The woman shaping the Harrogate district’s roads

Barely a day has passed in the Harrogate district this year without some sort of controversy about roads and transport schemes.

Roadworks on Skipton Road, new cycling initiatives, the Harrogate Station Gateway, low traffic neighbourhoods, a park and ride, low-traffic neighbourhoods, speed limits… the list goes on.

Everyone who uses roads seems to have an opinion on them and often they’re not very complimentary towards the highways authority, North Yorkshire County Council.

The chief flak taker is usually Don Mackenzie, the Conservative councillor for Harrogate Saltergate, who as the council’s executive member for access sets the policy. But it’s Melisa Burnham, area manager for the Harrogate district, who is effectively the head civil servant in charge of delivering it.

Ms Burnham, a former Ripon Grammar School pupil, has day-to-day oversight of 1,100 miles of road in the district. The junction improvements at Bond End in Knaresborough in 2018 is among the projects she helped complete. Does she wince when she reads some of the more brutal comments directed at Cllr Mackenzie?

“Very much so. I’ve worked with Don for a number of years and I know he has the best interests at heart.

“A person said to me in Harrogate the other day: ‘You must have thick skin because all you hear are complaints’. They can get quite personal.

“Sometimes we don’t always get it right but we do strive to deliver the best service we can.”

Ms Burnham, who studied geography at Hull University, oversees a capital budget of £7.7 million, of which £2.5 million is being spent on surface dressing 200 sites this year. Leeds Road’s four-week resurfacing cost £800,000 and involved cleaning 105 gullies.

Jayne Charlton (left) and Melisa Burnham in front of a new NY Highways vehicle

Melisa Burnham (right) and Jayne Charlton, the council’s area manager for Richmondshire and Hambleton.

She’s also in charge of gritting from October to April. There are 13 priority routes in the district, including the A59 and the A61. The A1 is Highways England‘s responsibility.

Most criticism, she says, is due to a lack of knowledge. The guy sat in the van apparently doing nothing at roadworks is probably operating the traffic lights, she says, and just because someone doesn’t see gritters doesn’t mean they aren’t operating. Highways officers hold two briefings a day in winter to decide whether to activate the fleet of 13 gritters. Ms Burnham says:

“Sometimes people just don’t have the knowledge and information. The more you can share information with them and the more you can inform people, maybe they complain less.”

There have been plenty of complaints this year about specific projects, not least the biggest one: the £10.9 million Harrogate Station Gateway. The scheme, which aims to transform town centre travel by encouraging cycling and walking and reducing traffic, has upset some businesses that fear the proposals to reduce Station Parade to one lane and pedestrianise part of James Street could damage trade.

Ms Burnham says she wasn’t surprised by the reaction and adds the council has been “listening to both sides about their concerns” and is confident of a “positive outcome for the town”.

Cycling schemes

She acknowledges the Otley Road cycle route has had a “lot of problems” due to delays caused by the exchange of Stray land, utility works and covid but is confident work will finally begin in October.

The county council secured £715,000 funding for three other cycling improvement schemes on Oatlands Drive in Harrogate, Victoria Avenue in Harrogate and the A59 Knaresborough Road but the consultation generated such fierce opposition to the Oatlands initiative from residents in the nearby Saints area that it didn’t proceed.

But change to Oatlands is still very much on the agenda. Ms Burnham says a feasibility report at the end of August will consider measures to ease congestion. She says:

“We recognised we needed to take a step back.

“The feasibility study will look at the options. Residents parking was a key issue — that has been a historic problem in the area, especially with the hospital and schools.”

The £215,000 allocated for Oatlands has been diverted to the other two schemes although it seems the funky cyclops junction mooted for the junction of Victoria Avenue and Station Parade to totally separate cyclists from traffic won’t happen. Ms Burnham says it was just one option and there “might be something similar” instead.

She seems cool on the Pannal park and ride idea, saying further details should be available in a couple of months. She insists it’s still on the table but adds “it has to work financially for the bus service too”.

Low-traffic neighbourhoods

Low-traffic neighbourhoods, which reduce motor vehicles in residential areas, have been another bugbear.

An experimental order was introduced on Harrogate’s Beech Grove in February, which closed the route to through traffic. The move took many people by surprise and some cars were driven across the Stray by motorists determined to keep using the route as a cut through between West Park and Otley Road.

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Ms Burnham says reaction was “mixed”

“There was some positive and that sometimes gets lost in the media and social media.”

