Council criticised for sluggish response to road closures after Richmond petrol station fire

North Yorkshire County Council’s highways boss Coun Don Mackenzie said it was 'disappointing' that district councillors Clive World and Philip Wicks were trying to make political advantage out of the devastating fire at the Harvest Energy garage and Nisa Local convenience store on Victoria Road in Richmond last month.

The district councillors said they were raising concerns brought to them by local businesses and residents and by visiting motorists, at the poor handling of the road closure and traffic diversion.

Coun Wicks said the quick-thinking actions of the garage staff - who shut off the fuel supply to the pumps before fleeing - and emergency services had contrasted with the 'out-of-touch reaction' of the county council, which had made no attempt to signpost the alternative route to the town’s main car park after two weeks.

He added: “Clearly it was necessary to close Victoria Road, but traffic chaos ensued because the diversion signs were unhelpful, to say the least.

“Tourism is key to Richmond’s economy, but this failure to understand the importance of car parking does not bode well for the future.”

Coun World added: “In its recent proposals for a unitary authority, North Yorkshire County Council declared that they would be ‘driven by a new dynamic localism that boosts grassroots level decision-making’.

"Judging by its recent response to the aftermath of this awful fire, something clearly needs to change, but I am not holding my breath. Their platitudes mean very little to most local people when their actions suggest that they just don’t care.”

Coun Mackenzie said the council’s highways engineers had responded promptly to a difficult situation, which was changing as investigations into the fire-damaged property progressed.

He said the demolition company had discovered signs of damage to the gable ends of buildings beside the petrol station, which meant that Hurgill Road and footpath needed to remain closed for longer than originally anticipated.

Coun Mackenzie said: “Work to make the area safe is continuing during which time there will be regular vehicle movements to and from the site. For those reasons Hurgill Road will remain closed, and the attached diversionary route is in operation.

“We now expect the road and footpath to be reopened on Wednesday, September 9. As always, safety of the general public remains the county council’s top priority.”

The petrol station and shop were completely destroyed by the fire and will have to be demolished.