North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe has ruled out reconsidering plans to reduce the number of nighttime fire engines based in Harrogate.

Ms Metcalfe’s three-year fire service blueprint last year decided the number of overnight appliances at the Skipton Road fire station would be cut from two to one.

One of the main concerns during consultation was this could lead to life-threatening delays at Starbeck level crossing if a second fire engine were required in an emergency.

Ms Metcalfe allayed fears by telling councillors firefighters knew the train times and could ring ahead to Network Rail if they needed to cross urgently.

But her office admitted last month this information, which it said had been “relayed in good faith by the commissioner”, was incorrect, which heightened concerns.

Ms Metcalfe, a Conservative, responded by saying concerns about Starbeck level crossing had been “the subject of limited media coverage”.

She added there was “misunderstanding on the part of the media and therefore also local stakeholders and the public” about the significance of Starbeck level crossing in her Risk and Resource Model 2022 to 2025, which outlines how fire service resources should be deployed.

She added:

“I want to reiterate that the Risk and Resource Model proposals were subject of a detailed modelling and consultation process undertaken in support of the review of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service provision.

“The nature of the misunderstanding does not warrant a reconsideration of the resource proposals and statutory planning process that is now complete.”

But Ms Metcalfe added:

“Nonetheless, I recognise that local concerns about this misunderstanding should be addressed and I propose to offer a meeting with myself and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, should any local councillor wish to avail themselves of that opportunity.”

‘Gates down for five minutes’

Cllr Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat on North Yorkshire Council who raised concerns about Starbeck level crossing with Ms Metcalfe last year, said the issue “cannot be batted away” and called for a meeting at the level crossing. She added:

“I have major concerns when the gates are down for a long period of time and ambulances and fire engines are waiting it can make the difference between life and death as it did in my family.

“The gates are down on some occasions for at least five minutes. If you are having a heart attack or your house is on fire every minute is precious.”

Cllr Paul Haslam, a Conservative on North Yorkshire Council, said he was willing to meet Ms Metcalfe in the hope of putting pressure on Network Rail. He said:

“We have been working round this issue for a long time.”

The decision to reduce Harrogate’s number of nighttime fire engines was based on faulty information, it has been revealed.

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe controversially reduced the number of appliances from two to one in her recent three-year fire service blueprint for North Yorkshire.

One of the main concerns during consultation was that if a second fire engine was required to come from Knaresborough in an emergency, it could get held up at Starbeck level crossing.

At a Harrogate Borough Council meeting in September last year, Ms Metcalfe allayed fears by saying firefighters knew the train times and could ring ahead to Network Rail if they needed to cross urgently.

Ms Metcalfe addresses Harrogate Borough Council in September last year.

But in response to a freedom of information request, Ms Metcalfe’s office has now admitted this was “incorrect”.

Tina James-McGrath, a staff member at the commissioner’s office, said the information was provided by a now-retired “member of the senior leadership team” at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and it was then “relayed in good faith by the commissioner”.

Ms James-McGrath added:

“It has since transpired as a result of investigating your query further, that the information provided to the commissioner was incorrect.”

She said Harrogate and Knaresborough fire stations “have an awareness of train times, but this can be difficult to predict” and the fire stations “will not call Network Rail when working at an incident on or close to a train line where working crews may be put at a safety risk”.

Ms James-McGrath also acknowledged “ad hoc freight trains also use the line and there is no process for emergency services to phone ahead”.

Starbeck signallers, she added, will delay lowering the barriers when possible “if they do see an emergency vehicle approaching reasonably close to the crossing” but “once the barriers are down the signaller must wait for the train to pass before they can raise the barrier”.

The proposed closure of Bogs Lane and Kingsley Road to through traffic would only add to the traffic at the crossing, she said, adding:

“Network Rail also noted that the traffic flow is at saturation point now and appreciates that the closure of the nearby road is not going to help this or the emergency services.”

‘The difference between life and death’

Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat borough and county councillor who raised concerns about Starbeck level crossing with Ms Metcalfe last year, said she was “greatly saddened by the response”, adding:

“I am really worried about the hold-ups that are happening at Starbeck crossing.

“I personally have seen ambulances waiting five minutes for the barriers to lift, this can be the difference between life and death.

“We need everyone round the table ASAP to discuss this very serious issue to ensure the safety of our local residents. People who really know and understand the issues.”

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Paul Haslam, a Conservative borough and county councillor, said:

“The critical issue for me is that Network Rail update the technology at the Starbeck crossing so that the barriers are down for significantly less time which improves traffic flow, reduces idling and makes access easier should we have the misfortune to need the emergency services.

