The death of a man who had just got off a bus near Harrogate this week has prompted calls for better visibility on the unlit stretch of road.
The unnamed man, who was in his 90s, died after being hit by a vehicle on the A61 Ripon Road between New Park roundabout and Killinghall at about 5.50pm on Monday, November 6.
The man had just alighted at the northbound bus stop on the bridge close to the junction with Knox Mill Lane.
Councillor Monika Slater, a Liberal Democrat who represents Bilton Grange and New Park on North Yorkshire Council, contacted council officers after the incident. She said:
“It is a very dark stretch of road with a speed limit of 40mph and no central reservation. I feel that work could be done to improve the visibility for both drivers and pedestrians in that area.
“North Yorkshire Council need to ensure that bus stops are located in safe places and I have asked them to have a look at what they can do to increase the safety of bus passengers using that stop.”
The unlit stretch of road where the collision occurred.
Cllr Slater received a response saying the council’s road safety team was working with North Yorkshire Police “to fully assess the incident and identify the cause”.
The council officer replied:
“This includes an assessment of the road condition, signs, lines and lighting in the area. Once the report is completed it goes to the North Yorkshire Council executive to review and this would include, if appropriate, any recommendations to alter any of the signs, lines, lighting, etc.
“This is not a quick process as the investigation is very detailed, but we will keep you appraised as this is progressed.”
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Man in 90s dies after Harrogate collision
A man who was seriously injured after a collision between Harrogate and Killinghall has died.
The man, who was in his 90s, had just got off the bus when he was struck by a Ford Fiesta travelling northbound on Monday night (November 6).
He was left in a serious condition in hospital.
The incident took place on the A61, on the bridge close to the junction with Knox Mill Lane, at 5.50pm. A 36 bus stop is situated on the bridge.
This evening, North Yorkshire Police confirmed that the man has died.
A force statement said:
“His family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.”
Officers have also appealed for witnesses and dash cam footage to help with the investigation into the collision.
Police added:
“Officers are continuing their enquiries and are renewing the appeal for information or dash cam footage.
“Anyone who could help the investigation is asked to email MCIT@northyorkshire.police.uk or phone 101, quoting reference number 12230211344.”
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- Man in 90s seriously injured after Harrogate collision
Harrogate mums launch baby classes to tackle covid impact on education
Two Harrogate mums have launched parent and child classes to combat the impact of covid on local education.
Fiona Cunningham, who teaches at Rigg Farm Montessori Nursery, and Charlotte Davison, who teaches at Grove Road Community Primary School, felt the pandemic stunted young childrens’ speech and language development, as well as “overall school readiness”.
Early Explorer classes will offer sensory story time sessions improve communication and speech skills ahead of starting school.
Ms Cunningham said:
“Having had children of our own we are hoping to provide something we felt was missing in this area.
“As passionate teachers and mums, we noticed the impact that covid had on children’s development in terms of speech and language. We wanted to use our teaching skills and experience to support families and children in the area to inspire a love of learning through sensory stories and experiences.”
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The pair hope the classes will help children better understand narratives, increase vocabulary and cognitive development.
Ms Cunningham added:
“In our classes, stories come to life through a symphony of sights, sounds, textures and scents.
“Through carefully curated tales, interactive props, soothing music and tactile elements, children will embark on a journey of exploration and imagination.”
Once established, Ms Cunningham and Ms Davison hope to offer maths and writing classes too.
“We are so excited to be starting this new project and have enjoyed meeting our first Early Explorers in the recent weeks and can’t wait to welcome even more of you to our sensory story time classes!”
Early Explorers will be held at Staveley & Copgrove Village Hall on Monday mornings, and at Killinghall Village Hall on Friday mornings.
The classes are suitable for parents with babies and children up to the age of 4. Prices start at £9.
Ripon drink driver banned after police chase near HarrogateA drunk driver from Ripon who failed to stop for police in a village near Harrogate has been banned from driving for 14 months.
Jonathan Michael Peter Harrison, 42, of Risplith, near Ripon, led officers on a pursuit along winding, wet country roads in Killinghall.
He was arrested after his manner of driving caught the eye of officers on patrol in Killinghall in the early hours of November 26 last year.
According to North Yorkshire Police, Harrison failed to stop when requested and drove his pick-up erratically along country roads for about 20 minutes. His vehicle finally came to a stop when he drove onto the driveway of a farm.
He refused to get out and officers had to use force to extract him. He smelled of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred.
He refused to provide a breath test at the scene and was taken to hospital to be checked over, where he agreed to provide a specimen of blood that showed his alcohol level to be almost 50 percent over the legal limit.
