Information on Kex Kill A59
What has caused this latest closure?
The A59 at Kex Gill has a long history of landslips and this latest closure is as a result of the weather over the past few months. February has been one of the wettest on record and this persistent bad weather has continued to make the situation worse. This latest closure reiterates the necessary decision to carry out the realignment of the A59.
Why hasn’t work started yet?
This latest landslip is particularly challenging, and since it first occurred, the land has continued to move (as a result of the persistent bad weather).
We have had to carry out additional investigations to ensure we have the most appropriate and effective repair scheme. Designs have now been completed, which will include sheet pilling and backfilling, to address the current issue and prevent future movement of the carriageway.
Given the complexities of the work involved, we are working with our contractor on when this work can start, which will be before the end of the month.
Can’t work start sooner?
Unfortunately not. This work is complex and we are working with our contractor to bring in the necessary infrastructure to carry out the work safely and prevent any future movement of the carriageway.
Can you open it under two-way lights?
Currently, no. The landslip is significant and it is not safe to open under two-way lights at this moment in time. However, If feasible, once the landslip has been made safe, we will explore opening up the road under two-way lights.
How much will this cost?
We are waiting on the final cost from the contractor, so at this stage, we can’t say how much it will be. But it is imperative that we carry out this work as safely and as quickly as possible to allow the A59 at Kex Gill to reopen.
Is this slippage a result of the realignment project?
No, the A59 at Kex Gill has a long history of landslips (more than 10 in recent years) and this latest closure is a result of the weather over the past few months and is unrelated to the alignment project.
How is the realignment project progressing?
The realignment project is progressing well and the new road is scheduled to open in 2025.
Do you understand what this closure is having?
Yes, we whole-heartedly understand the frustration and delays the closure of the A59 at Kex Gill is having and we are doing all that we can to open it as soon as possible. It also reiterates the necessary decision to carry out the realignment of the A59.
Many thanks,
James
James Sherwood
Communications business partner (environment)
North Yorkshire Council
St Luke’s Avenue
Harrogate
HG1 2AE
Mobile: 07525 987963
Email: james.sherwood@northyorks.gov.uk
Web: www.northyorks.gov.uk
Mobile Library Visit to Cowling
Dear Sir or Madam,
As you may know, the Mobile Library visits Cowling once a month on a Thursday between 10am and 12
midday.
The visit dates for 2024 are:
Thursday 8th February
Thursday 4th April
Thursday 7th March
Thursday 2nd May
Thursday 30th May
Thursday 27th June
Always 10am till 12 midday beside the Methodist Church Hall Car Park
Kind regards,
Nick Lombard
Library Supervisor Supermobile
County Library Headquarters 21 Grammar School Lane Northallerton
DL6 1DF
Telephone: (01609) 533899/07977 149084
Email: Nicholas.Lombard@northyorks.gov.uk
Web: www.northyorks.gov.uk/libraries
Parish Council Vacancies
There are a number of vacancies for Cowling Parish Councillors, 4 seats are available for eligible members of the public to apply to become a Parish Councillor. The council would like to fill these positions by co-option.
If you’re proactive, interested in helping your community and willing to give some time we would be delighted to hear from you. Meetings are normally once a month in the evenings.
Training will be provided to help you understand the role of a councillor, but in a nutshell, duties include:
Decision making: to make decisions on where money is spent and what projects to support as well as what policies should be implemented. Monitoring : Councillors need to ensure decisions lead to effective services for the community.
Community Involvement : now and again activities require hands on involvement to keep things moving along and to deliver on commitments.
If you’re interested in becoming a parish councillor, or would like to find out more, please contact our Clerk, Linda Whitehead. Contact details are:
Email: clerk@cowlingparishcouncil.org.uk
Mail : P O Box 607, Keighley, BD21 9GY
Tel : 07 788 237 480
Linda Whitehead
Clerk/RFO and Proper Officer
Speeding
TRAFFIC AND SPEEDING UPDATE 30th October 2022
The response received to our letter ” Cowling 4#30 Speed Group” concerning the accidents at Carr Head junction and the S bends, (which I posted (G Taylor) on this Facebook page) was not well received by many of us . The Cowling 4#30 speed group are committed to our road safety issues and not addressing this response is not an option, and so a reply has been sent. I’ve pasted it below.