“I have lobbied together with [Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough] Andrew Jones on this for a number of years. It needs fixing! The more voices shouting for this change the better.”

The Stray Ferret asked Ms Metcalfe’s office whether the information about Starbeck crossing was checked and whether she would consider reviewing her decision or agreeing to Cllr Marsh’s request for an urgent meeting but it did not respond.

Firefighters and councillors have called on Zoe Metcalfe, the Conservative police, fire and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire, to tackle the long-running issue of Starbeck crossing holding up emergency vehicles.

As many as nine trains an hour can pass through Starbeck Station heading to Leeds or York.

It means when the barriers are down there are waits of several minutes for all vehicles, including fire engines, police cars and ambulances.

At a Harrogate Borough Council meeting last night, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hookstone, Pat Marsh, asked Ms Metcalfe if she’d had feedback from firefighters about the problem as she believes delays could potentially be costing lives.

Cllr Marsh said:

“It worries me, that a five minute wait can be the difference between doing something and not.”

In response, Ms Metcalfe said the problem has been raised to her by both firefighters at Harrogate and Knaresborough fire stations.

However, she said firefighters “know exactly what times trains come and go” and can also use other routes to avoid the crossing.

Ms Metcalfe said:

“I went back to the fire service and they quite rightly said that out of Knaresborough fire station you can also turn left out of the fire station and go into Harrogate via Morrisons. They can also go into Starbeck and can turn right into Bogs Lane.

“There’s not just one way into Harrogate. Even if they did get to a crossing they can call ahead (to Network Rail) to let them know they are coming down.”

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Her response didn’t please fellow Conservative and councillor for Old Bilton, Paul Haslam, who also chairs Transport for the North‘s scrutiny committee.

Cllr Haslam told Ms Metcalfe he was “a little disappointed that you weren’t upset about the crossing at Starbeck”, particularly as it’s an issue that was raised to her by the firefighters themselves.

He added:

“I’ve tried for five or six years to get Network Rail to improve technology that would reduce waiting time to two minutes but they’ve refused to do it at the moment.

“I feel if your firemen had been upset that could have been leverage. I’m concerned about it for lots of reasons. The cars are just idling.

“Network Rail have told me all the reasons they can’t do it but they’ve also told me what technology they need.”

Ms Metcalfe promised Cllr Haslam that she would raise the issue with Network Rail.

Network Rail signaller Ian Roberton is carrying on a Starbeck tradition that dates back to when Queen Victoria was on the throne.

The railway first came to Starbeck in 1848 and its signal box plays a crucial role in the safe and efficient running of each train on the York to Leeds via Harrogate line.

Signalling is a complex traffic light system for the railway. The levers at Starbeck operate a mix of mechanical and electrical colour light signals which tell the train driver when it’s safe to proceed and what route their train will take.

Mr Roberton communicates with neighbouring boxes at Harrogate and Knaresborough to make sure trains remain a safe distance apart.

He also controls the barriers that stop cars from crossing whilst trains leave and enter the station.

The signaller uses a wide array of mechanical levers to communicate.

A traditional signal box

The Starbeck box is as traditional as a signal box can come. Mr Roberton pulls cast-iron levers that connect through a cable to the track.

With as many as nine trains passing through the station each hour, he’s busier than you might think.

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Mr Roberton, who is 40, began working for Network Rail at Starbeck in February this year after working in aviation. He is one of three signallers that work in the box and he works a combination of mornings and afternoons.

He was surprised at how complex and technical the job is.

“I had a wake-up call. You’re marrying technology that’s 100 years’ old with newer innovations.”

Whilst the Starbeck crossing can be the bane of motorists who are hurrying up and down Knaresborough Road, Mr Roberton emphasised its importance in keeping people safe.

He said he’s seen a few frustrated car drivers beep their horns at him but “it’s part of the job.”

Emergency situation

There was a recent emergency when a tree had fallen on the track towards York.

Mr Roberton was forced to stop the whole line until the tree was safely removed. He said seeing a situation to a safe conclusion is one of the most satisfying parts of the job.

“It emphasised whilst efficiency is important, safety is absolutely critical. It’s not just corporate spiel, safety is the number one mantra for Network Rail.”

The signaller’s view of Starbeck.

Being a signaller might be a dream job for a trainspotter, but Mr Roberton said he enjoys the technical aspect of it most of all.

“My dad used to work for the railways. He has a train set at home! And there are some diehards with a traditional veiwpoint about the railway.

“Most people either love trains or think they are always late. The truth is the railway has been the backbone of our country for two centuries.”

Despite technology replacing the need for some signal boxes, Mr Roberton believes there will always be a need for a signaller at the Starbeck crossing to think quickly in times of emergency.