He was charged with drink driving, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop for a police officer and obstructing a police officer.
He pleaded guilty to all offences and was sentenced on Thursday this week.
Investigating Officer, PC Lewis Grainge of North Yorkshire Police’s specialist operations unit, said:
“Mr Harrison put other road users in danger through his drunk and erratic driving. The result is that he has now lost his licence and must take an extended driving test.
“He had no consideration for other members of the public using the roads or those living in the residential areas in which he drove through. It was fortunate that no-one was injured during this incident and Mr Harrison facing more serious charges.”
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Police car involved in Killinghall collision
A police car was involved in a two-vehicle crash in Killinghall today in which both drivers were taken to hospital.
North Yorkshire Police said it was contacted at 3.45pm today about a collision between a white Hyundai car and a police car on Otley Road.
It is believed the incident occurred at the junction with Grainbeck Lane.
The police statement said:
“Emergency services attended the scene. No serious injuries have been reported, but both drivers of the vehicles have attended hospital with minor injuries.
“Road closures were put in place between Lund Lane and Otley Road, to allow officers to determine the circumstances around the collision and to enable the vehicles to be recovered. These have now been lifted and the road is now open.”
It added:
“While the police car involved will have audio and video recordings of the collision, officers are still keen to hear from any other witnesses who saw the collision and/or recorded dashcam footage.”
Anyone with information can email Dan.Stoppard@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101 and ask to speak to traffic sergeant 880 Dan Stoppard quoting reference NYP-24102023-0320.
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Killinghall to get new cricket pavilion
Killinghall Cricket Club has been given the go-ahead to build a new two-storey pavilion.
North Yorkshire Council approved the club’s planning application today, after saying previous designs would have been too large and overbearing.
The decision paves the way for the demolition of the current 1970s building, which has two small changing areas and communal showers that give little privacy.
The club hopes the new pavilion will be more appealing to female players and umpires, who currently have to arrive in kit or get changed in the toilets or communal areas.
The current pavilion
Trevor Watson, assistant director of planning at the council, included a series of conditions attached to the decision.
They included that development must begin within three years and construction work can only take place between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday and from 8am to 3pm on Saturdays.
Killinghall finished fourth in division one of this year’s Nidderdale and District Amateur Cricket League.
Since the demolition of the Three Horseshoes pub and the long-term closure of The Greyhounds Inn, the club pavilion and bar has become a social centre for the village at weekends.
It hopes the new pavilion will enhance this and encourage junior players.
The club said in planning documents:
“This development is very much needed to the club and the village community.”
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Council hoping to build £20 million Killinghall bypass
North Yorkshire Council has said it wants to build a £20 million bypass in Killinghall to alleviate congestion.
The authority published a report this week that offers updates into three transport projects in Harrogate, including a bypass in Killinghall, which has been mooted for years but is yet to move forward to a firm proposal.
An unpopular relief road scheme near Nidd Gorge was scrapped by North Yorkshire County Council in 2019 following widespread public opposition.
But the problem of congestion has not gone away and the council’s Harrogate Congestion Study in 2019 suggested a village bypass in Killinghall still had a level of support among residents.
At the time, the council’s Conservative-run executive said that it would consider developing the project further to see if it might be able to win government funding so it could be built.
Since then, officials working on the bypass have looked at a number of possible routes to reducing the impact of traffic in Killinghall.
The latest report does not offer details on possible routes, but the county council previously said the route which offered the best value for money would be one that bypasses Killinghall to the east and connects the B6161 south of the village to the A61 above it.
Several new housing developments have been built in or near Killinghall in recent years and traffic going between Harrogate and Ripon has to pass through the village.
There have also been safety concerns around the B6161/A61 junction that the council thinks the bypass could help improve.
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In the report, the council argues that due to “the more rural nature” of Killinghall there are fewer opportunities to create active travel schemes that promote walking or cycling.
The report recommends that the public is asked their opinion on the bypass and that a route is eventually recommended.
Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transport and Conservative mayoral candidate, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he believes a Killinghall bypass is “absolutely critical” to tackling congestion and improving road safety in the village.
Cllr Duncan said:
“We still need to confirm the best route, but the principle of delivering new road infrastructure here is absolutely right.
“It is the only real solution to the serious safety issues raised in the recent audit of the B6161/A61 junction in the heart of the village.
“I am fully committed to delivering this long-awaited bypass and the fair deal the people of Killinghall so desperately deserve.
“Devolution gives fresh hope of finally delivering this project and if elected as North Yorkshire’s first mayor I will seek to secure the £20m needed.”
Safety audit rules out traffic lights at notorious Killinghall junction
A safety audit at a notorious Killinghall junction has ruled out introducing traffic lights.
