Spital Gap Lane & The Crossing of the A1 North of Darrington

North of Darrington, West Yorkshire the A1 has been re-structured and now becomes a motorway for North-bound traffic. Prior to this re-structuring the A1 was crossed by Spital Gap Lane. At one time this was a through road. It was subsequently closed to vehicular traffic, but crossing the A1, though fruaght with the obvious danger of large volumes of fast moving traffic, was possible with care. Recently two sets of bollards, a fence, at least 30 meters of soft verges, a central reservation crash barrier, a very muddy surface and four strategically placed heaps of mud have rendered the crossing very much more difficult. The alternative route (between A and B indicated on Map 1) involves a detour of about a kilometer, along with a not insignificant hill, and a busier road. Given the general advice on Local Transport Plans to prioritise the requirements of the more vulnerable transport users, the new engineering have actually made things worse for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and disabled users.

Since this was drawn to the attention of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, The Police and the Highways Agencey, naturally, nothing whatsoever has been done.

Map 1: Spital Gap Lane links Western Pontefract with Darrington and points beyond, more specifically Mid Yorkshire (Darrington) Golf Club.

On a personal level the engineering has been the deciding factor on some occasions to now using my car to visit the Golf Club and my mother who lives at Cridling Stubbs, some two miles from the Golf Club. My four children also have been effected with similar visits. I am not the only member of the Golf Club who would wish to see the route reinstated.

Pic 1: Spital Gap Lane From the East Side of the A1: Note Central Barriers

Pic 2: Road sign indicating change to motorway North of Spital Gap lane

Pic 3: Spital Gap Lane on the East Side of the A1

Pic 4: Spital Gap Lane at the West Side of the A1

Pic 5: Mud and Fence construction blocking access to Spital Gap Lane and A1 South footpath

Pic 6: One of five earth-heaps blocking Spital Gap Lane and blocks

Pic 7: Spital Gap Lane

Pic 8: Spital Gap Lane Golf Gear!

Steve Kidd 01977 790268