Pannal Ash Safe Streets Zone

A petition for a Pannal Ash Safe Streets Zone has been launched.

It asks for a safe streets zone around the four schools, two sports centres and nature reserve on streets including:

• West End Avenue
• Arthurs Avenue
• Pannal Ash Road
• Pannal Ash Drive
• Green Lane
• Yew Tree Lane
• Beckwith Road
• Beckwith Avenue/Harlow Avenue

All the streets would be made 20mph, and there would be traffic-calming measures to reduce speeds.

There would also be a number of extra pedestrian crossings.

‘It would be refreshing to see the council [North Yorkshire County Council] taking a holistic approach to road safety in the area, rather than the piecemeal improvements currently undertaken. We believe the council has a moral responsibility to improve the safety of our streets in this area, due to its high usage by school children and in the light of the fact that so much development has been permitted nearby without adequate provision for the increased traffic.’

pannal ash safe streets zone petition

The organisers of the petition, Jenny Marks and Ruth Lily, say that 180 people signed their previous petition for enforcement of the 20mph limit on Pannal Ash Road, and it was clear from the comments made then that there are concerns for the safety of children.

The schools in the area concerned are:

• Harrogate Grammar School
• Rossett High School
• Rossett Acre Primary School
• Ashville College

The organisers of the petition have already engaged with a number of interested parties including the schools, local councillors, N Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire County Council Area 6, Zero Carbon Harrogate, and HAPARA.

Concerns include the volume and speed of traffic, use of the streets by through traffic, the lack of safe crossings, and no cycle provision.

A 20mph zone is more likely to change behaviour than an isolate 20mph limit, says the petition.