Road Traffic Issues
Published: 14 May 2026
Over the years the parish Council has received many reports from residents regarding road safety issues including speeding and accidents on Main Street, Station Lane, East Lane as well as the junctions north and south of the village in the 60mph zones. The Parish Council has repeatedly made representations to police (now part of the Mayoral Combined Authority), Highways North Yorkshire, our MP's (both Kevin Hollinrake previously and Sir Alec Shelbrooke currently), as well as our own local North Yorkshire Councillor, Malcolm Taylor who has always supported us with our queries and requests.
As well as sending numerous emails we have had Highways representatives and MP's visit the village and shown them what and where the issues are, attended road safety workshops and worked in every way we can to try to get our requests heard and acted on. We have communicated with the village regarding this and were very pleased that at our April meeting 4 members of the public attended to speak about road safety.
Road safety will also be on the agenda for our May Annual Meeting of the Parish on Thursday at 6.30pm where we will be joined by a representative of the Deputy Mayor's office to put forward our questions and requests. She may not be able to answer on the evening but she will present those things she cannot respond to to the Deputy Mayor and respond to us after the meeting.
In order to maximise on the short amount of time we will have to have our thoughts heard with the representative the Parish Council will summarise the main queries regarding road safety issues we have had. We very much welcome all members of the public to attend the meeting and to show support for the issues that we have in our village, but we request that all be mindful of the limited time we have and to avoid repeating requests or presenting more detail than required. Our Chair will be responsible for trying to ensure everyone has a chance to put forward their new and relevant queries - they may need to ask residents to be brief in their representation. We are very mindful of the importance of everyone's views, but we are always mindful of ensuring equal representation and opportunities to speak from everyone attending. If you are unable to attend but wish an issue to be represented please email it to the Clerk in advance of the meeting - clerk@shiptonbybeningbroughcommunity.org.uk.
In order to help us get the message across we have prepared the attached template letter summarising the main issues - you can see it here: SHIPTON ROAD SAFETY TEMPLATE LETTER. Please feel free to change this letter as you see fit - we encourage as many residents of the village as possible to send in their thoughts to the authorities that have the powers to make the changes, in particular:
Deputy Mayors office - info@northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk
The website for the Deputy Mayor's Road Safety information can be seen here: DEPUTY MAYOR ROAD SAFETY
North Yorkshire Highways - Area2.Thirsk@northyorks.gov.uk
Road Safety Partnership - road.safety@northyorks.gov.uk
Road safety information and speeding concerns can be accessed and reported here: SPEED CONCERNS
Information on how to report speeding concerns can be seen in this document (last updated 2024): SPEED MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL
FOR INFORMATION - SOME RESPONSES WE HAVE RECEIVED PREVIOUSLY REGARDING QUERIES SENT IN:
- Received 2/4 in response to our query about speed buffer zones north and south of village, noting they had been implemented at Riccall/ Escrick:
'The 50mph speed limit that has recently been implemented
between Riccall and Escrick is experimental for 18 months. This is a result of
a fatal collision at the northernmost Riccall junction and local concerns
regarding the general safety of several junctions on this section. The 50mph
speed limit here extends for approximately 3.5 miles.
The Council are undertaking a speed limit review exercise and where possible, speed limits will be reduced across the county. If the 50mph speed limit between Riccall and Escrick is successful and made permanent, this may set the tone for other locations where a reduction is deemed essential for road safety. Permanent reductions on high priority routes must always be evidence led and there is no intention to make widespread changes on this or other principal/primary routes.
Both approaches into Shipton have been assessed and are currently appropriate. This is also the view of North Yorkshire Police who we consult about every potential speed limit reduction.'
Received 2/3 in response to request for dropped curbs where crossing at church end of East Lane:
'Thank you for your email. I will put forward a scheme and
apply for accessibility funding to deliver it. I believe this years
accessibility schemes have been determined, so any funding award will be for
financial year 27/28. I will certainly let you know the outcome of my
application.'
- In 2024/25 we had numerous conversations with North Yorkshire regarding 20mph zones on East and Station Lane. We were told East lane was very unlikely. We were eventually told earlier this year that they wanted to implement this on Station Lane. After requesting updates in April we received the following response:
'The scheme passed
through informal consultation and there were no objections. The next stage is
to prepare the legal documents required to promote a new speed limit order,
these are required to enable the Police to carry out enforcement. Once this is
done, the proposals will be formally advertised in the newspaper and on street
via a public notice. The outcome of this process will determine how quickly we
can move forward.