The experimental order was extended from 6 months to 18 months before decision is made on whether to close the road permanently to through traffic — why? Ms Burnham says it was to allow more time to see how the initiative ties in with other schemes, such as the Otley Road and Victoria Avenue cycling projects.

She says it’s exciting to see a network of connecting cycle routes emerge in Harrogate.

But a Bilton low traffic neighbourhood, suggested this year, is off the agenda, at least until autumn next year. Ms Burnham says the council wants to assess Beech Grove before considering any other low-traffic neighbourhoods.

No more roadworks than usual

She insists that, contrary to popular belief, there are currently no more roadworks than usual.

Harrogate, she says, often has more roadworks than other parts of the county because it is an urban area, adding:

“There’s also a lot of development taking place and because of that a lot of road works need to happen.”

Ms Burnham says the council tries to stipulate that work takes place between 9.30am to 3.30pm on key routes and can insist on night works “when it’s reasonable”.

As for permits to carry out roadworks being extended, and traffic lights lasting for months, which happened on Skipton Road in Harrogate, she says:

“It’s difficult when a company comes to you and says ‘we need to do more work’. Sometimes they do find issues on site.”

Female role model

Ms Burnham, a mother of two young girls who enjoys camping and walking, is one of two women out of 11 senior officers in the highways senior management team. She lives in Northallerton.

The county council workforce is 76 per cent female but highways remains male-dominated. She says:

“Some people still have a surprised reaction when I tell them my job title. That said, we are certainly seeing a positive increase in women into the service. I now have four females in my team.”

Ms Burnham worked for Harrogate Borough Council for four years from 2005, during which she helped deliver the Nidderdale Greenway scheme.

She joined North Yorkshire County Council in 2009 and was a senior engineer in the special projects team and a lead officer in the transport and development team before moving to her current position in 2018.

More than anywhere else in North Yorkshire, the Harrogate district presents both rural and urban transport challenges. She says:

“Harrogate is just that little bit more demanding in terms of its urban nature and popularity of events.”

 

 

Otley Road cycle lane: work to start in next ‘two to three months’

Work will not begin on the new Otley Road cycle lane in Harrogate for at least another two or three months.

Cyclists who use the busy road have already waited a long time for the scheme. A total of £3.2 million funding was set aside in 2018.

The final remaining barrier, after delays caused by coronavirus and negotiations over Stray land, is the ongoing utility works.

An 11-week programme of works by Northern Powergrid is due to finish on May 17. But there will be some other smaller works taking place then.

Once all utility works are complete North Yorkshire County Council has said it can start the cycle route. The local authority will also make improvements to the junction with Harlow Moor Road.

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Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are planning to start work on the Otley Road cycle route in the next two to three months.

“The main set of works has been those by Northern Powergrid. They should be finished soon and there will be some more minor works after that.

“Once all of those utility works are out of the way then we can start work.”

Melisa Burnham, the highways area manager at the county council, added:

“A number of utility works are required to facilitate both the junction works and the cycle route. All necessary parties have been identified and programmes are planned in.

“If there are any further changes, we will provide an update on our web page. Affected residents will also be notified by advanced notification boards on site.”

Major transport schemes for Harrogate up for debate on Thursday

Four major transport schemes aiming to get Harrogate walking and cycling towards a greener future are set to be debated this week.

North Yorkshire County Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee will meet on Thursday to discuss the next stages of the £7.9m Station Gateway project, Otley Road cycle path, Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood and schemes under the government’s Active Travel Fund.

The projects are funded from different sources and are at varying stages of development. But all have the same aim to cut carbon emissions by making the towns more accessible by bike or on foot.

Station Gateway

The Station Gateway project has the potential to be the biggest shake-up in the town centre for decades and a report to Thursday’s meeting says it is focusing on “investment in infrastructure to improve public and sustainable transport connectivity”.

What that means in simple terms is giving priority to pedestrians and cyclists, which could involve Station Parade being reduced to one lane of traffic and the full or partial pedestrianisation of James Street.

Under the plans still being drawn up are also two new bus priority areas at Lower Station Parade and Cheltenham Parade, junction upgrades, new cycle lanes and cycle storage facilities, as well as an increase in safe space for people on foot, new flexible public events spaces and water features.

A consultation on this scheme is underway and once it ends on March 24 the aim is to finalise designs for construction to begin by summer 2022 with completion in 2023.

Otley Road cycle path

The long-delayed Otley Road cycle path project was first unveiled in 2017 as part of a wider £4.6m package of sustainable transport measures for the west of Harrogate.