Dear Daniel
I confess to being somewhat surprised at your response, as have a lot of the residents. I posted your response (without your name or contact details) on the village Facebook pages. I’ve pasted a sample of the responses, names removed, as a matter of record at the end of this email to demonstrate that this is a village concern, and not just mine or Cowling 4#30’s
S Bends
Regarding the accident at the S bends, a resident who lives there has CCTV and captures this entire area. He has gone through his video footage and reports rain between 14h00 and 15h00 and thereafter the sun dried the roads. There was no more rain until 2:50am. The accident happened at 1:04am. Added to this, that particular part of the road is on an incline.
The S bends are a hot spot, wet or dry.
We have reported to you, to Area 5 and councillors at NYCC that 1 particular telegraph pole alone has been replaced 3 or 4 times in that area in the past 2 years due to it being crashed into by vehicles losing control at the S bends. An additional one was replaced this year for the same reason, and now we have this accident. We also have footage of a car crashing through a farm wall in this same area due to speed and not being able to make the bends.
When vehicles crash on the S bends they cross the road, potentially into oncoming traffic. It’s sheer luck that to date there have been no oncoming vehicles.
You have stated that “Reduced speed limits are unlikely to have prevented the incidents occurring and I do not plan to make any changes to speed limits at this time.”
We’re not sure how you have arrived at this conclusion as in fairness, not everyone knows these roads, especially the S bends which are not gentle, sweeping bends. They are aggressive bends and they are not lit. The amount of accidents taking place there each year suggests we should at least be trying to warn people of the appropriate speed limit, which would also make it legally enforceable.
For the record, you have recommended not including the S bends in the 40mph buffer zone, which we have repeatedly requested and will continue to do so.
You have also refused our repeated recommendation to at least erect an advisory 40mph warning sign when travelling towards Cowling (before the S bends). Instead, you intend to remove the one that is in place when coming from the opposite direction and leave the speed limit as is.
In other words, we have less than before.
We are at a total loss to understand your resistance to taking active steps to attempt to improve safety at the S bends.
Carr Head Junction
Your response to the incident at Carr Head Junction, “the vehicle struck the wall some 100m-120m away from the island suggesting that the driver was travelling faster than the 40mph speed limit” supports our original concerns with the position of the national speed limit sign.
We highlighted at the consultation stage that we feared the position of national speed limit sign would increase danger for motorists coming out of and entering Carr Head Lane due to motorists speeding up before the national speed limit sign. We suggested it be placed further up the road (in the Cowling direction) and you said you would reconsider it, but unfortunately we heard nothing more from you.
To clear up what I think is a misunderstanding, there was no mention in my note of damage to the traffic island or by the eye-witness who saw what happened and assisted at this accident. The tyre might not have caused any. This doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
We are eager to work with Highways/Area5 on these issues but it honestly feels our local knowledge and experience , eye-witness accounts and CCTV footage are all being totally ignored, and the absence of fatalities and serious injuries are providing the excuse. These accidents are happening, and they happen frequently.
I hope you will reconsider your position on both these issues.
Finally, as a gentle reminder, we are also awaiting proposals on Lane Ends which you have said in earlier meeting would be coming.
We’re here, we’re willing to help and we’re willing to partner.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Gillian
On behalf of Cowling 4#30
Comments from Residents below
Name Removed
I find that response unbelievable !
Name Removed
I cannot believe they have said that lowering the speed limit wouldn’t have prevented the 2 accidents!! What planet are they on??
Name Removed
I’ve nearly clipped that kerb myself, it seems very close to the uphill traffic. 
