In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2023, we’re looking at road safety.
The issue of road safety came under the Stray Ferret’s spotlight a lot this year.
With several fatal and serious crashes, campaigns for 20mph speed limit zones and “landmark” road safety packages, it has been a year of ups and downs on our highways.
20mph speed limits
Pannal Ash and Oatlands
A collision that left two school students with serious injuries prompted a group of Harrogate parents to bolster plans to implement 20mph speed zones around parts of the town.
The incident, which happened in February, left two 15-year-old Rossett School pupils requiring several operations and hospital treatment for months after.
Following the collision, the group, who were already campaigning for such change, amped up their efforts.
They set up a petition, which called for a ‘safe streets zone’, consisting of a blanket 20mph speed limit across the Rossett, Pannal Ash, Oatlands, Woodlands and Hookstone areas.
It attracted more than 900 signatures and caught the attention of 13 education leader and local councillors, who joined forces with the group and urged North Yorkshire Council to take action.
The petition was delivered to the council in May.
Hazel Peacock, who spearheaded the campaign and delivered the petition on behalf of the group, told the Stray Ferret on the day:
“We’re just delighted we’ve got this number of signatures. It shows the support for the proposal of this change, which could bring such positive benefits from a road safety perspective.
“Once you have that, it will change people’s attitudes in regard to comfort around walking, cycling and mobility users.”
The road safety group.
Woodfield Road
The council also recommended a separate 20mph speed limit plan for Woodfield Road in the Bilton area of Harrogate.
The project, funded through the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s AJ1 project road safety fund, will see the introduction of traffic calming measures, including speed cushions and a 20mph speed limit.
Cllr Paul Haslam, a Conservative who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, told the Stray Ferret in November the measures were being taken “for the safety of children” ahead of the former Woodfield Road Community Primary School re-opening.
The school, which closed at the end of last year, is due to reopen as a secondary school for 80 autistic children in September 2024.
No further updates have been revealed since publication.
‘Landmark’ package unveiled
Following calls for change, North Yorkshire Council unveiled plans for the county’s largest ever “landmark” 20mph zone in September.
It proposed extensive reduced speed limit zones across the Pannal Ash and Oatlands areas of the town, which included Arthurs Avenue, Oatlands Drive, Yew Tree Lane and Cromwell Road.
It covered seven Harrogate schools in line with the parents’ wishes.
These were Harrogate Grammar School, Rossett Acre Primary School, Rossett School, Ashville College, St Aidan’s Church of England High School, Oatlands Junior School and Oatlands Infants School.
Cllr Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways and transport, said at the time:
“This is the most significant 20mph zone the council has ever introduced.
“Our plan will see 20mph limits introduced outside seven more schools and on nearby residential streets, meaning thousands of children can enjoy safer journeys every day.
“This landmark proposal is testament to the collective determination of schools, families and councillors to respond to public concerns and deliver ambitious action. It sets a positive example and leads the way for communities across North Yorkshire.”
Cllr Keane Duncan.
Headteacher called for Otley Road to be included
After the package was announced, Neil Renton, headteacher at Harrogate Grammar School (HGS), called for a section of Otley Road to also be included in the 20mph zone.
Arthurs Avenue and surrounding side roads were set to be included in the reduced speed limit zone to protect HGS pupils, however Mr Renton said the zone should be extended to include the busy B6162 Otley Road where pupils enter the school.
He said this is a key route in-and-out of town and currently has a limit of 30mph.
The call came after council officers published a report ahead of a Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency meeting, during which Mr Renton’s concerns were expressed, which stated the “volume of traffic” on the road would mean it would not be possible to implement the 20mph speed limit.
Plans rejected
Despite hopes of change from teachers, councillors and campaigners, North Yorkshire Council rejected plans to include some of the main roads in the 20mph zone.
Following a December meeting, it appeared Leeds Road, Wetherby Road, Otley Road, Hookstone Road, Hookstone Drive, York Place and Leadhall Lane would not be included in the plan.
A report due before Cllr Duncan said the main roads were either identified as “strategic distributor” or “main distributor” roads, adding:
“Practically given the recognised role in the strategic network and their function to carry high volumes of traffic between primary destinations it is not considered appropriate to implement physical traffic calming features and an associated speed reduction to 20mph.”
