Harrogate: Council says roadworks situation a ‘fiasco’ and ‘a risk to residents’

Harrogate Town Council’s new Liberal Democrat leaders have criticised the latest roadworks ‘fiasco’.

Having only been launched in June as part of local government reorganisation, the recently-elected authority has less money and power than the abolished Harrogate Borough Council but it is signalling its intention to make something of an impact, says the Harrogate Advertiser.

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 Cllr 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 emergency contact board was placed facing away from the line of vehicles, rendering it inaccessible,” she continued. “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 buses.