North Yorkshire Council (NYC) is holding a consultation on its plans for the Sainsbury’s junction of Wetherby Road. It runs from 29th October to 19th November 2026.
The scheme includes new MOVA traffic lights to increase vehicle throughput, and light-controlled pedestrian crossings of certain arms of the junction.
Consultation Documents
The formal consultation documents are:
Unfortunately, the consultation appears to be on the pedestrian elements of the scheme only – the motor vehicle aspects go through without any consultation.
Failure to Provide Cycle Crossing Facilities
Active Travel England (ATE) have identified Policy Conflicts and Critical Safety Issues with the scheme, related to the failure to provide cycle crossing facilities.
They give NYC’s proposals a Junction Assessment Tool score of just 17%.
ATE regard this is non-compliance with the terms of the funding, but apparently they cannot refuse to give NYC the money.
Our Response to the Consultation
This is our response to the consultation. We have objected to the scheme.
While the junction clearly needs safe pedestrian crossings, it also needs cycle crossings. This is probably a once-in-twenty-years revamp of the junction, and it should be done properly rather than bodged.
NYC say that there is an ‘aspiration’ to do a second phase with cycle crossing facilities, but we do not believe it would ever happen.
NYC have a track record of making vague promises of future cycle facilities, then reneging on them.
How to Respond
You can respond to the consultation by email to Area6.Boroughbridge@northyorks.gov.uk.
If you object to the scheme, you should say so explicitly.