Four years on and North Yorkshire County Council has still not started construction because of delays with utility works and drawn out discussions over changing byelaws so parts of the Stray can be used for the two-way cycle path.

But the report to Thursday’s meeting says preliminary roadworks are now underway and that it is hoped construction of a first phase could finally start in autumn this year.

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Beech Grove 

The Low Traffic Neighbourhood on Beech Grove caused controversy when it was introduced earlier this year with planters placed on the road to stop through traffic and create quieter streets where residents feel safer walking and cycling.

It has made getting around the area by car more difficult and that is the idea behind it – to drive down car use.

The report to councillors says it should be noted that the Low Traffic Neighbourhood is temporary for now but could become permanent subject to an ongoing consultation, which ends in August.

Active Travel Fund

The final scheme set for debate on Thursday is the Active Travel Fund from which North Yorkshire County Council has received more than £1.2m of government cash to get more people walking and cycling as the nation emerges from the pandemic.

The cash will be used for three projects in Harrogate, including segregated cycle lanes and improved crossings on the A59 between the town and Knaresborough, as well as the same upgrades plus bike storage in the Victoria Avenue area of Harrogate.

There are also plans for cycle lanes and a one-way system for vehicles on Oatlands Drive but this has been met with a hostile response from residents, with 50% of respondents to an online survey strongly opposing the plans.

North Yorkshire County Council previously said it acknowledged the concerns over traffic levels and how much existing cycle lanes are used and added all comments would be taken into account before a final decision is made.

The meeting will start at 10am and can be viewed on the county council’s YouTube channel.

Land on Wetherby Road set to become part of the Stray

Harrogate Borough Council agreed this evening to designate a plot of land on Wetherby Road as Stray land in exchange for grass verges on Otley Road.

The verges are currently part of the Stray but will be removed for a new cycle route.

The Stray Act 1985 says that if Stray land is given up a suitable plot of alternative land must be offered in exchange.

The council carried out a 12-week consultation over three plots of land to replace the verges as Stray land.

The majority of respondents backed the council’s preferred option to designate the land on Wetherby Road next to the war memorial.

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Senior councillors on the authority’s cabinet voted today for the land to be submitted to the Duchy of Lancaster, which is responsible for managing the Stray, for approval to be exchanged.

The area of land outlined in Harrogate Borough Council documents earmarked to be exchanged as part of the Otley Road cycle route.

Cllr Phil Ireland, cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, said at the cabinet meeting:

“Sustainable transport is a key priority for this council and this project does support the promotion of active travel on a main route joining up the town centre with the west of Harrogate.

“This scheme also supports our ambition to see a reduction in congestion, an improvement in air quality and a reduction in carbon emissions while also promoting a healthy lifestyle.”

It comes as North Yorkshire County Council looks to press ahead with plans to create a cycle route on the stretch of road between Harlow Moor Road and Beech Grove in Harrogate.

The project has already been delayed and the negotiations over the Stray land have been a further stumbling block for the second phase of the scheme.

Gross misconduct hearing for Harrogate crash detective

A police officer found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in Harrogate is set to face a gross misconduct inquiry.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it has recommended the inquiry into Detective Constable Quita Passmore after investigating the collision.

North Yorkshire Police had already said an internal investigation would be held, but the IOPC today confirmed its recommendation for a gross misconduct inquiry had been accepted by the force. The organisation had passed its findings to the Crown Prosecution Service, saying DC Passmore had driven through a red light at high speed without stopping, colliding with another car.

IOPC Regional Director Miranda Biddle said:

“We recognise that police officers undertake a difficult role within our communities however it is necessary that when undertaking their role they follow the policies, procedures and guidance set by their forces. On this occasion our investigation found that DC Passmore drove dangerously when responding to an emergency call which resulted in two members of the public receiving serious injuries.

“The two women and their families have understandably suffered a great deal of stress and anxiety since the incident and we hope that [this] verdict offers them a degree of closure.

“We believe that DC Passmore has a case to answer for gross misconduct. North Yorkshire Police have accepted our recommendation and a hearing will be scheduled by them in due course.”

DC Passmore was this week handed a 10-month jail sentence suspended for two years after being found guilty at a trial at Bradford Crown Court. She was banned from driving for two years, after which she will have to take an enhanced driving test.

The court heard she was responding to an emergency call and driving through the junction of Otley Road and Cold Bath Road in May 2018. She hit a red Vauxhall Corsa, causing broken bones and a punctured lung to driver Patricia Bulmer and passenger Janet Roberton. DC Passmore was also injured.

