Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair opened the meeting by welcoming all present and provided an overview of the meeting’s structure. The purpose of convening the extraordinary meeting was clarified, noting that road safety within the Selby and Ainsty area was a matter of particular concern to members of the Area Committee.

Apologies were received from Councillors John Cattanach, Mark Crane and Tim Grogan.

Resolved

a)    That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2025 are confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice and provided the text to Democratic Services (democraticservices.central@northyorks.gov.uk ) no later than midday on Tuesday, 21 October 2025,  three working days before the date of the meeting. Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item. 

If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chair who will instruct those taking a recording to cease whilst you speak.

Three public statements were received before the deadline of midday on Tuesday, 21 October 2025.

Martin Wiles, Chair of Riccall Parish Council, made the following statement on behalf of Riccall Parish Council.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak at the Area Committee Meeting, and for the recent steps taken to introduce temporary 50mph speed restrictions on the A19 through Riccall.

For over twenty years, Riccall Parish Council and our residents have consistently raised concerns regarding the safety of this stretch of road. It is a matter of great concern to our community that this major highway continues to grow busier, noisier, and more hazardous with each passing year.

Riccall is in the unusual position of having five separate junctions linking our relatively small village to the A19 — all of which currently carry a 60mph speed limit. We firmly believe that permanent safety solutions for these junctions are long overdue.

Since 2000, highways and police records show approximately 50 traffic incidents at these junctions, resulting in 28 serious injuries and 7 fatalities. In other words, on average, one person has been seriously injured or killed every eight months. This is not a situation that can be allowed to continue.

The late John Duggan — a long-serving County, District, and Parish Councillor — was a tireless advocate for road safety improvements in Riccall. Tragically, the very dangers he campaigned so strongly to address ultimately claimed his life in August this year. We must ensure that this tragedy is not allowed to become another forgotten statistic.

Over recent years, the Parish Council has repeatedly raised this issue with limited progress to date. We therefore welcome and fully support the spirit and content of the recent letter you received from our MP, Keir Mather, and wish to add the following proposals for urgent consideration:

1.    Installation of noise-reducing fencing

2.    Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) at village approaches

3.    A permanent 40mph speed restriction through the junctions

4.    Speed camera enforcement

5.    A southbound slip road into the village

6.    Signal-controlled junctions to the north and south of Riccall

7.    Roundabouts at both main junctions

We recognise that financial constraints mean these cannot all be delivered at once. However, we are committed to working in partnership with North Yorkshire Council to develop a structured, costed, and deliverable plan that achieves as many of these improvements as possible.

As a starting point, we strongly believe that a permanent 40mph speed restriction, supported by enforcement through static cameras or VAS, would represent a meaningful step forward.

We look forward to engaging constructively with North Yorkshire Council to deliver improvements that will enhance the safety and well-being of all who live in, work in, and travel through Riccall.

Thank you.

Allan McVeigh, Head of Network Strategy, provided the following response.

Thank you for your statement regarding the collision history on the A19 and for setting out the Community’s concerns and suggested proposals.

I would like to start by saying NYC recognises a number of these concerns  ...  view the full minutes text for item 167.

Keir Mather MP thanked the Committee for the opportunity to speak and began by expressing condolences to the family of John Duggan. He thanked the Riccall Roads Action Group and Riccall Parish Council for their work on the matter.

He acknowledged that North Yorkshire Council had engaged constructively and welcomed proposals. He expressed support for measures such as Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS), rumble strips, and a 50mph speed limit, but noted that a 40mph limit should remain under consideration pending the outcome of the traffic regulation order and trial. He requested clarity on expected timeframes for implementing the measures endorsed by the Council.

Keir Mather MP stated that while he respected the Council’s position on the speed limit guidance, he believed clarification was needed on whether the guidance is binding and suggested that further discussion should take place to determine if the guidance is mandatory.

He confirmed support for compliance measures, including fixed speed cameras on the stretch of road, and urged the Council to work with the police to deliver this. He added that he would engage with Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor, to progress these matters further.

He highlighted that road safety remains a top priority across the Selby District, both in urban areas such as Flaxley Road in Selby and in rural villages including Riccall, Monk Fryston, Hambleton, and Burn. He committed to continuing work with local communities to press their case. He noted that the Council is expected to receive a three-year settlement including transport funding and urged them to identify where works are needed to address community concerns.

It was noted that a letter had been sent from Keir Mather MP to Councillor Malcolm Taylor, and it was confirmed that a response had been provided.

The Chair noted that Sir Alec Shelbrooke had been contacted but was unable to attend and had not submitted a written statement.

Allan McVeigh, Head of Network Strategy, delivered a presentation, raising the following key points.

·         Regarding collision data – It was clarified that personal injury collisions are classified as fatal, serious, or slight, and that near misses and damage-only collisions are not recorded. Analysis typically uses 3-5 years of data as older data is less relevant to current conditions. The collision numbers in the area for the previous three years and the draft unvalidated numbers for the calendar year to date were presented for information. It was reported that the A19 ranks second by collision numbers, ninth by collisions per kilometre and was not in the top ten in terms of the number of collisions per billion vehicle kilometres travelled – the latter two statistics were reported to be better measurements of risk.

·         Regarding fatal collisions – It was reported that fatal collisions trigger in-depth joint investigations with the police and that recommendations from these investigations identify factors on the road that might have contributed to the collision, as well as factors that are deemed to be more minor or unrelated to the fatality. Five fatal collisions occurred this year, including one at Riccall where five recommendations were identified.

·         Regarding route studies – ‘Cluster sites’ prompt review, though action depends on underlying patterns or clear trends to the collision history. As well as ‘Cluster Sites’, it was reported that route studies are carried out on an annual basis, with statistics being used to determine whether action is required in specific areas. Six routes were reviewed this year, including the B1222. The junctions at Riccall were then discussed and it was reported that there was a ‘Cluster Site’ at Riccall between 2000 and 2005, but that due to improvements, collisions have reduced.

·         Regarding speed limit guidance – It was explained that the A19 currently has a 60mph limit due to its characteristics, but that a flexible approach allows a 50mph limit to be investigated. Under guidance, it was reported that a 40mph is unsuitable and would likely cause compliance issues due to the limit not being proportionate to the local surroundings and road characteristics. Jon Hunter, North Yorkshire Police, supported Allan’s comments on 40mph limits, noting compliance depends on environment and driver perception and highlighting that rural areas would require continuous enforcement. A 50mph limit is planned for the Riccall stretch of the A19 and it is aimed that this will be in place by February/March 2026. Gateway features, rumble strips, roundels, and permanent Vehicle Activated Signs are also planned.

·         Regarding wider work – It was reported that there is a countywide review of speed limits around schools, and it was explained that there is now a presumption in favour of lower limits. The draft speed management strategy aims to provide a planned programme of speed limit reviews. School parking measures were briefly discussed. It was reported that as well as engaging on speed limit reduction schemes, parishes can buy temporary VAS for £5,000. Permanent VAS can also be installed where there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 169.

Any other items which the Chair agrees should be considered as a matter of urgency because of special circumstances.

There were none.

Thursday, 6 November 2025 at 10.00am.

Thursday, 6 November 2025 at 10.00am in Selby Civic Centre.