Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, has asked North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) to reconsider their decision not to take action on speeding in Calcutt, Knaresborough.
The move by Mr Jones comes as part of a long running campaign by the Calcutt Speed Action Group to urge the County Council to introduce road safety measures in the area. Late last year, Mr Jones joined residents to hand in a 250 strong petition to NYCC, appealing for speeding deterrents in the village. The County Council responded by conducting a speed survey in Calcutt, the results of which were revealed to Mr Jones this month.
Mr Jones said: “I am disappointed that the County Council have concluded from the survey that there is no speed issue and no need for further action. I have written to the County Council on behalf of residents and asked them to reconsider their decision.”
The results from the Calcutt Speed Survey found the average number of vehicles in a 24-hour period travelling from Calcutt was 4,650 and travelling from Knaresborough was 3,771. The average speed of all these vehicles was set at 31.7mph.
There was a reported average of 286 vehicles in a 24-hour period travelling in each direction above 35mph, equating to 14 per cent of all vehicles.
The Harrogate District Community Safety Partnership concluded from these findings that no further action was to be taken.
Mr Jones commented: “Fourteen per cent of all vehicles are speeding – that works out at one vehicle every three minutes breaking the limit. This is enough to make pedestrians feel unsafe.
“The survey takes no account of the types of vehicle which pass through Calcutt. HGVs frequently travel through the village on a road that is unsuitable for them. Something needs to be done to improve this situation.
“My major concern with the County Council’s conclusions however, is that they have not addressed the lack of continuous pavement on either side of Blands Hill. Pedestrians must therefore cross the busy road at some point to stay on the pavement and in doing so take their chances with speeding traffic due to the lack of a crossing.”