Unfortunately, we have a very small team and currently there is only me working on this part of the speed limit process. I’m working through around 25 speed limit orders at the moment, and new requests are coming through on a regular basis, so we do have a bit of a backlog.
Given the above, I’m unable to give you any timescales to complete the process.'
- Response given to MoP request for 20mph zone on Main Street 11/24:
'When we receive requests such as this, North Yorkshire
Council, as the Local Highway Authority check the criteria as set out in the
20mph Speed Limit and Zone Policy. One of the criteria is that the road is not
a network hierarchy category 2 road. Unfortunately, in this case, we are
talking about the A19 which is cat 2 which rules it out for consideration. That
aside, if a speed survey were to be carried out the mean speeds over 7 days
must be less than 24mph to qualify for a speed limit reduction. If mean speeds
are over 24mph then there is no evidence to suggest that lowering the speed
limit would make any difference, as motorists tend to drive to the conditions
of the road. For mean speeds over 24mph, an 20mph limit would need to be
supported by physical engineering measures such as speed humps, for which there
is no available funding.
The Department for Transport’s policy for setting local speed limits requires the Local Highway Authority to consider other factors, in particular, the number of personal injury accidents where speed is a contributory factor. Our records indicate that there has been one personal injury accident in this location in the last three years which is classified as 'slight'. You mention that there have been incidents involving property damage. Unfortunately, incidents such as this are not taken into consideration.
North Yorkshire Police to not routinely enforce 20mph speed limits and there is a concern that a lower limit will simply provide the illusion of safety to other road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.
In conclusion, the 30mph section of the A19 through Shipton by Beningbrough does not qualify for a speed limit reduction, and this request is not supported by the Local Highway Authority.'
- Regarding our request to keep existing pedestrian refuge due for removal due to development at old petrol station or to install another, PART of the response (full response had drawings and detailed info) was:
'Please be advised
that the matter of the pedestrian refuge has been carefully considered at the
time of the planning application and also since. If it were feasible to retain
the refuge it would be retained or, at the very least, relocated but unfortunately
neither of these is possible and it has to be removed.'
- In early 2023 we had several conversations regarding issues in Shipton with Highways, and the visited to see where the concerns were. The concerns were outlined in an email and they responded, and we followed this up with another response – this can be seen here:
Many thanks for coming to see us in Shipton to discuss the issues we have in the village with the roads. With regards to issues we raised prior to the meeting and your responses to them I would like to respond as follows:
- Issue raised by Parish Council: Crossing at Community Centre – regular flooding on footpath at crossing point; area has been noted as needing work about a year ago. On the opposite side of the road the footpath is extremely narrow, with passing HGV’s coming very close to pedestrians.
Your response: With regard to the opposite footway, I will raise a work order to have the footway vegetation cut back to the highway boundary to expose the footway. I will find out who the landowner of the hedge is and send a standard obstruction letter asking that the hedge be cut back to the highway boundary within 14 days.
- Issue raised by Parish Council: Station Lane Narrow footpath with HGV’s using Station Lane, dangerous for school children – heavily used for Primary School. Issue with cars using bus drop off area for parking, so children leave bus while it is parked in the road, tarmac on drop off area also very pitted and crumbling.
Your response: A scheme has been designed to resurface the current bus/ drop off area outside the school. Currently there is no budget for the implementation of this improvement scheme and the surface will be regularly monitored for actionable defects against established intervention criteria.
Parish Council response to this: If the surface of the bus pull in area is not resurfaced it cannot be painted to prohibit cars parking and the issue highlighted of primary school children having to alight the school bus in the middle of the road remains a problem. We are concerned for the safety of the children not being able to get off of or onto the bus in a safe manner. We would hope that you would consider prioritising this work as a matter of urgency so that it can be clearly marked as a no parking zone and establishing contact with the school to inform them of the progress of this matter.
Please could you also respond regarding the narrow footpath at the top of East Lane – particularly an issue for pedestrians (including young children walking to school) when restricted vehicles (as was witnessed during your time with us) use the road.
- Issue raised by Parish Council: No footpath between East Lane Cottages and the village – very dangerous for those living at the cottages to access the village. Multiple requests have been made regarding this and the general speeding on East Lane.
