VILLAGERS are protesting they’ve been left high and dry by work on a new road for a 1,000 home estate causing safety issues and ongoing transport problems.

Brompton Parish Council have taken their concerns to MP Rishi Sunak asking him to intervene after the main road into the village from Northallerton was closed completely and diversions set up along a narrow lane.

Parish council chairman Barry Martin said they had been inundated with complaints. A new T junction is being built as part of the massive road reconstruction for the North Northallerton development being carried out by Taylor Wimpey builders.

Bus services have been disrupted with residents left to walk or take taxis. Cllr Martin said they were assured they would be consulted before the road closure but that didn’t happen.

"We are extremely concerned that this did not take place, and no safety audit was carried out. This has caused mayhem. Instead of coming into Brompton direct from Northallerton Road by turning left at Stone Cross, traffic now has to proceed along the A684 and turn left at Lead Lane.

"This is a narrow country lane, sparsely lit with no footpath, overgrown hedges and a weight restriction. It's not designed to take the amount of traffic using it, there has been a huge increase, and we know there have been some near misses.”

 

The council have asked for a speed limit on the A684 or traffic lights. They are also concerned work is not being done on traffic lights for a vital pedestrian crossing when the road is completed. “Two roundabouts have been constructed on both Darlington Road and Stokesley Road without any need for road closures and it seems to residents of Brompton that the lengthy diversion, until the end of January if we are lucky, has been orchestrated purely for the convenience of the developer.

"Residents living in half of the village have been left with no public bus four days of the week and the two days there is one it's a very limited service. This results in villagers paying for taxis to get into Northallerton.” added Mr Martin.

Mr Sunak told the council he is pursuing the issues. A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said: "Taylor Wimpey has been advised by the contractor that in order to carry out the works to Northallerton Road under the approved scheme, a road closure is required to ensure the works are carried out in a safe manner.

"We recognise that as a result, some disruption to members of the public situated in Brompton Village will be caused and have liaised with the County Council Transport department in order to ensure an additional bus service is provided during this period."

 

North Yorkshire County Council network strategy manager Allan McVeigh said: “The nature of the work on Northallerton Road is such that health and safety considerations required the road to be closed. This has been done using a temporary traffic regulation order which has been processed in accordance with the county council’s standard processes.

“The arrangements for the road closure included safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists being provided through the work to avoid the need to use the vehicle diversion route. The county council is continuing to work with the developers for a speedy re-opening of the route once it is safe to do so.’’