Hope for improvement of A-road after residents “had to see bodies at accident scenes”

The hope of improving safety for residents along the A19 in North Yorkshire arose after families repeatedly found ‘bodies’ at the scenes of numerous fatal accidents over the years.

The section of the A road that runs alongside Kirby Sigston, near Northallerton, has been the scene of numerous serious and fatal accidents over the past decade due to a ‘problematic’ junction.

The junction, next to the former Haynes Arms pub, is notorious in the area for its danger, as anyone turning from it must turn onto a 70 mph carriageway, and those turning into the junction from the southbound carriageway must cross four lanes of traffic.

The exit onto the A19 near Kirby Sigston (Image: GOOGLE MAPS)

Anna Kitching, who lives in a house next to the crossing, is campaigning for the crossing to be closed. Her family wrote a petition to the government earlier this year.

Over the years, Anna recalled several serious road accidents, some of them fatal, where she and her family were “first on the scene”. These included several where her family had to help unconscious people out of vehicles and even saw dead bodies on the A19.

Anna said: “These accidents on this stretch of road have been happening for years. It seems like it never gets better. We constantly hear accidents and the sirens of emergency vehicles.”

Anna Kitching lives at the junction of Kirby Sigston near the A19 (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“The metallic sound of cars crashing into each other is almost deafening – you already know what has happened before you look outside.

“It’s horrible. People say that putting our house up for sale is not a solution. That would just be shifting the responsibility for people’s safety.”

A snapshot of the problems on the street:

• 2007: Philip Jones, 28, died on 2 June 2007 on the A19 near the Haynes Arms public house in Kirby Sigston, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire

• 2011: A young woman was killed in an accident involving two vehicles, which led to the closure of both sides of the A19 this evening

• 2013: Roy Mackenzie, 35, from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, was killed in a collision with a lorry on the A19 near Northallerton. He managed to escape from his car but was then hit by a second lorry.

• 2017: Sonia Rose, 83, of Carlton Miniott, near Thirsk, died on the road near Northallerton in September 2017 after a van veered off the opposite lane and into her path.

• 2023: Truck driver dies on the A19 between Cleveland Tontine and the Kirby Sigston junction

Following a resurgence of the campaign to close the A19 section and the petition, a member of parliament has now commented on a possible closure of central reservation gaps on the A19.

Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, says he has met with representatives from the National Highways Agency to discuss permanently closing gaps on the A19 – and highlighted plans for further closures in the future.

There are currently no concrete plans for the Kirby Sigston branch, but Mr Hollinrake described it as a “step in the right direction”.

He said: “I recently met with National Highways to discuss the safety improvements on the A19. In August 2023, safety improvements to all central reservation gaps on the A19 between Tontine and Black Swan Overbridge were completed, including the permanent closure of five gaps.

The A19 from the end of the junction at Kirby Sigston (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“This project will help improve safety on the A19 in one of North Yorkshire’s busiest sections.

“I am also pleased to be able to inform people about funding to improve safety at all central reservation gaps on the A19 between Knayton and Ellerbeck. Work is due to start in September 2024.

“As part of this work, a number of improvements will be made to each gap, including improvements to the central barrier, new signage and clearer lane markings. It will also permanently close some of the gaps that are rarely used by customers. I am sure this will be subject to public consultation.”

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also spoken about the A19 junction at Kirby Sigston, which he uses to get to his home.

He said: “I understand the concerns of residents as I use the junction regularly and several residents have contacted me

“I have been working on safety on the A19 for a number of years, which has resulted in the closure of four gaps between the Black Swan junction and the Tontine.

“National Highways is working on designs for the section south of Osmotherley and is about to start consultations on proposals for a number of junctions, including Kirby Sigston.

“As far as I know, a package of improvements is proposed for the intersection to increase its safety.”

A National Highways spokesman added: “Safety is our top priority and we are exploring options for possible additional safety measures at this junction.”