North Yorkshire Council, which conducted the audit after a pedestrian was badly injured in February, has also rejected installing a mini-roundabout.
Instead it has recommended repainting the yellow box junction and investigating other measures, such as shortening the length of the Ripon Road bus shelter to create more space for cars going in and out of the Tesco car park.
Councillor Michael Harrison, a Conservative who represents Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate, updated residents in a recent email.
Cllr Harrison instigated the safety audit after February’s accident heightened longstanding concerns about the Ripon Road and Otley Road junction.
The new Tesco has added another dimension to the issues facing motorists and pedestrians in the centre of the village.
His latest email said the council discovered about 4,600 vehicles exited the B6161 Otley Road junction every 24 hours. of these, 90% turn left to Ripley. A third of the right-turning traffic then go to Tesco.
Cllr Harrison’s email concluded that “we know this junction is not ideal, but working out what to do about it remains a challenge”.
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Villager Tom Beardsell remains in favour of traffic lights. He said:
“I feel a fully smart signalised junction is the most sensible and safe before there is a fatality at this junction.
“There is far too much going on around that junction especially now the Tesco connivence store is in full swing.
“Re-painting the road markings and yellow box area will help initially, but it doesn’t distract from the fact there is limited visibility from the Tesco carpark in both directions especially when a bus is at the stop.”
The Ripon Road entrance to the Tesco car park.
Mr Beardsell added he didn’t see any benefit in widening the Tesco entrance and would prefer to see the bus stop moved elsewhere.
He said:
“I first reported the issues at this junction in late January this year, eight months later we are here and there continues to be incidents. How long will it take to make the solution clear and be implemented?”
Asked by the Stray Ferret what he would like to see done, Cllr Harrison said:
Council rejects nine-home plan in Killinghall“I would like to see a bypass for Killinghall – that is the only solution to remove all of the issues.”
North Yorkshire Council has rejected plans for nine new homes in Killinghall.
Newett Homes, which is based in Wetherby, submitted a planning application for a site north of Skipton Road, near to the junction with the B6161 Otley Road.
The proposal would have seen a mixture of three, four and five-bedroom houses.
However, council officials have refused the plan on the grounds that it fails to provide an appropriate mixture of housing and concerns over surface water flooding.
In a decision notice, Trevor Watson, assistant director of planning at the council, said:
“Parts of the site are identified as being at risk of surface water flooding. No sequential test has been submitted as part of the application.
“Therefore, it has not been demonstrated that there are no reasonably available alternative sites appropriate for the proposed development that would be at lower risk of flooding.”
The council added that it had not been demonstrated that the site would be “all sources of flooding for its lifetime without increasing flood risk elsewhere”.
Meanwhile, in a letter to the council, Killinghall Parish Council said residents had concerns over access to the site from Skipton Road.
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Killinghall Cricket Club resubmits plan for new pavilion
Killinghall Cricket Club has applied to demolish its current “dilapidated” clubhouse and build a new two-storey pavilion that it says will be fit for the sport in the 21st century.
According to planning documents submitted to North Yorkshire Council, the current 1970s-era structure was made with single-skin brickwork and has poorly insulated single-glazed windows.
It has led to expensive running costs for the club, which plays in the Nidderdale league.
There are two small changing areas with communal showers, which offers little privacy and has discouraged players from using them.
Female cricketers and umpires have nowhere designated to get changed, so have to use communal areas, the toilets or come already changed.
The current pavilion in Killinghall.
The club submitted plans to build a larger pavilion in January but following feedback from a planning officer that it would be too large and overbearing, they have decided to submit a new application for a smaller building.
The latest plans, designed by KPP Architects, include a main function room that is connected to the kitchen, toilets and bar. A disabled toilet and shower will also be built on the ground floor.
The first floor will have two large changing rooms as well as a scorer’s board.
The previous design for the pavilion at Killinghall.
The current facilities for the scorers on match days are currently inside a wooden hut, which the club says is neither attractive nor very comfortable to sit in.
A players’ balcony will also be created for teams to watch the match.
Planning documents state the new pavilion will help grow the sport in Killinghall and offer a social space for villagers.
It says:
“The proposal brings improvements to the existing facilities beyond the applicant’s vision. The current clubhouse was built in the early 1970s, which is very evident when visiting. The proposal will provide exceptional changing and hosting facilities for visiting teams, which would be of the best in the current Killinghall teams leagues.
“There is a hope to introduce junior cricket back to the cricket club, that used to be a vibrant and engaging part of the local community. The introduction of these new facilities will help facilitate the introduction of this and hopefully attract them to the club.”
The council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.
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