A video has emerged of a lorry knocking over a traffic light on Skipton Road in Harrogate.
The footage appears to show a bus being towed at the junction with King’s Road, outside Bilton Working Men’s Club on Monday morning.
The trailer hits the barrier and the traffic light, which is knocked over.
The incident was one of many to cause disruption on Harrogate’s roads on Monday.
You can watch the clip below.
Barry Robertson, from Middlesbrough, uploaded the footage, which was recorded as he was driving through Harrogate.
He said drivers beeped their horns to alert the lorry driver when his vehicle got close to the barrier and traffic light.
He added that an elderly man in a car in the opposite lane where the traffic light crashed was left bemused by the incident.
“It was quite bad.
“There was an old man in the car. I don’t think he realised what happened.”
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Police later attended the scene and the light was moved, but traffic was left queueing for miles in both directions.
The situation was made worse when resurfacing work outside the Leon drive-thru on Wetherby Road caused traffic to queue back onto Skipton Road.
Four-mile queues as traffic chaos descends on HarrogateMotorists are enduring misery on the roads in Harrogate today, with long delays on three of the main routes around town.
Wetherby Road, Skipton Road and Ripon Road have all been affected by incidents, bringing traffic to a standstill on the northern side of Harrogate.
Resurfacing outside the yet-to-open Leon drive-through close to the Woodlands junction is causing long delays in both directions on Wetherby Road and Hookstone Drive.
Resurfacing outside Leon
Traffic heading towards the Kestrel roundabout is backing up all the way from Leon to the Empress roundabout and all along Skipton Road to New Park roundabout – a distance of almost four miles.
The four-way traffic lights at the Woodlands junction, near the Leon site, brought tailbacks to Hornbeam Park.
Many vehicles were turning around in attempts to avoid the queues.
The fallen traffic lights.
The central reservation damaged by the traffic lights.
The situation was made worse this morning when a traffic light at the junction of Skipton Road and King’s Road, near Bilton Working Men’s Club, came crashing down.
That has now been removed but traffic was still queueing for miles in all directions when the Stray Ferret cycled around town at about midday today.
Queueing on Skipton Road
Motorists trying to avoid the delays on Skipton Road by heading into town on Ripon Road were hit by further roadworks outside Cygnet Hospital.
Roadworks on Ripon Road is adding to delays.
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Masham Bridge repairs to begin next month
Delayed works to repair Masham Bridge look set to begin in June.
The Grade II listed bridge was damaged after a car ploughed through a wall and almost ended up in the River Ure in December.
After the incident, a police spokesman said a man in his 30s was very lucky to escape without any injuries.
Since December, temporary traffic lights have caused disruption to motorists crossing the bridge.
North Yorkshire County Council said it has been unable to retrieve stones from the collapsed wall that sunk in the river due to high water levels.
Melisa Burnham, highways area manager at NYCC, said the authority hopes work to repair the bridge will begin in June in time for the summer tourist season.
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Ms Burnham said:
“We appreciate the disruption that the temporary traffic lights on Masham Bridge are causing and are doing all we can to repair the bridge and have both lanes reopen ahead of the busy summer season.
“Unfortunately starting the repairs have taken longer than expected. High river levels during the winter months and the need to access third party land delayed retrieving the stone. This has now been completed and we are working with contractors to decide on the best method of repairs with minimum disruption to the public.
“We will liaise with the town council before a start date is scheduled. However, we look to carry out the repairs in June. We hope to keep the road open under traffic management and will keep the public updated in due course.”
Traffic and Travel Alert: Roadworks on Wetherby Road, before Woodlands traffic lights, have closed a section of lane and caused delays into town
Roadworks to the new Leon Harrogate site are causing delays after a section of Wetherby Road had to be closed.
Due to works on the pavement and tree removal, a section of the lane Macham Close and Hookstone Drive has been closed.
The works are set to continue until June 19.
The new Leon Harrogate, just before the Woodlands traffic lights, was formally a dental surgery and although previously earmarked to be a Starbuck drive-thru is will a Leon, described as a healthy fast food chain.
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Concerns over traffic and environment as £1bn plan to dual A66 presses ahead
Concerns over additional traffic, the environment and construction have been raised over a planned £1 billion upgrade of one of England’s busiest roads.
