Land slip leaves 'road to nowhere' on shaky ground

Closure of the old A165 Scarborough-to-Bridlington Filey Road has been on the cards since traffic was diverted onto the new Lebberston by-pass.

It runs by the private estate of Knipe Point, near Filey, which has been under threat since devastating landslips left some properties on the brink of a steep slope leading to a National Trust owned woodland below.

Now more ground movement has been reported south of the houses, leading North Yorkshire County Council to install temporary traffic lights on the route.

Highways chiefs expect to close it to motorists very soon because a land stability study confirmed the sandy clay scarp face is now within a few metres of the highway.

There were numerous landslips along the cliffs in the area, including the nearby Knipe Point. County Councillor John Blackburn did not think the traffic ban would cause too much inconvenience for local people.

He said: "It really is very fortunate we built the Scarborough to Lebberston diversion when we did."

The move had already been discussed with some local property and landowners and East Yorkshire Motor Services who use the old A165 as a bus route. Traffic was so light that the impact on local motorists was expected to be minimal, although local access to the Osgodby area from the south would be lost, officials say.

Pedestrian and bridle access on the old A165 will be maintained on the landward side of the highway but the road itself would require major engineering to stabilise, even for a limited period.