Meanwhile, the council said Leadhall Lane “does not have identified destination points such as schools, shops or sports centre” and a 20mph limit would be “difficult to achieve”.
A map of the 20mph areas in Pannal and Oatlands. Picture: North Yorkshire Council.
‘Incredibly disappointed’
Christopher Harrison, headteacher at Oatlands Infant School, said he was “incredibly disappointed” with the news.
He hoped the council would reconsider and reduce the speed limit on Hookstone Road to 20mph from 30mph, adding:
“As headteacher of Oatlands Infant School, I am incredibly disappointed by the decision to keep Hookstone Road at 30mph.
“We have a healthy, active school community who love to walk, cycle and scooter to school alongside Hookstone Road on a daily basis.
“We worry that the current speed limit of 30mph is not safe enough for our children, and that a reduction to 20mph would enable more families to travel to school in safety. We hope that North Yorkshire Council reconsider this decision with our youngest, most vulnerable members of our community in mind.”
But Mr Harrison was not alone in his concern, as campaigner Hazel Peacock also urged the council to reconsider. She said:
“For the safety and well-being of the 9,000 school children and the wider community in Oatlands and Pannal Ash we urge North Yorkshire Council to reconsider the inclusion of Hookstone Road, Hookstone Drive, Leadhall Lane, part of Leeds Rd (A61), Otley Rd (B6162), Wetherby Road (A661) and York Place (A6040) as 20mph in the Harrogate (south and west) 20mph Speed Limit review to be considered by Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transportation and mayoral candidate, on Monday 18th December.
“Without the inclusion of Hookstone Road, Hookstone Drive, Otley Road and part of Wetherby Road specifically only five of the nine schools in the zone will be fully covered with 20mph roads immediately surrounding them; leaving St John Fishers Catholic High School and Willow Tree Primary School on 30mph roads and a combination of 30mph and 20mph in the case of Harrogate Grammar School and Oatlands Infant School.”
Next steps
The authority recommended the scheme, which is estimated to cost £200,000, proceed to consultation on traffic regulation orders for the areas proposed to be reduced to 20mph.
The recommendation was approved following an environmental meeting on Monday, December 18.
The council said in its decision:
“Approval given to allow officers to proceed; with the necessary consultations and Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process to seek to implement a 20mph speed limit, together with associated traffic calming measures as identified in the residential roads as outlined in Appendix A of the report and with signing and lining reviews of Hookstone Road, Hookstone Drive and Wetherby Road.”
It said officers are to provide the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee progress updates in Spring 2024.
The authority added:
“The recommendation aligns with several of the Council’s priorities linked with Highway Safety, Place and Environment and Health and Well Being.
“By introducing a reduced speed limit from 30mph to 20mph in these areas it is hoped that a safer and healthier environment will encourage enhanced active travel opportunities for all ages of the community, this may be walking, wheeling, accessibility to the bus or cycling.
“The introduction of such measures is subject to satisfactory consultation and the completion of the formal Traffic Regulation Order advertising process.”
A bad year for fatal collisions
The Harrogate district has seen several fatal crashes throughout this year, with one road becoming a common denominator in the incidents.
Four out of six fatal collisions happened on the A61, which runs between Ripon and Harrogate, two of which occurred within just eight days of each other.
A 59-year-old motorcyclist was killed on the road on August 29. Officers believe that the motorcyclist was travelling with a group of unknown motorcycles immediately before the collision and he was at the rear of the group.
Just a few days later, three members of a Ukrainian family were killed in a three-vehicle crash that involved a double decker bus on Sunday, September 3. A teenage girl was left orphaned.
Following the collisions, residents of South Stainley called for a speed limit reduction from 60mph to 50mph in October.
Rebecca Brewins, who lives alongside the road and lost her parents in a crash at South Stainley 11 years ago, led the campaign.
She and other residents met Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith, who subsequently urged North Yorkshire Council to act.
Richard Flinton, the council’s chief executive, indicated at the time the authority considered taking action.
In a letter to Mr Smith, seen by the Stray Ferret, Mr Flinton wrote:
“The reports for the recent fatal collisions are currently being drafted, but I am able to advise that the road environment was not considered to have been a factor in the cause of either fatal collision
“Therefore, the recommendations are limited to small scale localised improvements, such as the cleaning of road signs and refreshing of white lines.
