and other vehicles as part of a low traffic neighbourhood which was removed in summer after a trial.

Option 1

The first option is what was originally proposed for this phase of the Otley Road cycle path which runs between the junctions of Cold Bath Road and Beech Grove.

These plans include junction upgrades and shared cycle paths and footways, similar to what has already been built on Otley Road. But the county council said some sections could be too narrow, which is why it is considering re-routing.

Option 2

Under these plans the route would be diverted onto Victoria Road with a one-way traffic system and the removal of some parking spaces to allow for a 1.5 metre wide cycle path.

The one-way traffic system would run up until Lancaster Road, before connecting with Beech Grove.

Option 3

This final option would see a 3m wide shared cycle path and footway built on Queens Road before connecting with Lancaster Road and Beech Grove.

Parallel and toucan crossings are also proposed.

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The long-awaited consultation, which runs until November 28, comes as the county council has faced sustained criticism for slow progress on the cycle path and other active travel plans in Harrogate.

It was in 2017 when funding was first awarded to upgrade Otley Road and construction of phase two of the cycle path now won’t start until at least next summer.

Parts of the existing route which opened at the start of this year are also set to be rebuilt following safety concerns.

These setbacks follow further controversy for the county council and its Beech Grove low traffic neighbourhood which is now set to be reignited as a topic of debate following the latest proposals.

Beech Grove is seen as a key link to connect Otley Road and the £11.9 million Harrogate Gateway project. But there was both joy and dismay when the traffic restrictions were removed from the street in August.

And although there were strong feelings on both sides of the debate, most residents were unanimous in their view that the county council failed to properly consult with the public.

Councillor Keane Duncan, executive member for highways at the authority, said there are pros and cons for all of the latest proposals “which is why we need to engage with local residents and stakeholders”.

He said:

“It’s important to consider the possibility of conflict between road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, as well as the impact on properties along the route and parking.

“We would urge everybody to have their say and help us to shape the final designs.”

As part of the consultation, a meet the designer event is also being organised to allow for people to discuss the Otley Road proposals in more detail.

The county council is also seeking views for cycling and walking improvements in the Oatlands Drive area of Harrogate after previous plans for a one-way traffic system were scrapped.

For more information and to have your say go to www.northyorks.gov.uk/current-consultations.

Overspend on junction 47 upgrade remains unknown

The full extent of the multi-million pound overspend on the junction 47 upgrade on the A1(M) remains unknown — six months after the project ended.

The scheme near Flaxby, which was originally budgeted to cost £7.7m, finished in April, seven months later than planned.

North Yorkshire County Council revealed more than a year ago that costs had increased to £10m and has not given an updated figure since.

The Stray Ferret asked the council this week when a figure would be published.

Richard Binks, head of major projects and infrastructure at the council, said:

 “We are continuing discussions with our contractor over the final account agreement.

“The project was completed in summer, since then remedial and road safety audit work has been undertaken, so we are only a few months beyond substantial completion of the project.

“It is usual for final accounts to take several months to be brought to a conclusion. We are confident of reaching a conclusion shortly.”

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Scheme ‘unlocks growth around Harrogate’

The scheme involved widening three of the four slip roads onto and off the roundabout to increase capacity, as well as a number of junction improvements.

Traffic signals were installed on the roundabout to improve traffic flow and added to the T-junction between the A168 and the A59, a short distance from junction 47 on the York side to benefit drivers turning onto the A59 and to improve safety.

To the west of junction 47, between the A1 and the Flaxby roundabout, a lane was added for traffic travelling east, so there are now two lanes in each direction between those two roundabouts.

Officials celebrate the completion of works.

Cllr Keane Duncan, the council’s executive member for highways, previously said the project had reduced congestion and improved road safety, adding:

“The scheme unlocks future growth in and around Harrogate, with the changes helping to manage significant residential and commercial development anticipated along the A59 corridor.”

 

New plans to promote cycling in Harrogate to be revealed on Monday

A consultation will begin on Monday on new plans to promote cycling and walking in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire County Council also revealed today it now “hopes” to start phase two of the Otley Road cycle route in summer next year — more than a year after it had planned to begin.

Monday’s consultation will ask for suggestions to improve active travel in and around Oatlands Drive, as well as for views on the Otley Road cycle route, its links with Beech Grove and the town centre.

Previous plans to reduce congestion in Oatlands, which included introducing a one-way system on Oatlands Drive, were shelved in spring last year after numerous complaints.

As part of its latest plans, the county council will undertake a traffic survey looking at parking, modes of transport and the volume and speed of traffic.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways, Cllr Keane Duncan, said:

“We are looking at options for active travel and traffic calming improvements in the Oatlands area as part of our aim to encourage cycling and walking, easing congestion and improving air quality in Harrogate.

“Previous consultations about the Oatlands area have generated a lot of comments, so we have made a commitment to carry out a more detailed study to assess possible improvements there.

“The public engagement demonstrates our commitment to ensuring local people are involved in the design process from the outset.”

