Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning, it’s Connor back with you this morning to update you with travel alerts to keep your journey moving.

I’ll let you know about roadworks, delayed trains and any traffic hotspots that could cause you delays.

If you spot anything, and it is safe to do so, give me a call on 01423 276197 and we can help other commuters too.

These blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is all from me this morning, I am heading over to the news desk now. Hopefully you have found the blog helpful. I will be back from 6.30am tomorrow.

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8.30am – Full Update 

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8am – Full Update 

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7.30am – Full Update 

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7am – Full Update 

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The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no build ups of traffic yet.

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6.30am – Full Update 

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The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no build ups of traffic yet.

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Poor state of Ripon roads comes under spotlight

The rapidly-deteriorating condition of many Ripon roads came under the spotlight at a virtual meeting yesterday.

Officers from North Yorkshire County Council were invited by Ripon City Council to explain the reason for extended delays to repair and renewal work for roads, including those surrounding the Market Square, Minister Road and Dallamires Lane.

The city council had wanted NYCC to make the meeting, which was held on Teams, open to the media, but in an email exchange yesterday .Karl Battersby, NYCC’s corporate director for business and environmental services, said:

“My position remains that I am not prepared to have the discussion with the media present.”

Photo of Minster RoadMinster Road, which runs past Ripon Cathedral, is in need of repairs

In an earlier email, Mr Battersby said:

“Our understanding was that this would be a frank and open discussion in private to try and reach a better understanding together of the possibilities and restrictions. At no point was this to be a press conference.”

After the meeting, city council leader Andrew Williams, who was involved in the email exchange and made the unsuccessful attempt to have it open to journalists and the public, told the Stray Ferret plans to improve Market Place East were agreed. He said:

“I can’t understand why North Yorkshire County Council didn’t want the press and public to be involved. It was cordial and constructive and would have given the officers a means to explain to the wider population the situation they face in Ripon and other parts of the county.

“With the government settlement meaning a loss of £4million from the highways budget, they are strapped for cash, but the officers did understand the concerns raised by myself and other councillors involved in the call.

“We were pleased to hear that a scheme for Market Place East will be drawn up and other areas are being looked at.”

Councillor Williams added:

“While roads in an around the city are in need of repair, we will continue to bang the drum on Ripon’s behalf.”

Read more:

 

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and welcome back to the traffic and travel blog, it’s Connor with you today to help make your journey as smooth as possible.

Keep checking our blog every 30 minutes for full updates on the roads and public transport. I’ll let you know about any delays, traffic hotspots or roadworks.

You can get in touch if you spot anything, and it’s safe, on 01423 276197.

The morning blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is all from me this week but my colleague Leah will be back with you for the final day of the working week from 6.30am.

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Heavy congestion on Ripon Road at the gas line repairs close to the Co-op petrol station. Usual levels of traffic elsewhere in the district according to our system

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8.30am – Full Update 

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Heavy congestion on Wetherby Road between Forest Lane and Hookstone Chase. Also heavy congestion on Skipton Road between Dragon Road and the Empress roundabout.

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8am – Full Update 

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The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with schools away for half term but there has been some disruption on the railway.

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7.30am – Full Update 

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The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with schools away for half term but there has been some disruption on the railway.

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7am – Full Update 

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The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

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6.30am – Full Update 

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The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

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Gritting to be reduced to minimum on North Yorkshire roads

North Yorkshire County Council looks set to reduce its precautionary winter salt spreading to minimum levels set out in national guidelines.

A report before the county council reveals lowering the minimum salting spread rate to 8g per square metre could save the authority a further £75,000 during a “normal season”.

In recent years the council has faced calls to review its gritting policies amid claims that a lack of action has seen parts of the county suffer gridlock,

The proposed move follows the authority cutting the amount of salt it spread on the county’s 6,000 miles of roads last winter with the ambition of saving £195,000 of taxpayers money a year.

Under the Highways Act 1980, councils have a duty to ensure within reason that safe passage along roads is not endangered by snow or ice, while the Traffic Management Act 2004 requires authorities to do all that is reasonably practicable to manage the network effectively to keep traffic moving.

Read more:

The Local Government Association says with the salt and grit mix costing up to £40 per tonne, this duty can weigh heavily on councils, particularly when there are long, cold winters.

