A PUBLIC consultation on proposals to realign the A59 at Kex Gill ends next week.

The A59 is a busy trans-Pennine route between Skipton and Harrogate, but has a history of instability and movement of the land above the road to the west of Blubberhouses at Kex Gill.

There have been numerous landslips, the most recent in January 2016 leading to the closure of the road for eight weeks.

Realigning the A59 at Kex Gill to the other side of the valley is part of North Yorkshire County Council’s strategic transport plan to improve east to west connections between the east coast and Lancashire.

A public consultation focusing on proposals for this realignment began last month and will end on Tuesday.

So far, more than 250 responses have been received to the online consultation and more than 300 people attended public engagement events over three days last month.

County councillor Stanley Lumley, a member of the Kex Gill steering group, added: “This route is very important for business and tourism and vital to our economy. Whenever the road has to close there is significant impact on businesses along the route and, I suspect, communities that link with the road. Therefore, it’s important that businesses and residents join in this consultation to help to determine the route that most improves the resilience of the A59.”

Further details on the consultation are available online at northyorks.gov.uk/kexgill

Paper copies are available on request by emailing LTP@northyorks.gov.uk, calling 01609 780780 or writing to Transport Planning, BES, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AD.