Heavy rain and landslips force closure of coast road

The old A165 road which winds along the clifftop between Filey and Scarborough has been facing closure since the opening of a new bypass to take traffic further inland.

As reported by the Yorkshire Post, North Yorkshire County Council decided to speed up the traffic ban after there was more of the ground movement threatening the nearby community of Knipe Point.

But yesterday the authority announced that following heavy rainfall last Friday there has been subsequent further movement near Clifton Crag.

As a result, the council has permanently closed the old A165 road to vehicular traffic north of Cayton Bay. Locals will still have access to property but vehicles turning onto the stretch via the approach roads will have to turn around and come back out again.

The alternative route is via Filey Road ( North), the new A165 Scarborough South Cliff to Cayton Bay diversion and Osgodby Hill. There is also a diversion via Osgodby Lane, Cayton Village and Mill Lane.

The old A165 highway will remain open to pedestrian and bridle traffic for the foreseeable future. The county council has undertaken a land stability assessment and has confirmed that the sandy clay scarp face is now within a few metres of the highway.

There have been numerous landslips along the cliffs in the area, including the nearby Knipe Point.

Coun John Blackburn said one reason the bypass received priority funding was the question of the long-term sustainability of the old A165 route.

"However, it was not anticipated that the route would have to be restricted or closed this soon," he added.

The council has already discussed the closure with some local property and landowners, and East Yorkshire Motor Services who use the old A165 as a bus route.

It is hoped that the impact on highway users will minimal given that traffic volumes on this old Filey Road are very low. the county council said.