Local MP Robbie Moore and Ilkley Councillor Richard Downey have today held an emergency meeting with Yorkshire Water on site to demand answers over the ongoing traffic disruption affecting Ilkley as a result of roadworks on Skipton Road.
The works, which began on Monday 27 July and are expected to last 25 days, involve the installation of a new service connection at the junction of Skipton Road and Victoria Avenue.
While most residents recognise the need for these works, many have contacted both Mr Moore and the Ilkley District Councillors to raise serious concerns about how they are being managed. These include reports that workers have been absent from site during standard working hours, alongside concerns about the management of the temporary traffic lights, which have contributed to significant disruption for road users.
This meeting was the latest in a series of interventions by Robbie Moore over the way Yorkshire Water projects are being managed in Ilkley, and the level of oversight Bradford Council’s Highways Department is providing. Earlier this year, residents, visitors and local businesses were severely impacted over a 10-week period, with the A65 brought to a standstill in both directions through the centre of town.
On a separate occasion, Mr Moore intervened after Yorkshire Water and Bradford Council announced works were going to be carried out on the A65 in Ilkley during the GCSE and A-level examination period, and well as during Ilkley Tennis which attracts thousands of visitors to the town, prompting a rescheduling of their plans.
However, Yorkshire Water is not solely responsible. Bradford Council also has an important role to play as the authority responsible for approving works of this nature. Mr Moore and Councillor Downey have therefore made it clear that both organisations must be held accountable for ensuring disruption to residents is kept to an absolute minimum.
At the meeting, Mr Moore and Councillor Downey made clear that the current situation is unacceptable and demanded urgent action. Mr Moore had also demanded that Bradford Council’s Highways Team attend the meeting, but they refused to attend.
Commenting, Robbie Moore said:
Huge numbers of residents, commuters, including buses and local businesses are being severely impacted by these works, due to the long tailbacks through town and back towards Addingham, and it is costing our local economy in downtime and reduced footfall.
I completely appreciate that this work needs to take place, but my issue lies with the fact that no one ever seems to be on site, despite the roadworks being in place. Yorkshire Water, who are responsible for managing this project should have been mandated by Bradford Council’s Highways Team to work around the clock, utilising all day light hours. The works are scheduled to take place for a full four weeks, and we are now a week in, and so far, you’re lucky if you even see anyone working on site. Why on earth did Bradford Council sign this work programme off, and why do Yorkshire Water think this speed of working is acceptable?
It is even more frustrating as warnings have been provided to both organisations throughout this year, following the huge disruption Ilkley faced earlier in the year, for a 10-week period, when roadworks were in place in the same location. I cannot understand why no learning, or progress in thinking has been made.
Yorkshire Water has since responded to me after the meeting, basically saying that they will ramp up their efforts, but they still are not able to guarantee longer working hours for the whole of the scheduled works, and are not able to confirm if the works will be completed any sooner. This is simply not good enough.
It is also incredibly disappointing that Bradford Councils Highways Team couldn’t be bothered to attend a meeting on site so they could see the situation.
I will keep pushing.