National Highways, formerly Highways England, today published a summary report of its consultation into the project to dual the remaining parts of the A66 between the M6 at Penrith and A1 at Scotch Corner.
The road is used by thousands of drivers in the north of England each day to travel between the north east and Cumbria and on to Scotland. Many experience delays due to the regular changes from single to dual carriageways.
A total of 645 said they were in favour of dualling the remaining single carriageway, whereas 68 opposed the move and 87 said they were neutral.
Read more:
In its summary report, National Highways said the most common concerns raised were over construction, traffic and the environment.
It said:
“Some people raised issues about an insufficient reduction in traffic when the project was finished, with a concern that dualling could attract additional traffic from other routes.”
Others had concerns that the project could disrupt wildlife and increase congestion during construction.
Appleby Fair could move
The report also reveals National Highways is considering an alternative to the proposed replacement of the travelling community’s Brough Hill Fair site on the section between Appleby and Brough. It says:
“In the autumn 2021 statutory consultation, a site to the east of Warcop was earmarked on land belonging to the Ministry of Defence — known as the “bivvy” site.
“An alternative location, approximately 1.6 miles east from the current site, is now also being considered in response to feedback from the statutory consultation.”
The responses are helping to shape the final design and inform National Highways’ application for a Development Consent Order in May 2022 which, if successful, will pave the way for the project to dual the entire road to go ahead.
Lee Hillyard, National Highways’ A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project director, said:
Plans for 1,300 homes could leave Ripon in ‘perpetual gridlock’“We’re delighted so many people have taken such a keen interest in our proposals.
“Today we’ve published our statutory consultation summary report and spring 2022 project update, which is the perfect opportunity to provide the latest information and show how we are acting on the feedback we’ve received.”
Homes England will not be allowed to ‘ride roughshod’ over the wishes of people in Ripon and must renew consultation with the city council.
That was the unanimous view this week of elected members, who have described the proposed traffic plan for the 1,300-home Clotherholme development on the barracks site as ‘unacceptable’.
Speaking at Monday’s city council meeting, Conservatives Stuart Martin and Mike Chambers, who are also district and county councillors, joined Conservative parish councillors and the ruling Independents in voicing concerns.
Cllr Martin said:
“At the outline planning stage, this is the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we have to get things right on the traffic front.
“If we don’t, the city will suffer the consequences for years to come.”
City centre roads ‘at capacity’
Cllr Chambers added:
“The city centre roads are at capacity and we must make it known to Harrogate Borough Council that this plan does not work and will not work, if Homes England doesn’t come forward with new traffic mitigation measures.”
Homes England, which is the government housing agency also owns the West Lane site in Ripon where 390 homes will be built by Taylor Wimpey after outline planning permission was granted last month.
City council leader Andrew Williams said:
“Between the two sites they have almost 1,700 houses and I recommend that we say we are willing to accept 800 homes at Clotherholme and hold back on making a decision on the other 500 until this council is satisfied that Homes England has properly and thoroughly addressed the traffic issue.
“We will not allow people who don’t live in Ripon to make decisions from afar that ride roughshod over the wishes of local residents, who don’t want a city that is in perpetual gridlock.”
The busy junction of Somerset Row with High and Low Skellgate, where vehicles would not be able to turn right under the Homes England traffic plan.
“One of the unacceptable proposals in the plan is to prevent traffic at the junction of Somerset Row with Low Skellgate from turning right, meaning a detour for thousands of motorists a week.”
Cllr Williams’ proposed staged approach to handling planning for the Clotherholme scheme, was supported by all councillors, who also called for Harrogate planners and Homes England to come to the city council to hear the views of members.
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Cllr Pauline McHardy said;
“We haven’t met with them for over a year and it’s about time for them to get around the table with us, so we can let them know about the concerns people from all parts of the city are expressing about the traffic impact that the barracks site will have.”
Support for Ripon Military Heritage Trust
Prior to their discussion about the Clotherholme scheme, Christopher Hughes, chairman of Ripon Civic Society and Alan Skidmore, a trustee of the the Ripon Military Heritage Trust, addressed the council.
