Harrogate's roadworks situation now 'posing risks to residents' says Lib Dem group on the new town council
The new Harrogate Town Council has opened up on the latest roadworks ‘fiasco’ in a demonstration that it intends to play a serious role in the life of the town.
Having only been launched in June as part of local government reorganisation, the recently-elected authority may have less money and power than the abolished Harrogate Borough Council but it is signalling its intention to make an impact.
The Lib Dem group which dominates Harrogate Town Council has raised its concerns after the normal roadworks disruption on the town’s roads was made worse by an incident last Friday, August 8.
In particular, councillors say they are alarmed by what they say are the "potentially disastrous consequences” for emergency services and residents’ safety.
Lib Dem Town Councillor Josie Caven and Lib Dem North Yorks Councillor Philip Broadbank both experienced the traffic gridlock on Knaresborough Road in the Starbeck area.
“There was a serious breakdown in temporary traffic management systems at a roadworks site in Kingsley Ward on Knaresborough Road,” claimed Coun Caven.
"Both sets of temporary traffic lights were stuck on red, causing a full traffic standstill in both directions, with no staff present and no emergency response activated.”
The Kingsley ward town councillor is concerned the whole situation is becoming “dangerous”.
"The emergency contact board was placed facing away from the line of vehicles, rendering it inaccessible,” she said.
“Not only was this unacceptable, it was dangerous.
"Drivers were taking risks and were meeting opposite passing cars in the single diverted road and it was distressing watching it unfold over the 45 minutes I was there."
North Yorkshire Councillor Philip Broadbank was himself caught up in the traffic jam and was very concerned about the fact that the queue of traffic was completely stationary and contained at least seven or eight buses.
"Motorists cautiously started to take matters into their own hands,” he said.
“It was frustrating and chaotic as motorists worked out the best way to keep moving.
"When he travelled back that way at 10pm the lights were still stuck on red.”
The Lib Dem group on Harrogate Town Council is worried about the “knock-on" effects for the rest of the town’s roadways, emergency services and public transport of the town’s forest of roadworks.
They say they will make it a priority to explore the implications of this event for future emergency planning for the town.