Cllr Duncan said he hoped “potential options” would be presented by the end of the year “so they will be ready when further funding becomes available”.

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Further public engagement on phase two of Otley Road cycle route, its links with Beech Grove and the town centre will run alongside that of Oatlands Drive, focusing on the final designs.

‘Pros and cons for all designs’

Three options for the cycle route are being considered. A meet the designer event will also be held for local stakeholder groups and residents, allowing them the opportunity to discuss the options in further detail.

Cllr Duncan added:

“There are pros and cons for all of the proposed designs which is why we need to engage with local residents and stakeholders.

“It’s important to consider the possibility of conflict between road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, as well as the impact on properties along the route and parking.”

Harrogate cycling routes

The interactive map showing proposed town centre cycle routes.

An interactive map giving an overview of active travel projects in Harrogate and how they link together is available here.

The consultation will run from Monday until November 28. Further details will be available here.

 

‘Sink or swim’ for North Yorkshire bus routes over next six months

North Yorkshire’s transport chief said the next six months will be “sink or swim” for some bus routes amid a lack of funding from central government.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for transport at North Yorkshire County Council, said while £336,000 from government for bus services was “better than nothing”, it was a fraction of the £116 million previously asked for by the county council.

The Department for Transport awarded the council the funding to help with staff capacity in its enhanced partnerships team, which helps to draw up funding bids and works with operators.

The figure is significantly less than the £116 million bid made under the council’s Bus Services Improvement Plan earlier this year, which ministers turned down.

Cllr Duncan said the authority would continue to “face up to immense challenges” of maintaining bus services. He added that for some routes, it will prove to be “sink or swim”.

Cllr Duncan said:

“£336,000 is obviously better than nothing. But putting this into perspective, this is equivalent to less than 0.3% of our original £116 million Bus Services Improvement Plan bid.

“This is a pretty gutting state of affairs for the team who worked on our bid. I can’t hide that. Sadly, the fund was significantly oversubscribed and we were one of several authorities to miss out.

“The task now is to make the most of where we’re at. The enhanced partnership met earlier this month for the first time. This was a very positive meeting, with representatives of all of the county’s operators in attendance.

“We are facing up to immense challenges over the next six months, which will prove to be a sink or swim period for many routes.”

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Cllr Duncan added that the council would continue to look at improving bus services, despite having its multi-million pound funding bid rejected.

He said:

“It is only by the council and operators working closely together and sharing intelligence that we will be able to face up to these immediate challenges facing our network, protecting existing services as far as possible while making steps forward to improve the service provided to the public.”

Ahead of awarding the council staff capacity funding, the government said the grant would help it continue to work with bus companies.

In a letter to council officials, it said:

“We understand that this funding does not replace Bus Services Improvement Plan funding to spend on transforming your bus services.

“But we do hope it will help to support your ongoing work with operator partners, especially working through an enhance partnership or franchising arrangement, to deliver better bus services (whether they are commercial or tendered) and enable you to use local bus funding to best effect and attract future bus funding as it becomes available.”

YorBus: Transport chief defends service after ‘blank cheque’ concern

The transport boss of North Yorkshire has moved to defend the county’s on-demand bus service after concerns were raised that it could become a “blank cheque” of public funding.

YorBus was launched as a trial to provide services in poorly-served areas in Ripon, Masham and Bedale, and allows passengers to book via an app.

It has been hailed by North Yorkshire County Council as an “innovative” approach to public transport and the authority has repeatedly stated its ambition to roll-out the scheme across the county.

However, there have been concerns over the running costs which are higher than normal bus services subsidised by the council.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transportation at the county council, has now said “incorrect” figures were discussed at a recent meeting and that the costs are reducing as more passengers use the service.

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He also said it is “unfair” to compare YorBus with normal services because of its flexible offer.

Cllr Duncan said: 

“The average cost per passenger journey as of August 2022 is £11.68 – that’s £3 more than the average subsidy per journey on for the fixed services.

“This figure has reduced from £35.00 per passenger journey in the month it launched (July 2021), and this continues to reduce as passenger numbers increase.

“Comparing YorBus with fixed timetable routes is in many ways unfair. While YorBus has a higher subsidy per journey at present, it is available to around 14,000 people within its zone of operation.

“Conventional services may have a lower subsidy level but operate on a fixed timetable.

“This can only benefit those lucky enough to live along the bus route.”

In total, YorBus cost the council £229,000 last year, and another £230,000 has been set aside for the remainder of the trial period which will run until June 2023.

Passenger fees were also recently increased in August with a single journey costing £2 for adults and £1 for a child, while under-fives travel free and concessionary bus passes can also be used.

Keane Duncan

Keane Duncan 

At a council meeting earlier this month, concerns were raised over the running costs and that taxpayers outside the trial area are not seeing any benefits.

Settle Cllr David Staveley said that with 850 active YorBus users out of 611,000 population in North Yorkshire, there will be many residents who “might not think it is the best use of taxpayers’ money”.