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Police officer ‘very sorry’ after high speed crash with Harrogate women

A police officer has apologised after she drove through a red light at 50 miles per hour and crashed into a car with two elderly Harrogate women inside.

Bradford Crown Court heard the statement DC Quita Passmore prepared when questioned under caution by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The court previously heard how Patricia Bulmer and Janet Roberton sustained severe injuries as a result of the crash, including broken bones and a punctured lung.

DC Quita Passmore has been charged with two counts of dangerous driving. She has entered a plea of not guilty to both counts.

She was responding to reports on May 5, 2018 from her colleague PC Nicola Copley – who said she was in distress while trying to make an arrest in the Bilton area.

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The defendant made a three point turn, put on her blue lights and sirens and drove down Otley Road towards the centre of Harrogate.

DC Quita Passmore said in her statement, read out in court with a jury today:

“Despite my concern for [PC Nicola Copley] I limited my speed to 50 miles per hour and kept my road conditions under constant review.

“I was aware that I needed to give way for the red light. But I thought it was unlikely that anything would emerge as my colleague had passed through seconds before.

“As I went through the junction a red car emerged. My evasive action was not enough to avoid the collision.

“I am glad to hear that the two other people involved are making a recovery. I am very sorry this happened, it was never my intention.”

The court called in three witnesses today. PC Steve Kirkbright, driving trainer Kenneth Tate and IOPC officer Paul Whitaker provided evidence.

Steve Kirkbright, a forensic collision investigator with more than 30 years experience at North Yorkshire Police, told the court:

“I do not think that DC Quita Passmore braked heavily before the crash. I have watched the CCTV dozens of times.

“The brake lights do not appear on DC Quita Passmore’s car. Other vehicles in the CCTV slow down and you can see the light bloom.”

Kenneth Tate, a driving trainer at North Yorkshire Police who has taught DC Quita Passmore, also said:

“If I were approaching this junction with a red light I would slow down to a walking pace.

“It is only safe to go once I have got the ‘arena,’ which means that everyone has eyes on the police car around the junction.

“You have to make sure the junction is clear. That is how we always train.”

The trial continues.

Harrogate elderly women ‘thought they would die’ in police crash

Two elderly Harrogate women thought they were going to die when an undercover police officer crashed into their car on the Otley Road.

Detective Constable Quita Passmore was responding to reports of officers in distress at 10pm on May 5, 2018.

The officer was driving an undercover car with blue lights and sirens on. She had been travelling at around 50 miles per hour before she collided with the elderly women.

She had gone through the red lights at the junction with Cold Bath Road, a jury at Bradford Crown Court heard today.

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The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) carried out an investigation into the crash and passed its findings onto the Crown Prosecution Service ahead of the case.

Mr Dunn, the prosecuting barrister, told the court:

“The officer was going too fast at 50 miles per hour in the circumstances. The red light was showing for nine seconds to safely negotiate that junction at that speed.

“It was too fast in all the circumstances, say the prosecution. She was going too fast to stop on her side of the road and failed to yield for a red traffic light.

“Officers are entitled to disregard those traffic signals when responding to an emergency. There is no issue with the exemptions but it must be done safely.

“This was dangerous, say the prosecution.”

Victim statements

Both of the victims were retired elderly women. They suffered serious injuries, with the court hearing a list of broken bones and a punctured lung.

Patricia Bulmer, who was driving a red Vauxhall Corsa, told police in hospital after the crash:

“We had spent the day at a friend’s house and left around 10pm. I had driven up Cold Bath Road and turned onto the junction with Otley Road.

“Then there was an almighty smash and bang. The airbag flew into me. My friend was then making moaning noises at the side of me.

“After that, two ladies poked their heads through and said they would get us out of the car.”

Janet Roberton, who was the passenger in the car, also told police:

“I heard a loud siren type noise and saw lights to the right of the car. I just remember one of us shouting ‘oh my God, oh my God.’

“Then there was a loud bang, it was the most awful noise I have ever heard. My first thought was the we were going to die, it felt terrible.”

Detective Constable Quita Passmore has pleaded not guilt to two counts of dangerous driving.

The case continues.

Council to recommend Wetherby Road land for Stray swap

A plot of land at Wetherby Road has been recommended to be exchanged for grass verges on Otley Road and designated as Stray land.

Harrogate Borough Council carried out a 12-week consultation over three plots of land to replace the verges, which will be removed for a new cycle route.

A majority of those who responded backed the council’s preferred option to designate land on Wetherby Road next to the war memorial as Stray land in exchange.