Your response: The provision of a footway to the north side of East Lane is not feasible because it requires the acquisition of land and the Local Highway Authority has no budget for a scheme such as this. Continued budget cuts and reduced funding settlements have resulted in the Local Highway Authority making maintenance of the existing highway network its highest priority and this means that the delivery of non-essential requests will no longer be possible. The funding that is available for road safety schemes across the county needs to be directed at sites where there is a history of injury accidents occurring.
Parish Council response to this: We know this has been an issue highlighted over the years and apart from an attempt several years ago to looking at purchase of some land to enable footpaths to be instated, we have always had a response that nothing can be done here. The residents of these isolated cottages feel strongly that something should be done to facilitate their integration to the village without their safety being compromised, and we know that in the future they will come to us again to request we represent them regarding the matter. We would very much appreciate any suggestions from yourselves about what might be an achievable way of improving safety for pedestrians here, even if the funding had to be raised by residents themselves.
- Issue raised by Parish Council: Overton Lane Dangerous junction as at north end of village – multiple RTA’s. Chapmans Lane end dangerous junction. multiple RTA’s; cars speed and overtake because its 1st straight piece of road after 30 zone. Entrance to petrol Station very busy, new access onto road at restaurant next door, and crossroads. Slight incline going north makes visibility poor. Suggestions – no overtaking, 40mph zone
Your response: In 2016 work was carried out to improve signage, junction markings and visibility at the junction of the Overton Road with the A19 to the south of Shipton by Beningbrough. In 2019 a scheme to improve signage and road markings around the junction of Station Lane was implemented. The effectiveness of these improvements will continue to be monitored. The Chapmans Lane /Amblers Lane junctions with the A19 have been investigated as a high risk site and a scheme to improve signage in the area has been introduced. It is worth noting that at both junctions there has not been an injury accident in the last five years. North Yorkshire Police would not support a 40 mph “buffer” at Shipton by Beningbrough. When assessing proposed reduction in a speed limit we follow the DfT guidelines in order to maintain a fair and consistent response. The DfT suggests that in order for a 40 mph limit to work there should be a degree of roadside development meaning that a driver would see the need for the reduction in speed limit and comply. There is little or no development either north or south of Shipton by Beningbrough on the A19 and consequently no change in environment. Similar reductions in speed limit with no change in environment in the county have not resulted in the desired reduction in vehicle speeds and any speed limit that relies on Police enforcement to work will fail as this is not a sustainable long term option. Given this response from North Yorkshire Police, Local Highway Authority does not propose to pursue the introduction of 40 mph restrictions.
Parish Council response to this: It is disappointing to know that injury/ loss of life is the precursor to action being taken to implement road safety. Accidents at the junction to Amblers Lane/ Chapmans Lane, and just south of this at the entrance to the petrol station (and now a new entrance to the car park of the property next door to the petrol station soon to be in use) are frequent. It is extremely fortunate that none of these have been fatal, but given the amount and type of traffic here, and the speeds the vehicles travel, it would seem advantageous to take preventative action. With regards to a 40mph buffer zone, it seems that with respect to other locations the guidelines you describe guidelines do not apply – Thormanby is a village just north of Easingwold on the A19, with far fewer residents and with no roadside development but with a 40mph buffer zone either side of the 30 zone.
Double white lines to prevent overtaking was also suggested for this area of road – this would stop the accidents happening from inappropriate overtaking (cars overtaking waggons when they have poor visibility particularly given the slight hill to the north), can you indicate if this could be considered?
- Issue raised by Parish Council: Shipton is losing one of its crossings due to a new development. The village is cut in half by the A19, we have many older residents and many primary school age children that need to cross for the Community Centre, school, bus stops, pub and church. This is getting harder to do safely as traffic increases. We have requested a pelican crossing several times.
Your response: The existing pedestrian refuge impedes egress from the proposed development if retained in its current position. Relocating it was considered but there is not a viable location available hence its removal is recommended. To the north there is a bus stop and then driveways on the eastern side of the road which would be impeded if placed there. The first location it could be relocated to is in an area where on-street parking occurs, and that parking would then be displaced to the inconvenience of the adjacent householders. Besides, that location is approximately 25 metres from the next pedestrian refuge which is too close. Similarly, to the south there is another bus stop and driveways plus the wider access to the front of the Dawnay Arms which would be impeded. The first possible location is approximately 30 metres from the next pedestrian refuge which is again too close.
Parish Council response to this: We understand the arguments regarding the loss of the pedestrian refuge. We have had frequent responses indicating that a pelican crossing would not be considered. Can we ask if changing one or 2 of the remaining pedestrian crossing areas to a zebra crossing could be considered? Or if we were to obtain funding for the pelican crossing could this still be considered?
