Vandals smash shop and car windows and bus shelter in Starbeck

Vandals have smashed shop and car windows and a local bus shelter in Starbeck overnight.

Two windows at Pets Corner near the level crossing were shattered.

Windows were also destroyed on a bus shelter next to the shop and on several cars on nearby residential streets, including The Avenue and further down the High Street.

One employee at Pets Corner said that staff arrived at work this morning to find their workplace had been vandalised.

They added they were still in a state of disbelief that somebody had done it apparently for fun.

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North Yorkshire Police said in a statement:

“We’re investigating a spate of incidents of criminal damage in the Starbeck area overnight.

“Officers have received reports that five cars have had their windows smashed, and damage has been caused to the windows of two shops on High Street, overnight between 16 and 17 March 2022.

“Enquiries are ongoing today. Anyone with information about the incidents, or who might have relevant CCTV, is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 12220045092.”

Last week vandals pulled up 20 trees on Belmont Field.

The trees had previously been damaged so many times at the other end of the field that Starbeck in Bloom, the community group that aims to make Starbeck more attractive, decided to move them.

Val Young, a local resident, described it as “disgusting” and “absolutely diabolical”.

Calls for ‘dangerous’ Starbeck junction to be improved

A Starbeck councillor has called for a notorious junction to be made safer following a car crash on Wednesday.

The collision occurred when a car pulled out of The Avenue onto Starbeck High Street at around midday. Two men were taken to hospital but their injuries are not thought to be serious.

A police officer at the scene told the Stray Ferret collisions are common at the junction due to visibility issues. Cars often park in the lay-by next to the junction and a tree also obscures the view for motorists pulling out.

Liberal Democrat councillor Philip Broadbank, who has represented the area for over 40 years, called on North Yorkshire County Council‘s highways department to take a look at the junction to make it safer.

He said residents in more than 350 homes frequently used The Avenue to get onto the high street.

Cllr Broadbank told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s a problem for people trying to get out as it’s difficult to see. Vision is a problem and it’s dangerous.

“We need to look at the lay-by issue.”

He said there have previously been calls to add traffic lights “but there are enough traffic lights down there”.

He added:

“Its a problem as people get frustrated trying to inch out.”

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Several Stray Ferret readers responded to Wednesday’s story to say the junction was unsafe.

One said:

“Turning out of and into The Avenue is a nightmare. Visibility down toward the level crossing is terrible so you have to edge out.”

Another said:

“The trees need cutting on that junction, you can’t see to go there!”.

Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, which is the highways authority, said:

“We take our road safety responsibilities seriously and will always act should there be a need to do so.

“In this instance, we await details of the incident from the police, but are unaware of particular safety issues with this junction.

“Care should always be taken when exiting from a side road on to a main road which is always very busy.”