I have joined with fellow North Yorkshire Harrogate MP, Tom Gordon, to call for further safety improvements at the Barton Hill junction on the A64, following concerns raised by a local constituent who was involved in a serious collision there.
The constituent, who regularly uses the junction while travelling to work near Castle Howard, described how the dip in the road and the speed of oncoming traffic made it difficult to see approaching vehicles safely.
After previously raising the matter with National Highways, we were disappointed to learn that no further action is currently planned, based on collision figures recorded between 2019 and 2023. However, we believe those figures may not provide a complete picture, particularly as part of that period coincided with Covid lockdowns when traffic levels were significantly reduced.
Together, Tom Gordon MP and I have now written to North Yorkshire Council asking them to work with National Highways to review the junction again, including examining accident data from before and after the 2019 junction improvements.
Road safety must always remain a priority, and where local residents continue to raise genuine concerns, it is important that authorities listen carefully and fully review the evidence. I will continue working with colleagues across party lines to press for any further improvements needed to help keep motorists safe on this stretch of the A64.
The letter is attached.
