Villagers call for traffic calming

Calls have been made for traffic calming to improve safety in a village on the edge of Nidderdale.
Volunteer traffic counters in Shaw Mills from left Carolyn Sandford, Yvonne Berryman, Jean Tither, Vince Graham, Nick Tither and David Terzza. Picture Gerard BinksVolunteer traffic counters in Shaw Mills from left Carolyn Sandford, Yvonne Berryman, Jean Tither, Vince Graham, Nick Tither and David Terzza. Picture Gerard Binks
Volunteer traffic counters in Shaw Mills from left Carolyn Sandford, Yvonne Berryman, Jean Tither, Vince Graham, Nick Tither and David Terzza. Picture Gerard Binks

Shaw Mills parish councillors are conducting traffic surveys in their bid to get North Yorkshire County Council to move on what they describe as a hazardous road.

Coun Nick Tither said: “Anyone who walks through Shaw Mills knows how hazardous the road is.

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“The village is approached by two steep hills, which encourage traffic to come through at speed.

“There are then tight bends with a narrow bridge and no footway.”

He added: ”We have had a site visit with the police who agree that the situation is dangerous, not just to motorists but particularly for walkers and cyclists.

“We have all seen close calls on the bridge and residents trying to get out of their drives get abused because other road users, including cyclists, have been going too fast to avoid them.”

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But Coun Tither added that NYCC had repeatedly refused to take action, arguing that there is no need for action on their part.

“Their decision is based on a highways officer driving through the village four times, in winter, during lockdown,” added Coun Tither.

“Obviously, this is ridiculous, hardly a typical time.”

Using volunteers from the village a daylight traffic count was conducted over two days to get a ‘real picture’.

“We shall not only count the number and type of traffic, we shall also be noting positioning on the road together with near misses and dangerous incidents. “Armed with those figures we shall be going back to NYCC and calling on them to act upon residents’ wishes.

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“We don’t want much, a couple of roadside signs, maybe renew the white lines which have worn off.

“We simply want people to be able to come through our village in safety” continued Nick.”

The data will be analysed by parish councillors and presented to NYCC Highways department, designated borough and county councillors and the MP for the area.