Highways Agency
Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers
Public consultation on scheme proposals
Public Consultation on Scheme Proposals
Introduction
In the mid-1990's the proposals for dualling the A629 between Skipton and Kildwick were withdrawn. However in 1998, The Government White Paper instructed the Highways Agency to investigate a " scaled down scheme".
This investigation has focused on road safety and the section of the A629 in the vicinity of Cononley Crossroads, where Farnhill Lane and Cononley Lane meet with the A629. In this area the existing road has a particularly poor safety record resulting from its sub-standard vertical and horizontal alignment.
A number of new alignment options have been considered on the basis of safety, environmental impact, engineering and value for money and from these the proposed alignment has been selected.
This site provides information about the proposed alignment.
The purpose of public consultation
The consultation process aims to seek the views of local people and those who may be affected by the proposals.
You are asked to give your views on the proposals by completing and returning a questionnaire. Responses will be considered as part of the further development of the scheme and will assist Ministers in the approval of a preferred solution.
A public exhibition is to be held at Cononley Village Institute on 9th and 10th May 2003. Details about the proposals will be on display and representatives of the Highways Agency and Mouchel, the scheme design consultants, will be on hand to further explain the scheme and answer your questions.
Why the route is required
The existing A629 forms part of the North West of Doncaster to Kendal Trunk Road Route, which locally serves the communities of Cross Hills, Kildwick, Farnhill, Cononley, Low Bradley and Skipton.
The average daily two-way traffic flow along the route is approximately 21,000 vehicles, of which 8.5% are heavy goods vehicles. In the Cononley Crossroads area the single carriageway road and its associated junction fail to meet modern alignment standards and have a combined accident rate of 1.5 times the national average for this type of road. During recent years the significant number of personal injury accidents has included 1 fatal and 6 serious accidents
.Map of Scheme
Public Consultation on Scheme Proposals
Map of Scheme
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Route proposals
Public Consultation on Scheme Proposals
Route proposals
The alignment of the road would be improved by the provision of a new single carriageway running north to south for approximately 2.2km from the property of Craven Forge to the property of Rafters. The new route would be constructed mostly off-line to the west of the existing A629. The Cononley Crossroads junction would be replaced by two separate T-junctions. Cononley Lane Junction would remain on the line of the existing side road. Farnhill Lane would be realigned to follow the redundant A629 and form a new T-junction approximately 500m to the north.
The proposed route would generally run on embankment above and to the east of the River Aire flood plain. Where necessary, flood relief culverts and flood storage areas would be provided to ensure that flood plain capacity in the valley is not compromised by the scheme.
A 7.3m wide carriageway with 1m hardstrips would be provided with grass verges on either side. Along the redundant sections of the existing A629, a part carriageway width would be retained for use by pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders and to provide access for the maintenance of utilities running along the route. The remainder of the width would be broken out, landscaped and planted
The route would remain unlit.
Typical cross section
Environmental issues
Public Consultation on Scheme Proposals
Environmental issues
The proposed route crosses open farmland in the valley bottom west of the existing A629. The farmland is largely devoid of trees and structures with only a few isolated properties at either end of the scheme.
Studies to date suggest that there are no significant archaeological or ecological sites in the vicinity of the proposed route.
Neither the River Aire nor the Leeds and Liverpool Canal would be directly affected by the proposals and the route avoids the protected woodland at Farnhill and listed buildings on the higher ground to the east.
Land adjacent to the River Aire is prone to flooding and the proposals incorporate measures to avoid reduction of the floodplain capacity.
Landscaping measures, including planting, stone walling and wildflower seeding would screen the route from the Farnhill / Kildwick Conservation Area, improve ecological diversity and aid landscape integration.
Rejected Options
The proposed route has been selected from a number of alignment alternatives which were reviewed and examined as part of the design process.
Some of the rejected options are:
Option 1. East of the existing A629. This alignment was rejected due to its significant environmental impact in crossing the canal twice, its proximity to Farnhill and its poor value for money.
Option 2. West of the existing A629 with an alignment running close to the existing carriageway. In order to meet horizontal alignment design criteria this option would require provision of a roundabout at Cononley Lane. The resulting high land take, greater severance and high visual intrusion from roundabout lighting outweighed the other benefits of the scheme.
Option 3. West of the existing A629 with an alignment deviating further away from the existing carriageway. This alignment was rejected due to its high visual impact in the valley bottom, high land take and severance and the significant impact it would cause on the floodplain.
How you can help
Public Consultation on Scheme Proposals
How you can help
You can help by letting us have your views on these proposals by completing and returning a questionnaire. To request a copy of the questionnaire please e-mail jennie.cowls@highways.gsi.gov.uk (copies will also be available at the exhibition).
Alternatively, download PDF of the questionnaire below.
Completed questionnaires can be handed in at the exhibition or sent to:
Highways Agency
P.O. Box 206
City House
New Station Street
Leeds
LS1 4UR
Completed questionnaires to be returned by the 8th August 2003
Please try and visit the exhibition where the scheme details will be on display and representatives from the Highways Agency and Mouchel design consultants will be available to discuss the proposals and answer your questions.
Exhibition Dates and Times
The exhibition will be held at Cononley Village Institute on:
Friday 9th May 2003 10.00 am to 8.00 pm
Saturday 10th May 2003 10.00 am to 2.00 pm
Specialist staff will be available to discuss agricultural issues on Friday between 6.30 pm and 8.00 pm and on Saturday between 12.00 pm and 2.00 pm.
Please try to attend.
What Happens Next?
Your comments will be taken into consideration before progressing the scheme and making a Preferred Route Announcement. Further survey and design works would then be required before draft Highway Orders could be published. If there were objections to the proposals there may follow a Public Inquiry before construction works could proceed.
Any views you express now will not prejudice your right to make further comment in the future. Leaflets explaining your rights will be available at the exhibition.