“Nevertheless, in recognition of community concerns, North Yorkshire Council is currently carrying out a series of speed surveys along the A61, with a view to reducing the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph.
“Whilst mean speeds are unlikely to be excessive, the intention here is to set the expectations of the motorist, of the lack of overtaking opportunities, bends and other hazards associated with a high speed rural road.”
Police at the scene of the triple fatality on Sep 3 2023
Mr Flinton added the council was expected to consult on introducing a traffic regulation order to reduce the speed limit from the national default speed limit of 60mph.
He also said engineers will undertake “a full route analysis of the A61” to identify what else can be done to make the road safer.
Despite hopes of action being taken, another person was killed on the fated road just weeks later.
90-year-old Lucjan Wilk was hit by a car on the road, near Killinghall, after getting off the 36 bus.
His daughter, Paulina, whom he lived with, contacted the Stray Ferret to voice her concerns following her father’s death.
She urged North Yorkshire Council to reduce the speed limit on the “horrendous road”.
As well as suggesting a 30mph speed limit – instead of the current 40mph – Paulina also insisted the council should install proper lighting and introduce other traffic-calming measures, such as speed-indicator display signs.
It appears the requested measures are yet to come to fruition.
Lucjan Wilk was killed on the A61 near Killinghall.
Fatal collisions also happened on Brimham Rocks Road, near Pateley Bridge, North Park Road in Harrogate and the B6265 near Boroughbridge.
Read more:
- Police name victims of fatal A61 crash near Ripon
- Stray Views: Why no 20mph limit outside my children’s primary school?
20mph speed limit proposed for Harrogate’s Woodfield Road
North Yorkshire Council has proposed new road safety measures for Woodfield Road in the Bilton area of Harrogate.
The project, funded through the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s AJ1 project road safety fund, will see the introduction of traffic calming measures, including speed cushions and a 20mph speed limit.
Cllr Paul Haslam, a Conservative who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, told the Stray Ferret the measures were being taken “for the safety of children” ahead of the former Woodfield Road Community Primary School re-opening.
There school, which closed at the end of last year, is due to reopen as a secondary school for 80 autistic children in September 2024.
The former Woodfield Road Community Primary.
Cllr Haslam secured a £20,000 budget for the road safety project and a spokesperson for the council said “the cost will be within the £20,000 fund”, with exact costs “still to come from contractors”.
The council hopes the project will be completed before April 2024.
The scheme follows another major road safety package unveiled by the council in September to create an extensive 20mph zone in the Pannal Ash and Oatlands area of the town.
The proposed area for the new zones included seven Harrogate schools. These are Harrogate Grammar School, Rossett Acre Primary School, Rossett School, Ashville College, St Aidan’s Church of England High School, Oatlands Junior School and Oatlands Infants School.
Read more:
- Landmark Harrogate road safety and transport package unveiled
- Harrogate autism school could save £4m a year
Bilton’s iron bridge mural suffers worst graffiti attack yet
The mural on the iron bridge in Bilton has been covered with offensive graffiti.
Beverley artist Emma Garness was commissioned by Network Rail, which owns the bridge, to paint the mural in 2021.
Its uplifting nature-themed design, which incorporates local elements including cherry tree blossom from the Stray in Harrogate, has been well received.
Artist Emma Garniss finishing her design in 2021.
But the bridge, which links Claro Road and Woodfield Road, has been subject to several outbreaks of graffiti.
Ms Garness used special paint which enables it to be cleaned,
Bilton man Chris Knight has twice volunteered to help after a swastika and anti-Pakistani messages appeared.
The latest outbreak is perhaps the most extensive yet. It includes three slogans, two of which make offensive personal comments about national and local politicians.
The iron bridge
Read more:
- Councillor outlines plans for new train station in Harrogate
- Harrogate woman among 16 housemates on Big Brother
Felled Harrogate oak tree defaced with graffiti
A felled oak tree in Harrogate has been defaced with graffiti which inaccurately claims it was killed for cyclists.
The tree at the junction of Bilton Lane and Woodfield Road was taken down due to its decaying condition last month.