As part of the Stray Act, a suitable plot of land must be offered in exchange. It follows lengthy discussions between the council and the Duchy of Lancaster over land to designate to the Stray.

The responses to the consultation are due to go before the General Purposes Committee this week. Councillors will be asked to recommend that the authority’s cabinet approves the land proposals.

In total, the authority received 443 responses to its consultation.

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Of that number, 214 respondents (49%) strongly agreed with the proposal to exchange the Otley Road verges to one of the three options outlined by the council.

However, 161 (36%) strongly disagreed with the plan.

Some agreed with the options, but felt the proposal “should be put back to residents once a decision has been made”. Others said they supported the move “as long as there is still enough pavement to walk down with a pushchair”.

As part of the exchange, the council outlined three plots of land for the exchange:

The area of land outlined in Harrogate Borough Council documents earmarked to be exchanged as part of the Otley Road cycle route.

In the responses, 246 (81%) agreed with the council’s preferred option of land at Wetherby Road next to the war memorial.

Those who agreed with the Wetherby Road plot felt it was “the most logical reason to form a continuous community resources” and “seems already part of the Stray”.

However, 14 agreed with the second option of verges at St James Drive and 45 supported the verges at Arthurs Avenue.

Some disagreed with the options outlined and said they did not want the Otley Road verges removed. Others said “the Stray should not be disrupted for cyclists” and questioned the need for a cycle route.

Residents were also asked whether they agreed with the council’s plan to amend the Stray bylaws to permit cycling on the Otley Road route.

A total of 235 strongly agreed (54%), while 162 (36%) strongly disagreed.

Councillors on the committee have been recommended to submit the proposed bylaw change to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

It comes as North Yorkshire County Council looks to press ahead with the cycle route on the stretch of road between Harlow Moor Road and Beech Grove.

The project has already been delayed and the negotiations over the Stray land have been a further stumbling block for the second phase of the scheme.

Road works in Harrogate district to continue during lockdown

Road works in the Harrogate district will continue during the third lockdown, according to North Yorkshire County Council.

Several long-term projects were scheduled to take place on some main routes at the start of the year, including Otley Road and Skipton Road in Harrogate.

The lockdown has brought many businesses to a halt, with staff encouraged to stay at home.

But county councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said construction projects, including street and road works, were permitted to continue in accordance with Public Health England and industry guidance.

He added:

“All of this work contributes to the safe, efficient operation of the highways network so other key workers can do what they need to do.”

“As traffic levels are reduced to a minimum, our repair work can be carried out quickly, efficiently and with little or no disruption.”

Mr Mackenzie added contractors were nearing completion of the £15.1m Local Full Fibre Networks scheme, which has seen 170km of gigabit fibre installed in 20 towns in North Yorkshire. He added:

“At the same time, the Superfast North Yorkshire project has continued throughout the covid pandemic in order to ensure that increasing numbers of businesses and households in rural areas have access to high quality broadband, which is even more vital in times of lockdown.”

Harrogate’s Otley Road set for two sets of roadworks at same time

Delays are expected on Otley Road in Harrogate next month, with two sets of roadworks set to take place at the same time.

The news comes shortly after it was revealed Skipton Road, which has been plagued by roadworks in 2020, will see more work carried out for two months from January 4.

The first set of newly announced roadworks, due to start on January 5 for five weeks, will allow Yorkshire Water to lay new pipes between Wharfedale Avenue and College Road.

Yorkshire Water said in a statement the works would accommodate new housing developments in Harrogate and address low pressure issues.

Northern Powergrid is then expected to begin 11 weeks of work on January 11. This scheme is part of a programme to relocate utilities so its highways team can carry out improvements at the Otley Road/Harlow Moor Road junction .

Once this work is completed, the highways team will commence phase one of the junction upgrade and cycleway from Harlow Moor Road to Arthurs Avenue.

North Yorkshire County Council, which is responsible for highways and approved the works, said those involved would try to keep disruption to a minimum.

Melisa Burnham, the council’s highways area manager, said:

“It is hoped that work can take place at the same time with co-ordinated traffic management, which will reduce the overall impact. If this does not prove feasible then the works will take place consecutively.

“The traffic management will be continuously monitored and manually controlled during peak times each day. We are committed to keeping disruption to a minimum.”

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More roadworks are planned the other end of the town, on Knaresborough Road. They are due to begin on January 4 from the junction with Granby Road to Rydal Road, and continue until the end of February.

They are taking place to allow a new water pipe to be installed. Junctions along Knaresborough Road will be closed separately for short periods, with diversions put in place.