National guidance states authorities must determine their own spread rates that are appropriate for use on their own networks.

‘No negative impacts last winter’

The officer’s report states the further proposed cut follows the experience of last winter’s partially reduced spread rates, along with greater confidence in gritter accuracy, coupled with the recent £2.2 million purchase by North Yorkshire Highways of 18 new gritters.

It states: 

“As no negative impacts were observed or detected, we now propose to reduce the spread rates further in line with the national guidance.

“Whilst any definite cost saving is impossible to predict as it will depend on the prevailing weather conditions, it is expected that these reductions will save around £75k during a normal season.”

Cllr Stuart Parsons, leader of the authority’s Independent group, said residents “paid through the nose for the county council’s services”, so they should be able to expect some returns.

He questioned whether North Yorkshire’s geography would make it suitable for the national minimum salting levels.

Cllr Parsons said: 

“It is fine if you are looking at some of the home counties that are basically flat to go down to the national minimum level, but when you’ve got hill after hill, bend after bend, mile after mile of winding roads with little to no treatment on them they are going to bring the whole of the rural economy to a grinding stop.

“The last people they seem concerned about are the residents, who they now call customers.”

State of roads in Ripon comes under spotlight

Independent Ripon councillors have accused North Yorkshire County Council of getting its road repairs priorities wrong.

They have asked the highway authority to explain the rationale behind resurfacing rural lay-bys instead of repairing city centre roads.

Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“Along a 16-mile stretch of road between Hawes and Leyburn, lay-bys have been re-surfaced to a very high standard, while many roads in Ripon are in desperate need of major work.

Pictured above is one of the recently re-surfaced lay-bys on the A684 Hawes to Leyburn Road and below is a section of Market Place East in Ripon

Barrie Mason, North Yorkshire County Council’s assistant director for highways and transportation, said:

 “The improvement work to lay-bys is funded by the government’s Safer Roads Fund, which has the aim of reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on the county’s roads.

“The Safer Roads Fund can only be used on certain roads within the county which meet the strict government criteria and is not to be used for routine maintenance.

“We have a comprehensive programme of planned maintenance schemes based on annual surveys of the whole road network that has produced a long-term trend of improving road condition.

“Ripon Market Place is being considered for future funding within our forward programme for 2022/23.

“A number of the areas of most concern are associated with poorly performing utility reinstatements and we are seeking urgent action on these from the companies concerned.”

Cllr Pauline McHardy said:

“We want all roads in the county to be safe and it is my view that the four roads around Market Place and other parts of the city centre are a danger to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, because of the state they are in.”

Her fellow city and Harrogate district council colleague, Sid Hawke, added:

“We keep asking for proper repairs to be done and while we wait, the road surfaces get worse and worse by the day.”

Read more:

For next year, Ripon is planning a major programme of events to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Mayor of Ripon, Cllr Eamon Parkin, said:

“I just hope that the roads in and around the city centre have been fixed by then.”

 

 

Pateley Bridge leaking drain causing safety risk, says resident

A Pateley Bridge resident has raised safety concerns about pedestrians being forced to cross the road to avoid excess water.

A drain on Ripon Road, near the town’s Methodist church, has been leaking water through a stone wall for a “long, long time”, according to resident Mike Clark.

The water flows through the wall and on to the pavement, forcing pedestrians to cross the road onto a narrow pavement opposite to avoid being splashed by cars or walking through the water.

The problem is worse at times of heavy rainfall.

Mr Clark has notified his local councillor but has been told it will take time to resolve due to the number of organisations concerned.

He said:

“The issue got worse over the winter, its become really quite severe. It’s still pouring now even when it’s not raining. I was speaking to someone yesterday who’s mother daren’t come out when it’s wet because she doesn’t want to have to cross the road. It really needs sorting.”

Pateley Bridge drain

Mr Clark says the water travels 150 metres down the road.

Mr Clark walks past the wall daily and says it isn’t getting any better. He says the water pours on to the path and flows 150 metres to a drain outside a butcher’s shop on the High Street.

Read more:

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“We are looking in to the water leak in Pateley Bridge to determine who is responsible for the land.”

It added it would continue investigating further but couldn’t give a timeframe for when the issue will be resolved.