They provided an update on proposals to seek protection for historically-significant structures at the barracks site, which are currently threatened with demolition to make way for the new homes development.
It was agreed that in its correspondence with Harrogate planners, the city council will confirm that the trust’s proposals have the unanimous support of the council.
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Plans for Harrogate’s first mosque approved
Harrogate Borough Council has approved an application to convert the former Home Guard club in Harrogate into the town’s first mosque.
The building on the corner of Tower Street and Belford Road has stood derelict for several years but Harrogate Islamic Association plans to bring it back into use as a place of worship for Muslims.
The association, which was set up in 2011, has been looking for a permanent home for several years, with previous attempts at securing a site falling through. Around 100 Muslim worshippers currently meet in the Quakers’ Friends Meeting House on Queen Parade.
The association also organises prayer sessions at Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough.
Sustainable travel
The planning application was submitted in December and received 107 letters of support and 68 objections.
Several objections said the Mosque would increase traffic in the area and that there would be a lack of car parking spaces, but these points were dismissed by council officer Arthama Lakhanpall in his report.
He wrote:
“The site is well connected to transport links and lies within a sustainable location for travel and access. It would promote walking, cycling and sustainable travel in this town centre location. It would therefore be accessible.
“There is no requirement for the proposal to provide off-street parking provision, although the site benefits from nearby short stay and long stay parking areas including the West Park pay and display and multi-storey car parks, and on-street parking on Belford Place, Belford Road and Victoria Avenue.”
The council tweeted the news this morning.
We know there has been a lot of interest surrounding planning application 21/04557/FUL (conversion of vacant former home guards club to place of worship).
We can confirm approval was given (subject to conditions) today under delegated powers. pic.twitter.com/BdMBtQXmWd
— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) March 4, 2022
The HIA will run religious, community and charitable events at the building. It will also support Syrian and Afghan refugees who have moved to the area.
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Whilst the HIA has obtained planning approval, the next stage is raising money to purchase the building from the current owner.
£200,000 fundraiser
It hopes to raise £200,000 and has set up a fundraising page here where people can donate.
Harrogate Islamic Association said:
Traffic and Travel Alert: Delays of up to 10 minutes on Ripon Road in Killinghall and Knaresborough Road into Harrogate“We are grateful to everyone in the Harrogate community who supported us, including those at Harrogate Borough Council who engaged with us regularly to alleviate any concerns during the process.
“We view this as a success for everyone in Harrogate, not just ourselves. We can’t wait to welcome one and all for a cuppa.
“Our next step is to raise the balance of funds necessary for us to purchase the property outright. Although we have raised most of what we need, we had a number of pledges that were dependent upon planning permission being granted.
“So for the next 30 days, we will be collecting these pledges, inshallah. We are also re-launching a crowdfunding campaign to make up the difference.”
Delays of up to 10 minutes are being reported along Ripon Road through Killinghall and on Knaresborough Road heading towards the Empress roundabout.
Be aware of the three-way traffic lights on York Place which could increase your queuing time after getting over the Empress roundabout.
It may be best to leave a little earlier if possible if you’re driving into Harrogate town centre this morning.
Keep us posted with any traffic updates on our social media channels or via contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.
We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.
The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.
Traffic and Travel Alert: Traffic is queuing in Killinghall due to temporary lights outside the new Tesco
Traffic is reportedly queuing in Killinghall this morning due to the temporary lights outside of the new Tesco store in the centre of town.
Yorkshire Water is responsible for the works. It says they will be in place until the end of today.
Delays are currently around six minutes on Ripon Road, A61.
The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.
We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.
The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.
Harrogate Bus Company has had to cancel multiple services on its 1A, 1C and 36 routes this morning.
Those affected include:
- 9.04 – 1C Harrogate to Carmires – cancelled
- 9.29 – 1C Carmires to Harrogate – cancelled
- 9.57 – 36 Ripon to Harrogate – cancelled
- 10.11 – 1A Harrogate to Aspin – cancelled
- 10.36 – 1A Aspin to Harrogate – cancelled
For updates from Harrogate Bus Company, follow it on Twitter @harrogatebus.
https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1498194886763421696
The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.
We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.
The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.