We very much hope that some of the anticipated improvements can take place soon in Shipton. We understand the issues with budget constraints, but we also feel that as Shipton is dissected by a major byway the issues for us end up being exacerbated and made worse than villages with less traffic and fewer large commercial vehicles. Latest figures from our vehicle activated sign downloads indicate daily vehicle volume on the A19 through the village being approximately 11,300 – this is I am sure you will agree is a very substantial number of vehicles (a high volume of which are waggons and other commercial vehicles) for such a small village and compromises safety.
- In 2022 we asked for a police speed van to be sited on East Lane and received the response below. This has not happened but has been chased up:
We’ve had a look and assessed the locations that you suggested below and we felt that the private drive at xxx was our best option for visibility.
We attended a couple of weeks ago in our Safety Camera Van and completed a risk assessment and felt that the location and access/egress from the site wouldn’t be suitable for this vehicle. We are now waiting for one of our Motorbike Officers to attend the site as I feel that this will be the most suitable vehicle for that location.
All of our York based bike officers have been on annual leave over the last two weeks but as soon as they are back on shift then I’ll task them out to come and have a look at the site and if they feel it is suitable we can proceed with this. If for whatever reason they don’t believe it to be suitable, we’ll pass the location on to our Roads Policing Group who will be able to attend in their cars.
- In 2022 we also wrote several times regarding traffic calming measures on East Lane – response below:
With regard to traffic calming measures outside the cottages on East Lane; It is considered that there would be no benefit to installing traffic calming such as a chicane or a priority system here as drivers have excellent visibility of approaching traffic. The volume of traffic is relatively low and we consider that any such measures would have a limited impact. The presence of local agricultural vehicles also makes this unfeasible as they can have difficulty negotiating chicanes. The investment of County Council highway safety budgets must be evidence-led and targeted at locations that exhibit the highest number - and severity - of personal injury collisions. That being said, annual and in-year analysis of collision data recorded by North Yorkshire Police is carried out against set criteria to identify those routes - and sites, and a programme of engineering works developed to address those risks. I can confirm that East Lane does not meet the criteria to warrant any action at this time. However, should that situation change then the appropriate interventions will be made.
The provision of a footway on the North side of East Lane would require land acquisition in order to keep two-way traffic along this section of carriageway as it is too narrow. Given the reduced funding settlements for Local Authorities over recent years the County Council has had to prioritise the maintenance of its existing highways assets over further improvements. As a consequence of this, unfortunately there is no budget that we could utilise to be able to deliver an improvement scheme such as this.
I cannot comment on the speed camera point as this would need to come from the Police. You may wish to contact the Traffic Bureau in the first instance if you believe there to be a speeding issue. A link can be found below:
https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/speed-limits-speeding-and-road-safety-concerns
With regard to road signage and markings; East Lane is inspected periodically against the standards set out in the Highway Safety Inspection Manual (HSIM). This includes reviewing signage condition and deterioration of road markings. The intervention criteria observed can be found in the link below:
https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/sites/default/files/fileroot/About%20the%20council/Strategies%2C%20plans%20and%20policies/Highway_safety_inspection_manual.pdf
I fully appreciate that this is not the response you had hoped for but I hope you understand the position of the Local Highway Authority.
- In 2021 in response to a request for an additional upgraded pedestrian crossing:
There are at present five central islands along Main Street, with a beacon and tactile paving to aid the crossing of pedestrians on the 30mph stretch of the A19 through the village. To the eastern side of the A19 between the East Lane junction and the junction at Station Lane there is a combined footway and cycleway, which is wider than the footway on the western side. The cycleway route ends in Station Lane, and so the cycleway crosses the A19 at the central island just to the north of this junction.
For a controlled crossing to be justified there must be sufficient pedestrian crossing movements throughout the day. We must exercise caution where pedestrian flows are generally light, as observed in this instance, for long periods of the day. Drivers who become accustomed to not being stopped at a crossing may begin to ignore its existence, to the detriment of highway safety.
As I am sure you appreciate, we receive many requests to carry out improvements to the highway network in order to prevent the possibility of an accident from happening. The County Council is now prioritising maintenance of the highway network over improving the existing infrastructure. Even if funding were available it would not be considered justifiable to install a crossing given the likely pedestrian flows. As a result your request is unlikely to be taken forward within the foreseeable future.