FED-up residents of Rectory Lane in Skipton are calling for action to stop lorries and coaches ignoring weight limit signs and using the narrow, one-way street.

They say heavy vehicles have hit road signs, pass within inches of their homes as they navigate the turn out of the town centre car park, and pedestrians put their lives at risk by walking along the roadway. Underground pipes they claim have also been damaged by heavy traffic resulting in sewage running along the town centre road.

Captain Kevin and Mary Wood, and Andrew Jones say they have complained repeatedly to North Yorkshire County Council, and now North Yorkshire Council, but have been told it is a ‘low priority’ because there are no recorded collisions on the road.

“We want North Yorkshire Council to listen to us and to finally put measures in place to not only protect pedestrians, wheelchair users and tourists from the traffic on this narrow road so that nobody is killed, God forbid, but also to protect our homes,” they say.

But North Yorkshire Council told the Craven Herald while it took road safety very seriously, there had been no recorded incidents in Rectory Lane in the last five years, that it did not meet the criteria for ‘no HGV’ road markings, and as such no action would be taken.

Captain and Mrs Wood said: “For over three years we have written to North Yorkshire County Council (now North Yorkshire Council) and also Julian Smith MP on this, but to no avail. More recently, we have again appealed to the council as heavy haulage, and now evermore, coaches, are using Rectory Lane as a cut through and ignoring the limited signage.”

They say coaches turn the wrong way out of the Town Hall car park to drive up Rectory Lane, just inches from their living room window.

“Heavy haulage which far exceeds the 7.5 tonne weight limit continue to use Rectory Lane; wheelchair users, elderly people and children continue to risk their lives by using the narrow pathway whilst these vehicles continue to ignore signage. This is simply a situation where an accident is just waiting to happen.

“Not only is this clearly dangerous and very frightening for us, but such heavy vehicles constantly using the lane are also surely compromising the integrity of the l Turn to page 2 structure of our homes.

“Signage in general needs to be looked at as it is also a common theme that vehicles drive down Rectory Lane, which is one-way, the wrong way.

“It remains clear that the council are going to do nothing whatsoever to alleviate any of these problems until such time as a serious incident happens, or worse still, someone is killed, therefore deeming Rectory Lane and it’s surrounding area as no longer ‘low risk.’ “Surely it would make more sense to spend what would be very little Council funds now on negating any risks for the safety and peace of mind of residents and visitors to Skipton alike, rather than waiting for a catastrophe to happen, which will only be a matter of time.”

North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director of environment, Karl Battersby, said: “We take all road safety concerns seriously and are committed to using the funding available to target high risk sites.

“We annually review injury collision data provided by North Yorkshire Police and there were no incidents recorded over the last five years for Rectory Lane in Skipton. Therefore, this location does not fit the criteria to fund safety improvements.

“Our officers recently assessed the signage and concluded no further action was needed. A request for ‘no HGV’ road markings was submitted, however, they would not meet national guidelines for installation at this location.

“Please be assured that we will continue to monitor injury collision data and will act if it is necessary to do so.”