Council officials have acknowledged the growing disruption caused by roadworks in Harrogate and Knaresborough.
A report going before North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area committee next week says the housing growth, commercial development and major investment in utilities are leading to sustained levels of roadworks and street works.
Officials say work to upgrade ageing water, gas and electricity networks is adding to the pressure, alongside investment in telecommunications and fibre broadband and the installation of infrastructure needed for electric vehicles.
The council says coordinating works is particularly difficult in Harrogate and Knaresborough because roads are already busy with commuters, tourists and business traffic.
Major events including the Great Yorkshire Show, Knaresborough Bed Race and conferences at Harrogate Convention Centre also have to be considered when deciding when works should take place.
Councillor Peter Lacey, who represents the Coppice Valley and Duchy in Harrogate, is chair of the area committee.
He said:
“We asked for this report because we know that the apparently random and disruptive impact of roadworks across the area is a significant concern to residents and businesses.
“Whilst the report highlights the challenges and constraints in seeking to minimise this disruption, the committee will no doubt want to press for efforts to be redoubled, without which continued growth will push the town’s transport infrastructure to breaking point.”
Cllr Lacey said the report pointed to an historic lack of strategic planning and development in transport infrastructure in the towns.
He added:
“We’re hoping that as the York and North Yorkshire Mayor is visiting us for the same meeting, that he will hear first-hand of the challenges the town faces and work with North Yorkshire Council in the coming years to address them.”
Councillor Monika Slater, who represents the Bilton Grange and New Park division, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the situation was exacerbated by a lack of public transport.
“There just isn’t a credible alternative to using your car. We don’t have a circular route, meaning every bus you get on will take you into the centre of town.
“And then to get where you actually wanted to go, you then have to take another bus, if there is one.”
High Harrogate and Kingsley division councillor, Chris Aldred, said the level of disruption was always less during the summer school holidays.
He added:
“When the kids are back it is gridlocked. It tends to be on the main roads in and out.”
The report notes that the authority’s ability to prevent roadworks is limited.
Utility companies have extensive legal rights to access highways to maintain and replace their infrastructure, meaning the council’s role is often to influence how and when work takes place rather than whether it can happen at all.
Before permits are approved, council officers consider issues including traffic flows, other nearby works, schools, bus routes, emergency service access, businesses and planned events.
Officials can challenge applications and seek shorter working periods, night or weekend working, additional workers or alternative traffic management arrangements to reduce disruption.
The council report notes that emergency works are particularly difficult to manage, with utility companies legally allowed to start immediately following incidents such as burst water mains and gas leaks, sometimes before the council has been notified.
Councillors will discuss the report next Thursday.
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