Safety railings next to the canal at Niffany Bridge, Skipton, are set to be repaired.

Last April, two Skipton girls died after their car left Broughton Road and smashed through the railings into the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Almost a year later, the railings have yet to be repaired and a safety report on the section of road has still not been completed.

Now, after confusion over who was responsible for the maintenance of the fence, British Waterways and North Yorkshire County Council have agreed to work together and improve safety at the site of the accident.

Coun Chris Harbron (Skipton East, Cons) said he had contacted officers at Craven District Council to establish ownership of the railings.

And he believed it was imperative that the railings were repaired as soon as possible.

“It saddens me to see these stark reminders by the side of the district’s roads. We should act quickly to replace the missing section of railing,” he said.

Chris Craven, area manager for North Yorkshire Highways and Transportation, said a safety report following last year’s accident was due to be completed shortly.

And he said any recommendations in the report would be acted upon.

“The report may well suggest some sort of barrier there,” he said.

Coun Harbron said he believed there was a case for stronger barriers at the site.

“I have raised the issue with officers at Craven District Council who will determine ownership of the missing section of fence and adjacent land. However, I believe the case has already been answered for stronger barriers to be erected.”

Jeremy Tuck, customer operations manager for British Waterways Yorkshire, said: “With regard to the area around Niffany Bridge alongside the A6069, British Waterways and North Yorkshire County Council will be looking at different schemes and ideas which will help reduce the risk of accidents at this sharp bend.

“Safety is our top priority and both British Waterways and North Yorkshire County Council understand the concerns of the public to increase the safety of this road. We will be working very hard over the next couple of months to ensure this is achieved.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said: “A report into this accident is about to be published and the recommendations will help us find the best solution.”

At the inquest held in December into the deaths of Sarah Woolmer and Larissa Moore, no criticism was made about the safety of Broughton Road at Niffany Bridge.

A police report into the accident concluded that the driver appeared to have lost control on the bend and over-steered before going through the railings into the canal.

An accident verdict was recorded.