Name Removed
The two signs on the right hand side of the car head bollards going west need to be no entry signs, not derestriction signs
Name Removed
Driving home past the dog and gun last night I realised how very badly lit the area at the Carr Head Junction actually is, and your eye is drawn towards the centre of the road where the traffic island sticks out into the carriageway quite a lot. It’s easy to end up driving quite close to it in the dark. I suspect this is what happened to the driver who hit it recently and must have burst a tire which led to him or her losing control. Yes they were probably driving too fast as well. The design is poor and isn’t helping especially because the two derestriction signs are on the wrong side of the road. 
The engineers job is to find ways to make the road safer.  I. Don’t think they’ve done that in this case.
Name Removed
On numerous occasions have I been overtaken by cars going round the other side of the bollards. What is wrong with people
Name Removed
I’d say the traffic island is awful, it’s too wide and the way it’s positioned is just awkward.
Name Removed
So frustrating. Honestly it’s like a race track day and night not only cars but wagons too
Name Removed
It’s a bit like they believe that if they deny that there is any problem often enough then people who can actually see there is a problem will simply give up and go away.
Name Removed
So basically accidents are ok and all is ok 
Name Removed
Not sure who this is from but the logic is woeful.
They’re saying “both accidents were caused or contributed to be excessive speed but lowering the speed limit will not help”.
SPEEDING AND TRAFFIC UPDATE 29th June 2022
The 40mph buffer zones as originally proposed by NYCC and Area 5 will be implemented.
S-Bends – not implemented yet but will be soon (no date yet). The approved proposal sees the buffer zone starting just before Park Lane (when travelling from the Lancs direction). However, as per the last meeting we had with NYCC and Area 5, there is agreement to consider our proposal to include the S bends in the buffer zone and this will be discussed again in September. Cllr Andy Brown is supportive of the proposal and is working with us on it.
Malsis and the Carr Head Lane Junction – This buffer zone has already been implemented. We had requested improved safety for Carr Head Lane junction. The new national speed limit sign has been placed on an island in the middle of the road, as well as on the right hand side of the road (unusual!). Although the position of the national speed limit signs are closer to the junction than was proposed – the island could in fact help reduce overtaking at that point which may help improve safety at the junction. Only time will tell so please continue to be careful there.
Speed limits only regulate responsible drivers – we know. But for now we need to work with what we have. Only real, consistent enforcement will help manage the racers. We need to let these new measures bed in for a little bit before the next push
Speeding Update
The Speed Partnership (Highways, NY Police, Area 5 and others) have set up a consultation with the Parish Council and the speed group, Cowling 4#30 in February to discuss the 40mph buffer zone proposal which was rejected in December.
As a reminder, in December the Speed Partnership proposed 40mph buffer zones. One from Malsis to just beyond the Carr Head Lane junction, and the other, when approaching from the Colne side of Cowling, just before Park Lane up to the 30mph zones.
Whilst we firmly believe the buffer zones are important, the Parish Council, along with the speed group Cowling 4#30, objected to the proposal for the following reasons;
- There is no buffer zone on the approach to Cowling from the Dog and Gun side. Vehicles don’t slow down to 30mph until well beyond that and through Lane Ends and past the sports grounds
- When driving from the chip shop the national speed limit can be seen vehicles speed up and again, race through Lane Ends
- Residents of New Hall Farm, and farmers, are forced to negotiate the entrances and exists to their premises on a bend, and in an area known for speeding
- The Malsis 40mph proposal will be seen as vehicles leave the Dog and Gun area and start to accelerate, and likely increase the danger to motorists negotiating the Carr Head junction.
- On the Western approach, the proposal did not include the S bends where accidents are frequent and the proposal would leave this area of the road at 60mph
New VAS
An additional VAS was purchased, with funding provided by the NYCC, and has been positioned just below the chip shop. This is to alert drivers travelling towards Lane Ends that the stretch of road is 30mph and to hopefully assist residents of Collinge Road who face a very difficult and dangerous junction due to speeding.
The VAS can be rotated and the Parish Council will have this done periodically and aim for high traffic volume periods.
We are aware the Western approach, and the bends near the old toilet block needs attention and we aim to seek funding for an additional VAS for this area as well.