Despite major roadworks happening outside a fish and chip shop in Harrogate, the owner said it is still surviving.

Harrogate Fisheries on Skipton Road remained open throughout lockdown. However, major roadworks lasting 14 weeks have now started right outside the shop.

Despite parking issues during the day affecting lunch time service, owner Tim Phillips told the Stray Ferret that it “could have been a lot worse.” He said:

“Parking is difficult here at the best of times so people are just not coming during the day, its chaos. In the evenings though the traffic dies down so business becomes much better.”

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The fish and chip shop is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11:30am – 8pm.

Tim said that they were given a warning a week before, but it didn’t highlight the extent of the work taking place. During lockdown, the fish and chip shop has been delivering meals to the elderly and care homes. He is optimistic the shop will survive

“We are heading in the right direction; we just aren’t there yet. We are surviving, the team are getting paid and the elderly are getting their food. We have a very loyal customer base and it’s great to see people coming back to the shop again.”

Despite Harrogate welcoming the Eat Out to Help Out scheme this week, Tim says it has not had an impact on his takeaway business. He told the Stray Ferret that he has seen record numbers this week from Monday to Wednesday.

Roadworks in the Harrogate district are double what North Yorkshire County Council would expect for this time of year.

At the end of last week, there were 88 individual road and street works in progress. The council said coronavirus had delayed a “significant amount” of those works.

The council also pointed to a “greater number” of new developments in Harrogate when compared to previous years, which need utility works.

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Barrie Mason, the assistant director for highways in North Yorkshire, said:

“Not all of these works will have a traffic impact and many will be relatively minor works with little or no traffic impact. North Yorkshire County Council has continued with works throughout the covid-19 lockdown period taking all necessary safety measures to continue to deliver as close to a business as usual service as possible.”

Businesses said they were heartbroken after seeing roadworks on Leeds Road roundabout. It often means a reduced taking, something particularly painful after the coronavirus lockdown.

Local pressure led to reduced roadwork on Leeds Road but queues of traffic have been a common sight in the district in the past month.

Tony Colbeck, the owner of Country Butchers, voiced his frustration at the start of the works:

“It should have been done in the coronavirus lockdown when there weren’t as many cars. We found today that because it is quiet, people stay away. I don’t know what it is about Harrogate at the moment but they seem to be ripping up every road.”

The high volume of roadworks around Harrogate is due to a backlog of work caused by lockdown, according to North Yorkshire County Council.

Many of the major routes into town, including Ripon Road, Skipton Road and Leeds Road, have been recently affected by road works this month.

Barrie Mason, assistant director for highways and transportation at the county council, told the Stray Ferret the authority had tried to provide “as close to a business as usual service as possible” during lockdown. But he added:

“Across the country utility companies and developers saw a temporary reduction in resources as a result of the pandemic, which caused delays.

“There was a temporary suspension of planned utilities and developer works while companies considered how staff could safely work on site and adhere to the government’s social distancing guidelines for the benefit of the workforce as well as the public.

“Therefore, many of these planned programmes of works this year have inevitably been affected and delayed.”

Mr Mason added that more people were also using the roads since lockdown restrictions were eased. He added:

“We appreciate that all works cause an element of disruption but as always we ask drivers for their patience while they are being carried out.”

Harrogate shop owners have voiced frustration over the Leeds Road roundabout works as cars queued all the way back to Marks & Spencer today.

The roadworks will be in place until September 1 to allow for cable overlay works by Northern Powergrid.

Two of the roundabout’s six exits on Langcliffe Avenue and Park Drive have been closed and traffic lights are in place on the others.

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That roundabout is a key route into the town centre and is also home to a variety of shops, including butchers and hairdressers.

They told The Stray Ferret they expect to be adversely affected, adding it was particularly painful after the coronavirus lockdown.

The traffic backs up to Marks & Spencer on Leeds Road.

Michaela and Ben Stothard, the brother and sister team behind Posh Paws, said it was heartbreaking to see the roadworks.

“We are a bit stuck really because nobody wants to come near the shop. We have just come out of the hardship of coronavirus to see this. If people can’t come to us we will deliver to them.”