At the time, the council said it was “regrettable” that the 300-year-old oak had to be felled.
The tree has now been defaced with graffiti, which says “killed 4 cyclists”.
It is unclear who is responsible for the graffiti or when it was carried out.
However, the message is inaccurate as council officials confirmed to the Stray Ferret that the tree had been assessed in June and its decaying roots meant it was a “risk to the public”.
North Yorkshire Council also claimed it is possible that work carried out by Northern Powergrid in April near to the oak on Woodfield Road in Bilton “would have accelerated the death of the tree”.
Jonathan Clubb, the council’s head of parks and grounds, said a “thorough examination” would now be carried out into the tree.
He said:
“It is always regrettable when we have to remove a tree and we do not do so lightly. However, after a detailed assessment of the risks posed, a decision was taken to remove this specimen due to its condition.
“Oak trees can live for centuries and this particular tree was around 300 years old.
“However, the extent of the root decay meant the stability of the tree may have been affected. Because of its location on a main road, the risk to the public was considered too great to allow it to continue to stand.”
Read more:
- Plans to create new traffic-free greenway submitted
- ‘Regret’ after 300-year-old oak tree felled in Harrogate
‘Regret’ after 300-year-old oak tree felled in Harrogate
North Yorkshire Council has said it is “regrettable” that a 300 year old oak tree in Harrogate was felled yesterday due to its decaying condition.
The authority has also claimed it is possible that work carried out by Northern Powergrid in April near to the oak on Woodfield Road in Bilton “would have accelerated the death of the tree”.
The council carried out an assessment of the tree at the junction with Bilton Lane in June.
It concluded that due to decaying roots the “risk to the public” was considered too great for it to remain in place and it was destroyed yesterday.
Cllr Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on the council, said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of the tree.
Northern Powergrid, which manages the electricity network, carried out emergency work to repair a cable fault in the area in April this year.
The work included excavation of the roots of the tree to dig a trench.
Read more:
- Plans to create new traffic-free greenway submitted
- Safety audit rules out traffic lights at notorious Killinghall junction
Council officials said although the work did not contribute to the tree’s decay, it is possible that it would have accelerated its death, which led to the authority’s decision to remove it “earlier than we would have otherwise”.
Jonathan Clubb, North Yorkshire Council’s head of parks and grounds, said a “thorough examination” would now be carried out into the tree.
He said:
“It is always regrettable when we have to remove a tree and we do not do so lightly. However, after a detailed assessment of the risks posed, a decision was taken to remove this specimen due to its condition.
“Oak trees can live for centuries and this particular tree was around 300 years old.
“However, the extent of the root decay meant the stability of the tree may have been affected. Because of its location on a main road, the risk to the public was considered too great to allow it to continue to stand.”
Mr Clubb added:
“We were aware of the decay as the tree has been regularly assessed over the years as part of our active tree surveys.
“While the work undertaken by Northern Powergrid did not contribute to this decay, it is possible that it would have accelerated the death of the tree, leading to our decision to remove it earlier than we would have otherwise.
“Now the tree has been removed it will be subject to a thorough examination and if experts confirm this view then we will look to take the matter further.”
The Stray Ferret approached Northern Powergrid to ask for a response to the claim that the work carried out contributed to the council’s decision to remove the tree.
A spokesperson said:
Police appeal after Transit van stolen in Harrogate“Our engineering team attended Woodfield Road in Harrogate in April 2023 to repair a low voltage cable fault.
“Northern Powergrid’s remit was to repair the low voltage fault, which our teams did safely, to keep our customers connected.”
Police have issued an appeal after a Ford Transit T350 was stolen from Woodfield Road in Harrogate.
The van was taken between 10.30pm on Thursday, May 18, and 8am on Friday, May 19.
Officers said the vehicle has blacked out rear side panels on each side as well as red sun stickers on each rear side panel.
It also has an amber light fitted to the front of the roof on the driver’s side and the registration is BN63 WCJ.
A North Yorkshire Police statement added:
“If you see the stolen vehicle, or know where it is, please email ben.robinson-brockhill@northyorkshire.police.uk. You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Ben Robinson-Brockhill
“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230089644.”
Read more:
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