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning everyone and welcome back. Traffic is getting busier on the district’s roads now so make sure to keep and eye on our morning blogs.

It’s Connor here with you bright and early this morning, please get in touch with me via social media or email me at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This blog, brought to you by The HACS Group, brings you updates every 15 minutes on the road and rail links near you.

9am – Full Update

That’s all from me this morning. The roads are definitely much more busy than they were a few weeks ago. So stay on top of the delays by following this live blog and help keep us updated by sending any news to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

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The roads are becoming quite busy this morning with traffic hot spots on these roads across the Harrogate district:

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

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8.45am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are becoming quite busy this morning with traffic hot spots on these roads across the Harrogate district:

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

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8.30am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are becoming quite busy this morning with traffic hot spots on these roads across the Harrogate district:

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

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8.15am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are becoming quite busy this morning with traffic hot spots on these roads across the Harrogate district:

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

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8am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are becoming quite busy this morning with traffic hot spots on these roads across the Harrogate district:

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

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7.45am – Full Update

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The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No traffic hotspots to report just yet.

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7.30am – Full Update

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The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No traffic hotspots to report just yet.

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7.15am – Full Update

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The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No traffic hotspots to report just yet.

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7am – Full Update

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The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No traffic hotspots to report just yet.

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6.45am – Full Update

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The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No traffic hotspots to report just yet.

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6.30am – Full Update

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The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No traffic hotspots to report just yet.

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Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and happy Friday. Welcome back to our traffic and travel service to help the Harrogate district keep moving.

Whether you travel by car, bus or train we will keep an eye out for any possible disruption to your journey.

It’s Connor again back on the travel desk from 6.30am. Spotted an accident or a road closure? Send your updates to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

If traffic is moving well or it’s at a standstill then we will let you know with our updates every 15 minutes.

Full update – 9am

Thanks again for your interest in the traffic and travel live blog. My colleague Suzannah will pick it up first thing on Monday morning so come back at 6.30am then.

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Full update – 8.45am

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Full update – 8.30am

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Full update – 8.15am

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Full update – 8am

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Full update – 7.45am

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https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1362667270812631042

Full update – 7.30am

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Full update – 7.15am

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Full update – 7am

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Full update – 6.45am

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Full update – 6.30am

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Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel updates

Good morning everyone and welcome back to our traffic and travel service for the Harrogate district.

Whether you travel by car, bus or train we will keep an eye out for any possible disruption to your journey.

It’s Connor again back on the travel desk from 6.30am. Spotted an accident or a road closure? Send your updates to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

If traffic is moving well or it’s at a standstill then we will let you know with our updates every 15 minutes.

Full update – 9am

Thanks to everyone who has been getting involved with this new traffic and travel service. Good to read that people are finding it helpful. I am moving over to the news desk now but will be back with renewed vigour tomorrow morning at 6.30am. Connor.

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Full update – 8.45am

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Full update – 8.30am

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Full update – 8.15am

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Full update – 8am

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Full update – 7.45am

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Full update – 7.30am

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Full update – 7.15am

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Full update – 7am

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Full update – 6.45am

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Full update – 6.30am

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Police to challenge rule breakers on Harrogate district roads and beauty spots

North Yorkshire Police has said it will challenge lockdown rule breakers on the Harrogate district’s roads and beauty spots.

Superintendent Mike Walker, the force’s lead for coronavirus, today set out the countywide policing strategy for the third national lockdown.

He said police presence and visibility would increase to “reassure” people, and anyone caught breaking the rules would be challenged and possibly fined up to £200.

Read more:

Supt Walker said:

“Under these new regulations, if you are outside of your home without a reasonable excuse, or gathering indoors or outdoors with others, the police can take enforcement action against you and you can be fined up to £200.

“I would also stress that it is important to stay as close to home as possible. While exercise is permitted, this should be done in your local area, preferably from your doorstep.

“The new restrictions have been put in place to limit people’s movements in order to suppress the spread of a deadly virus. If you travel further than is essential, you are putting yourself and those communities you visit at risk of contracting this virus.

“Our health service is at a crucial point and as a nation we face a very serious situation, so it’s vital that we stick to the rules and stop the spread of the virus.”