Jerry Croft problems and solutions revealed

In mid-January, Huddersfield-based engineering consultancy firm Sanderson Associates carried out a road safety risk assessment commissioned by Craven District Council on Jerry Croft, between the High Street and the Town Hall Car Park.

Author AdamDarwin has identified a number of safety problems, mostly associated with pedestrian/vehicle conflict.

One involves problems with the Marks & Spencer loading dock. He said manoeuvres by HGVs creating a hazard for all traffic, including pedestrians who leave the footway and walk in the carriageway.

He recommends improving the pedestrian route on the southern side of the road up to the loading bay. Pedestrians could then switch to a footway on the northern side, reducing conflict with delivery vehicles.

Jerry Croft also provides access to the Red Lion pub service yard, with beer deliveries resulting in the handling of barrels in the highway and delivery vehicles obstructing traffic and pedestrian routes.

He recommends introducing loading restrictions to control its use by service vehicles. It may be possible to provide a loading bay closer to the junction with Albion Yard, with loading restricted in all other areas (except the M&S loading bay).

Mr Darwin points out that turning traffic presents two more problems. During market days loading takes place on the High Street, resulting in restricted visibility for drivers turning left into Jerry Croft. To solve this, he recommends introducing High Street loading restrictions to encourage loading in more appropriate locations.

He also says that north of the Jerry Croft junction on High Street are a number of flower planters and other street furniture, which restrict visibility for left-turning vehicles and pedestrians crossing the junction. He recommends relocating these to improve visibility.

Another problems he identifies is the narrowness of the carriageway and footway on Jerry Croft. The narrow footway, which is less than 1.5m wide, requires passing pedestrians to walk into the carriageway and the narrow road requires large vehicles to encroach on the footway when turning into Jerry Croft.

As it is not possible to widen the highway, he recommends improvements to footways and providing a pedestrian crossing or perhaps a shared-surface treatment, with associated traffic-calming features.

Mr Darwin identifies three problems with vehicle pedestrian conflict, the first being that Jerry Croft does not include continuous pedestrian links of adequate width for two-way pedestrian flow along its full length.

Sections of the road do not include a segregated footway and low height kerbs encourage pedestrians to use the road as a shared space with vehicles, which can result in pedestrians stepping into the path of unaware drivers. There is ineffective warning signage to highlight the presence on pedestrians in the carriageway.

He recommends improving warning signage and improving footways and pedestrian crossing provision, or again introducing a shared surface treatment with associated traffic-calming features.

Another problem is the number of pedestrian accesses to buildings on the south side of Jerry Croft. As pedestrians exit these buildings, there is potential for them to collide with passing pedestrians or walk into the path of vehicles.

He recommends contrasting surface treatments could be provided to highlight the building entrances or bollards could ensure vehicles do not pass close to the building entrances.

Mr Darwin recommends traffic-calming measures to reduce vehicle speeds in Jerry Croft.

He identifies a number of trip hazards, including dropped kerbs, gully grates and drainage channels, which he says could be removed or minimised.

In addition, he says consideration should be given to restricting through traffic on Jerry Croft, which may include pedestrianisation with limited access for loading only.

He points out the option to restrict traffic using Jerry Croft would require a transport assessment, as this proposal would change traffic flow patterns through Skipton.