To: North Yorkshire Council
Extension of 20mph zone, Pateley Bridge
There has been a large number of concerns and complaints raised to myself and the Council from residents who feel they are now being very threatened by fast moving vehicles putting their lives at risk walking into and out of Pateley Bridge due to the speed and close proximity of traffic outside of the current 20mph zone. Residents have reported being hit by car mirrors, feeling intimidated by close passing vehicles on the many narrow pavements, vehicles driving on pavements, vehicles overtaking on blind bends and road rage incidents.
Cyclists and horse riders also report feeling unsafe due to speeding vehicles passing too closely with many being forced onto pavements or driveways by impatient drivers. These behaviours are not acceptable in our respectful town; speeding vehicles are putting people at risk of serious injury and in many cases vulnerable members of our community avoiding walking into and out of town or walking to local schools.
Why is this important?
Pateley Bridge is a lovely Dales town, known for its natural beauty with a close community of residents. However, vehicle speeding and impatient driving has become an endemic problem and is making people feeling unsafe and making residents lives a misery in a number of locations in town.
The Ripon Road residential area, a conservation area, sees a great deal of traffic entering and exiting the town, often at a speed too dangerous for the road and pavement lay out.
Ripon Road is not a main road, yet many drivers treat it like one. Data from March to May 2025 on shows many vehicles speeding excessively, with over 27,000 going over 35mph, 4,300 going over 40mph, and some going up to 60mph which is very dangerous. The current speed limit of 30mph is not enough to keep everyone safe.
Ripon Road is not a main road, yet many drivers treat it like one. Data from March to May 2025 on shows many vehicles speeding excessively, with over 27,000 going over 35mph, 4,300 going over 40mph, and some going up to 60mph which is very dangerous. The current speed limit of 30mph is not enough to keep everyone safe.
Statistics from other towns that have implemented similar changes show a significant reduction in accidents, increased walking and cycling to and from schools and enhanced community safety.
The UK government guidance on urban speed limits supports this proposal, suggesting that areas with high pedestrian activities and narrow roads and pavements, like Pateley Bridge, should have reduced speed limits to increase safety. It is vital we protect those on foot and vulnerable highway users from speeding vehicles by reducing the speed limit. The Town Council and our County Councillor are fully in favour of this proposal.
Change is urgently needed to protect our entire community, including our most vulnerable. Without it the safety, health and well-being of the children, older adults and wider community remains at stake. Road safety will continue as a barrier to walking and cycling in the area, including to and from schools.
Maximum speed limits of 20mph have been delivered in many other rural areas of North Yorkshire. We want these improvements for the entire Pateley Bridge community. Evidence shows that people hit by a vehicle at 20mph are around five times less likely to be killed than at 30mph.
Urgent action is needed now to protect the lives of people living in our community. A maximum speed of 20mph, extended across Pateley Bridge will have an enormous benefit on our community.
Join the petition to North Yorkshire Council to reduce the speed limits in Pateley Bridge by extending the current 20 mph zone to the remainder of the town limits:
- the B6265 (Ripon Road) past Harefield Hall entrance to the Methodist Church
- Old Church Lane to beyond the entrance to the Springfield estate
- the B6265 (Street Lane), Bridgehouse Gate, to the turn off to Bewerley to connect with the existing Bewerley 20mph zone
- Low Wath Road (past Nidderdale High School and Sunflowers Day Nursery).
