‘An accident waiting to happen’ – Safety fears over lorry traffic in York villages

Residents in villages south of York have major concerns about the growing number of lorries traveling through their streets, with many claiming "it's an accident waiting to happen". HGVs from the haulage firm Celkom Transport, based in Acaster Malbis, are travelling through either Bishopthorpe, Copmanthorpe, or Appleton Roebuck to access the A64. Over the last year, residents of Appleton Roebuck and Copmanthorpe have noticed a significant increase in the number of vehicles travelling through their villages.

This surge followed a weight limit being placed on Bishopthorpe Bridge so no large vehicles could cross it, following concerns raised by the RAC Foundation in April 2023, ruling it as 'substandard". However, on Monday 7 the weight limit was lifted [1] after long-term repair works to strengthen the structure was complete. The bridge is now deemed safe for lorries, which means Celkom's HGVs can once again travel through Bishopthorpe to access the A64.

The news has been met with concern from many residents, who are worried about the safety of their children, the increased air pollution, and the dangers posed by large vehicles travelling through tight roads.

Safety concerns

Bishopthorpe resident Laura Holmes told YorkMix that before the weight limit was introduced, she feared for the safety of children walking to and from school, especially those using the path on Sim Balk Lane.

The bridge with its former weight limit. Photograph (C) Google Street View [2]

She said: "It's a small pathway and there's hedges so it does go down to single file. When you've got a child walking down that pathway, and a wagon goes past you, they're squeezing to get down anyway, because there'll be pickup cars parking on the other side, and it's tight.

"They used to come whizzing down there, and you would literally hold your breath as it came screaming past you, and it was awful. "They used to mount the kerb on the corner, because it's a really tight bend and it was just the amount of discussions as parents you'd have going, oh my god." Although Laura's child is older and more road aware, she remains concerned for the younger children in the village and recalls the scary situations during school drop-offs and pick-ups.

"It's just an accident waiting to happen," she added.

Bishopthorpe Bridge from the air. Photograph (C) Google Street View [3]

While Laura understands that the location of Celkom's business and its recent expansion make it unlikely the problem will be fixed completely, she hopes that measures can be introduced to limit the risks. She told YorkMix: "We can't stop them coming through the village, it would be ideal if we could.

But we haven't got a bypass, and they are situated where they are situated, and they've just extended, so that's not going to happen. "I think the best we can ask for is to keep the kids as safe as possible, because that's my biggest concern with this." She suggested that allocated time slots for HGVs to come through the village during school hours, and in the evenings, could help reduce the danger to children.

Local opinion

Laura shared the news about the lifting of the weight limit to a Bishopthorpe residents Facebook group, where many expressed their support for her concerns.

Some of the comments included: "Surely there is something we can do as a village against this? All these wagons go past the school and it's not great for the air pollution right next to a playground.

It also affects the school crossing." "We need the 3 villages affected - Appleton, Bishopthorpe and Copmanthorpe to work together to address the Celkom lorry problem." "Such a quantity of huge lorries going through tight roads in small villages is an accident waiting to happen, in my opinion.

I've seen them mount the curb during the school run on occasion. They should never have been allowed to expand their warehousing - it's likely going to be worse than before." Others, however, defended the route, arguing that the lorries were necessary.

One man commented: "How do you think you get food in your shops and fuel in your vehicles tanks - the list is endless? By magic? I'd bet thousands that if all goods delivery vehicles including vans up to 7.5t that deliver for Amazon, Next, etc there would be hell on!

"Do you think they are driving around with empty wagons as a hobby and that's why they are driving through the village. Then tell them to go a long way around and the prices of your food and fuel will go up whilst creating more damage to the planet - then you'd moan about that as well. "They are also professional drivers who have FAR less accidents than normal privately owned road vehicle users - and that's a fact.

So, I'd love to know the reason why it's better that they don't go through the village." Speaking to ward councillor for Bishopthorpe, Michael Nicholls, who told YorkMix that he has tried to meet representatives of Celkom to implement a traffic schedule. "While it's good news that Appleton Road bridge has re-opened, sadly it will result in an increase in lorries coming through the village.

On Wednesday, on my way to work, I witnessed two lorries travelling along Sim Balk Lane. "I have asked to urgently meet representatives of those businesses who generate the most traffic to request they only come through Bishopthorpe at certain times, for example, not during school drop off/collection times. I will also be ensuring the lorries, like all road users, stick to our 20mph speed limit. "Longer term, while these lorries are not breaking any regulations or rules, I will continue to campaign for a reduction in lorries through the village and for businesses that rely heavily on lorry traffic to be adjacent to main roads, not in the middle of the countryside."

Cllr Michael Nicholls,
Bishopthorpe Ward.

Photograph: Supplied

'Unsuitable location'

YorkMix spoke to Chris Steward, Leader of York's Conservative Group and Ward councillor for Copmanthorpe, who has been campaigning for the relocation of Celkoms warehouse. Although generally loath to criticise businesses, Mr Steward believes Celkom continues to operate from a totally unsuitable location, which sees huge lorries travelling on entirely unsuitable roads through rural communities. He feels that like their industry peers, Celkom's operations should be based by a motorway or at an industrial park that leads straight to suitable roads.

"They should not be based simply where the rent is cheap for them," he said. Mr Steward believes the problem has worsened since the launch of Celkom's new 50,000 square foot warehouse at Brocket Industrial Estate, Acaster Malbis, which was announced in January. Mr Steward told YorkMix that the expansion has led to bigger, and more frequent lorries, and feels Bishopthorpe residents are going to be in for "an almighty shock at just how high the volumes are."

Chris Steward, leader of the York Conservative Group.

Photograph: YorkMix

He added, "The lorries now are very much a sort of European style, which is a lot bigger than we used to have in the UK, and we see more of those, but generally it's volumes as much as anything. They are way too big for those roads." In addition to road damage and longer journey times, Mr Steward's primary concern is the safety of local residents, and labeled the possibilities as a "nightmare".

"If you look at some of the corners that two cars can pass pretty close, if you think about replacing a car with a huge lorry and replacing the other car with an eight year old girl on a bike, it doesn't bear thinking about," he told YorkMix. Mr Steward has been working to join forces with the Parishes Councils of Bishopthorpe and Appleton Roebuck to address the problem, but he said the Bishopthorpe Parish Council initially stated it wasn't their issue. "Bishopthorpe Parish Council broadly said it wasn't their issue so a few months ago I actually spoke for nearly half an hour saying why I thought it was their issue, and we should all work together, so we're trying to do that," he said.

Mr Steward is also working alongside York Outer MP Luke Charters, and a meeting is being arranged with themselves, the village Parish Councils, and Celkom. However, he's not convinced much can be done without change to national legislation. "It's very difficult to do anything about it because the Traffic Commissioner, which is a national body, but really the traffic commissioners aren't looking at where vehicles are going or if it's suitable.

"So we obviously need a change in national legislation to get things to be moved, and enforcing companies to be in suitable locations," Cllr Steward told YorkMix. We have approached Celkom for a comment in response to this and will update the article once received. Do you live in Bishopthorpe, Copmanthorpe, or Appleton Roebuck?

Do you have an issue with the HGV's?

Or do you not notice them?

Let us know at [email protected][4].

References

^ weight limit was lifted (yorkmix.com)
^ Google Street View (yorkmix.com)
^ Google Street View (www.google.co.uk)
^ [email protected] (yorkmix.com)