The owner of Ake and Humphries.

Paul Auty, the owner of beer and wine specialists Ake and Humphris, will be trying to push a delivery service as well:

“This is now the third time in two years that this road has been dug up. Each time it happens it causes a lot of traffic and great inconvenience to the people around here. The last time we had two weeks of roadworks we lost 40% of business. It would have been better to close the doors.”

Tony Colbeck, the owner of Country Butchers, said it was “unbelievable” to see the roadworks again:

“It should have been done in the coronavirus lockdown when there weren’t as many cars. We found today that because it is quiet, people stay away. I don’t know what it is about Harrogate at the moment but they seem to be ripping up every road.”

The owner of Country Butchers.

Jasmine Pinchin, the manager at Harrogate Hair Studio, described the situation as a “nightmare.”

“We are only allowed a few people in at the moment anyway. So we are at half capacity working 9am to 10pm every day for half the money. Then we have this disruption which is making our timings run back.”

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Northern Powergrid is refurbishing and replacing the electricity network at this location. To reduce waiting times and queue lengths, a closure has been implemented at Langcliffe Avenue and Park Drive. The alternative would have been to temporarily signalise each approach to the roundabout.”

Six weeks of roadworks began this morning on the Leeds Road roundabout, leaving the area gridlocked throughout the day.

The works will be in place until August 28 to allow Northern Powergrid to carry out cable overlay works.

Two of the roundabout’s six exits on Langcliffe Avenue and Park Drive have been closed and traffic lights are in place on the others. This left many commuters stuck in traffic or having to take long diversions.

The roadworks are set to stay along Leeds Road for six weeks.

Similar works are taking place along Skipton Road over a 12-week period. Those works are in order for Northern Gas Networks to replace the old metal pipes running along the road. Richard White, business operations lead for Northern Gas Networks, said:

“This investment will ensure residents and businesses in Harrogate continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply for decades to come.

“We appreciate that no one likes roadworks, but we will be doing everything possible to complete this work as quickly as possible, while maintaining safe working practices.”

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The works come following several quieter months on the roads as many people worked from home. Following the Prime Minister’s announcements suggesting that people can return to work, the next six weeks are likely to involve much longer commutes.

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire County Council for a comment on the works, but had not received a response at the time of publication.

A Starbeck woman who uses a wheelchair has told The Stray Ferret that recent roadworks carried out in her area caused her a lot of worry and stress when they blocked her driveway with no notice.

FibreNation, a network provider, and SCD, a construction contractor, have carried out work in the Starbeck area.

Although pedestrian walkways were put in place, disabled users were not able to access them due to the lack of dropped curbs and narrow walkways.

Charlotte Claydon from Starbeck told The Stray Ferret that the recent roadworks have been a “nightmare”. She said:

“When they blocked off my driveway, I couldn’t see any workers in sight. Thankfully a passer-by in their car stopped and got out and went to find the nearest workman.”

Image showing the entrance to her driveway blocked off.

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The recent roadworks have also affected her everyday activities and have caused significant stress. She added:

“I walk my dog everyday and at one point I was unable to get onto the pavement because the temporary walkways weren’t wide enough. It makes my leisurely dog walk a bit of a nightmare. It adds to my stress, I get anxious anyway and having to plan my route even more makes it more difficult.”

Pedestrian walkways put in place are too narrow for her wheelchair.

When asked about this issue, SCD, which was carrying out work at the time, said their teams leave sufficient room for wheelchair and mobility scooters at entrances and walk boards and said that they “maintain wheelchair access at all times”.

Fibre Nation who were also carrying out works at the time has since told The Stray Ferret that they were not aware of any concerns that were raised. They said:

“In order for FibreNation to put the Starbeck community at the forefront of connectivity, our works must be undertaken in accordance with legislation, specifically the New Roads & Streetworks Act 1991. We adhere to a code of practice which outlines the specific requirements for the establishment and maintenance of work sites when carrying out our vital works.

FibreNation, Build Partners and the local authority all conduct frequent works inspections to assure compliance however should there be any concerns about a specific work site then contact should be made to our Careline, providing as much detail as possible so we can address any issues as quickly as possible.”