Landmark's path repair petition tops 2,000 names

Almost 2,000 people have signed a petition calling for urgent action to repair a landslip in Knaresborough, amid fears this winter could worsen the problem.

The petition urges North Yorkshire Council to prioritise the restoration of Viaduct Terrace, close to the town's famous railway viaduct and River Nidd, after part of the walkway collapsed in February.

Campaigners have said delaying repairs until 2027 risks further erosion and could turn what they describe as a manageable project into a "multimillion-pound disaster".

North Yorkshire Council said it was in the process of awarding a contract to carry out the work next summer.

The viaduct carries passenger trains connecting Leeds, Harrogate and York and is one of Yorkshire's most recognisable landmarks.

Trains along the route were cancelled following the walkway collapse but restarted the following day.

Liberal Democrat councillors Hannah Gostlow and Matt Walker, who represent the town on North Yorkshire Council and sit on Knaresborough Town Council, established the petition which calls for "meaningful stabilisation works" to begin before the onset of winter.

"The Knaresborough Viaduct is the heart of our town's character and one of North Yorkshire's most treasured landmarks," it states.

"However, the ongoing landslip at Viaduct Terrace now threatens the safety, beauty, and economic vitality of our riverside."

Gostlow told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The longer it takes to repair, the more impact it has on our town as a huge tourist destination and the waterside being a huge part of that."

The petition will be considered by councillors on the Harrogate and Knaresborough area committee when they meet on 24 September.

However, a report for the meeting said the council was in the process of awarding a contract which will allow early contractor involvement and detailed ground investigations.

The council said earlier attempts to obtain quotations for the investigation work were unsuccessful because of the liabilities and risks associated with contractors working on or close to Network Rail infrastructure.

The investigation and design work will be used to produce a business case for a bid for council capital funding.

Subject to funding being approved, reconstruction is expected to start in summer 2027 and be completed during the same year.

The timing is also constrained by the River Nidd, with works in rivers generally undertaken between June 15 and September 30 because of fish migration and spawning.