A resident whose house overlooks the A59 at Kex Gill has accused North Yorkshire Council of an “appalling” lack of communication and transparency over the road closure.
The road, which is the main route between Harrogate and Skipton, closed suddenly at Blubberhouses on February 2 when a crack appeared on the verge.
The council blamed a landslip caused by wet weather and in an update a week ago said repair work had yet to begin due to the amount of rain. No indication of timeframe has been given.
Alistair Young, who lives in Blubberhouses, claimed the landslip was due to the nearby £68.8 million road realignment scheme.
He said previous landslips had occurred about half a mile away higher up the gorge rather than in the flatter area where the road is currently blocked.
The scheme has seen the near destruction of Myer’s Wood; Hall Beck is being diverted, and dry stone walls have been moved. Mr Young said he had been informed 20,000 trees, including saplings, had been felled, which would have destabilised the banks of the valley leading down to the road.
Contractors’ lorries continue to use the closed road each day to ferry material from Coldstones Cut quarry near Pateley Bridge to build the new road as well as access roads for construction vehicles. The Stray Ferret saw lorries frequently using the closed road when we visited Mr Young this week.
A contractor driving on the closed road.
Mr Young said contractors from Sisk had taken time to show residents around the site and been helpful.
But he was less complimentary about the council:
“There has never been a landslip down here where we live.
“If you remove a wood on the side of a valley, divert a beck and then condense the land with thousands of tonnes of hardcore it is no surprise when a crack appears.
“For them to say it’s because of heavy rainfall is absolute nonsense.”
Mr Young said he fully supported the £68.8 million realignment, which is mainly being funded by the Department for Transport. But he added it was disingenuous of the council to blame a landslip and rain rather than its own scheme and questioned whether a permanent closure was necessary to all non-works traffic.
He suggested the road could at least open to non-HGVs at weekends, when the contractors don’t use it:
“The lack of communication and transparency is appalling. I can’t get over it. Nobody has spoken to us about it.”
The latest of many landslips
The Stray Ferret put a list of specific questions to the council about Mr Young’s claims, including that 20,000 trees had been lost. It did not give a figure.
But in a general statement, Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director of environment, reiterated previous comments that this was the latest of many landslips in the area and was the “result of the poor weather”.
Mr Battersby, whose response is published in full at the end of the article, said environmental assessments were carried out which included consultation with public bodies, adding:
“Following this consultation, design changes were incorporated to prevent unnecessary removal of mature trees along with tree protection measures and monitoring during the works.
“An agreed mitigation and nature recovery scheme will also be carried out to replace trees, as well as landscaping works such as bridleways and ponds, to revitalise flora and fauna in the valley.”
He said the council was finalising its repair scheme, which will “involve driving long sheets of interlocking steel into the ground to create a continuous structural wall which provides strength and stability. He added:
“When we have the final programme and timescales, we will endeavour to update road users.
“We have looked at opening the road under two-way lights. Unfortunately, due to the severity of the landslip it requires a full road closure until the works are complete.”
Mr Young said the statement was “flawed throughout”. He added:
“They have decided that Kex Gill starts at Church Hill — the road up to our house, then on to Otley — and said there have been 10 closures. But none of these has been on the flat stretch next to Myer’s Wood which has now been destroyed.”
MP Julian Smith visits
Mr Young sad he had also raised concerns with Skipton and Ripon Conservative MP Julian Smith and Cllr Nathan Hull, a Conservative who represents Washburn and Birstwith on the council, but neither had replied. However, he received a response from Mr Smith shortly after the Stray Ferret contacted the MP’s office.
Mr Smith issued a press release on Thursday, which said he had met council chief executive Richard Flinton the previous day “to seek clarity on the progress that has been made to re-open the road as safely and as quickly as possible”.
He said:
“I know that residents and businesses are frustrated with yet another closure of the A59. That’s why it’s so important that the realignment project is completed as quickly as possible.
“This latest closure continues to have a real impact on my constituents, and I will continue to liaise with the council to ensure that their concerns are factored into the decision-making process.
“The damage to the road is extensive, however, and I understand and support North Yorkshire Council’s decision to prioritise the safety of both those working on the repair and future road users.”
The Stray Ferret also contacted Cllr Hull but has not received a response.
Mr Smith (right) at Kex Gill.
Council’s response in full
Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director of environment, said:
“There have been more than 10 landslips on the A59 at Kex Gill, between Church Hill and North Moor Road, and this latest closure is a result of the poor weather over the past few months.
“February was one of the wettest on record and the persistent rainfall has continued to make the situation worse, with further movement since the start of the closure. Something that has been substantiated by geologists.
“Following a landslip in 2016 – that was also due to heavy rainfall, coupled with unstable land on the hillside – it was determined that full stabilisation of the area would require extensive engineering work. Therefore, a new section of the A59 should replace the existing road, which is now being carried out.
“Further details about this multi-million-pound investment project, which is being predominantly funded by government, can be found on our website here along with the history of landslips in the area.
“Before the realignment project received planning approval, environmental assessments were carried out which included consultation with public bodies, such as the Nidderdale National Landscape (formerly Nidderdale AONB). Following this consultation, design changes were incorporated to prevent unnecessary removal of mature trees along with tree protection measures and monitoring during the works.
“An agreed mitigation and nature recovery scheme will also be carried out to replace trees, as well as landscaping works such as bridleways and ponds, to revitalise flora and fauna in the valley.
“We are currently finalising the programme for the repair scheme, which will include sheet piling and backfilling, to address the slippage and reduce further movement of the carriageway.
“This will involve driving long sheets of interlocking steel into the ground to create a continuous structural wall which provides strength and stability. Once this has been completed, we will be backfilling the excavated area between the sheet piles and the road.
“When we have the final programme and timescales, we will endeavour to update road users.
“We have looked at opening the road under two-way lights. Unfortunately, due to the severity of the landslip it requires a full road closure until the works are complete. Any vehicles that are using the road are doing so under strict traffic management, to prevent any further landslips and ensure everyone is kept safe.
“Until this time, road users are advised to follow the diversion route in place, which is via the A658, A660 and A65 (or by this route reversed). Signage is in place along the diversion and checked regularly, along with additional signage across the area and posts on our social media channels, advising people of the closure at Kex Gill.
“We would again like to thank people for their patience and reiterate that we are doing all we can to complete the repair as quickly and safely as possible.”
Read more:
- Kex Gill: Repair work unlikely to start before end of month
- Motorist’s frustration at lack of information on A59 at Kex Gill reopening
