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Critics of a controversial solar scheme in North Yorkshire say 11 temporary passing places proposed on narrow country roads to accommodate construction traffic would do little to protect walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
The Stop Stell Solar Farm Action Group says the proposed road widening would help large lorries pass each other but would offer limited protection to more vulnerable road users.
The concerns follow revised highways proposals submitted by developer Enviromena Project Management UK Ltd for the 30MW Stell Solar Farm development on 113 acres of fields at Lord’s Moor Farm, near Exelby, east of Bedale.
The plans include six passing places along Lord’s Lane, where the carriageway narrows to just 2.57 metres in places, two on Westfield Lane, two on the B6285 and one on an unnamed road.
The developer says the additional passing places are necessary to allow large construction vehicles, including articulated lorries up to 16.5 metres long, to pass oncoming traffic safely without having to reverse.
Its highways consultants, Motion, say the proposals have been developed following concerns from North Yorkshire Council highways officers about insufficient road widths, poor visibility and the lack of suitable passing opportunities.
According to the revised highways report, the passing bays would widen sections of Lord’s Lane to between six and 6.5 metres, allowing two heavy goods vehicles to pass safely.
The developer says their locations have been selected to provide adequate visibility between passing points and reduce the risk of vehicles meeting where there is insufficient room to manoeuvre.
It also maintains that the widening can be accommodated within the existing highway boundary without removing hedgerows, although some trimming would be required.
Motion argues that the passing places, together with temporary speed restrictions, warning signs, traffic lights and the use of traffic marshals where necessary, would provide a more reliable way of managing construction vehicles.
It says the measures would also help protect walkers, cyclists and horse riders by improving visibility, reducing vehicle conflicts and requiring drivers to give priority to vulnerable road users.
However, the campaign group’s highways consultant, Bruce Bamber, of Railton TPC, disputes whether the proposals adequately address those concerns.
He said: “The applicant has undertaken no surveys of non-motorised users (NMUs) on Lord’s Lane.
“It therefore remains impossible to reliably assess the impact of construction traffic on vulnerable highway users for whom passing places offer little protection over much of the length of the lane.”
Mr Bamber also questioned the visibility between some of the proposed passing places, arguing that lorry drivers travelling south could pass one bay without being able to see whether another vehicle was approaching beyond the next.
He raised concerns that roadside ditches had not been identified in the plans and that widening works could require culverts and damage existing hedgerows.
The revised proposals also include temporary 30mph speed limits at three junctions and three-way traffic lights at the junction of Lord’s Lane and the B6285.
However, Mr Bamber questioned whether the speed restrictions would be effective, pointing to earlier comments from highways officers that lower limits without sufficient justification could be ignored by motorists.
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The development is expected to generate approximately 850 two-way HGV movements during a 36-week construction period, with up to 25 movements a day during the busiest two to three weeks.
Motion concludes that the revised construction route is suitable and that the proposed measures would avoid unacceptable impacts on road safety.
North Yorkshire Council’s highways authority has subsequently withdrawn its objection, subject to conditions.
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