He said:

“I’m just a bit worried that it sounds like a blank cheque.”

In response, Cllr Duncan said in a statement this week:

 “YorBus is very positive in the sense that it maximises the number of people we can offer transport to and is much more flexible.

“People can be picked up and dropped off at any bus stop in the zone.

“It’s also worth remembering that YorBus is a pilot.

“We’re continually reviewing the service and making improvements so we’re in the best position to decide whether we can expand it to new zones in the county.”

Artificial intelligence to be used to improve winter travel on Harrogate district roads

Artificial intelligence is to be employed on Harrogate district roads this winter to keep traffic moving during severe weather.

North Yorkshire County Council revealed yesterday it was working with Finnish weather technology firm Vaisala to improve monitoring of its network of 5,800 miles of road.

Vaisala will use a combination of artificial intelligence, computer modelling and live data to survey road conditions more quickly.

A council news release said:

“As highways officers drive the network, the video technology automatically surveys the roads and identifies defects. It processes the data within a few hours.

“This gives the highways team a visual snapshot of the whole network, capturing useful data about the road condition and road signs very quickly and enabling them to target resources most efficiently.”

The authority is trialling Vaisala Wx Horizon, which uses real-time weather information, historic weather and road condition data alongside computer modelling to help identify required winter treatments.

It is also investigating Internet of Things sensors to provide feedback on road surface temperatures and moisture levels.

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Last year the council spent £500,000 on measures including installing 27 weather stations across the county to provide up-to-date information to help the council make decisions about when and where to grit roads.

The B6265 at Greenhow near Pateley Bridge and the B6267 Low Burton near Masham are among the areas with weather stations.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, the former executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire County Council, pictured at a weather station last year.

The stations include solar-powered cameras that relay live images of road conditions to the county council’s website, where they help people plan their journeys.

‘Vital to everyday lives’

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

“North Yorkshire’s extensive highways network, which includes many rural roads, is vital to the everyday lives of the county’s residents, its businesses, tourism industry and wider economic prosperity.

“That’s why we have a strong track record in putting ourselves at the forefront of technological advances that enable us to make quick, well-informed decisions to help to keep our roads open and people on the move during winter weather.

“These latest developments with Vaisala continue that long-standing approach and demonstrate our commitment to ongoing improvement to enable our dedicated teams to support residents, businesses and visitors across the county.”

Jarkko Sairanen, Vaisala’s executive vice president for weather and the environment, said:

“I am convinced the county and its people will benefit from the latest advances in mobile and Internet of Things technologies to help keep the road network safe and accessible, while minimising the cost and carbon footprint of efficient winter maintenance operations.”

The Stray Ferret has asked the council how much the new measures cost but has yet to receive a figure.

Picture: At one of North Yorkshire’s weather stations are (from left): Mike Francis of NY Highways; Erik Sucksdorff, sales director at Vaisala; Jo Wright, sales manager at Vaisala; Richard Marr, highway area manager at North Yorkshire County Council; Nigel Smith, head of highway operations at NYCC; Barrie Mason, assistant director, highways and transportation at NYCC; Jarkko Sairanen, Vaisala’s executive vice president for weather and the environment; and Alan Palfreyman, technical officer at NYCC

 

Government awards North Yorkshire £336,000 bus grant

The government is set to award North Yorkshire County Council £336,000 for bus services just five months after rejecting a multi-million pound funding bid.

Ministers wrote to council officers to offer a grant to cover the costs of staffing in its enhanced partnership team, which helps to draw up funding bids and work with bus operators to improve services.

The move comes after the Department for Transport rejected a £116 million funding bid as part of the authority’s Bus Service Improvement Plan for the county.

In a letter to council officials, the government said the grant would help it continue to work with bus companies.

It said:

“We understand that this funding does not replace BSIP funding to spend on transforming your bus services.

“But we do hope it will help to support your ongoing work with operator partners, especially working through an enhance partnership or franchising arrangement, to deliver better bus services (whether they are commercial or tendered) and enable you to use local bus funding to best effect and attract future bus funding as it becomes available.”

Failed funding bid

The move comes after the county council failed in a bid for bus improvement funding back in April.

Ministers rejected a £116 million bid from the authority which would have funded new bus lanes, more affordable fares, real-time passenger information and a simpler ticketing system for services across North Yorkshire.

The government said it refused the scheme because it “lacked ambition”.

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Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for transport at the council, warned in July that bus services were “facing a potential cliff edge” due to loss of government subsidies.

Despite the failed bid, Cllr Duncan said previously that the council would continue with some of its plans for transport – such as a park and ride in the district.

He said:

“While we suffered a setback with our Bus Service Improvement Plan bid to the Department for Transport being unsuccessful, we are working to identify potential sites along the A61 corridor and elsewhere in town.

“This will build on the work we’ve already undertaken as part of the Harrogate Transport Improvements Programme study that was completed in 2021.”

The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire County Council to ask whether it felt the latest bus grant was sufficient, but had not received a response by the time of publication.