Villagers fear for jobs in row over A1 signs

Businesses in Masham, home to the Black Sheep Brewery and famed for its cobbled market place, have been struggling against a downturn in trade after signs directing visitors to the village from the A1 were taken away as part of the route’s multi-million pound revamp.

The old turn-off from the motorway to the village was removed and only after a two-year campaign were brown signs installed on the southbound carriage directing traffic to Masham off the A1(M) at junction 51, Leeming Bar.

Those signs were installed at no cost to the community, but the Highways Agency, the organisation responsible for the changes, told the village it will face a £36,000 bill for two signs on the northbound carriage of the motorway, something businesses and parish councillors say is simply unaffordable.

Residents have been calling for recognition of the signage issues since the inquiry into the upgrade in 2006 and say the effect on passing trade has been enormous, with one businesswoman warning she will have to close her cafe with the loss of five jobs as the operation is no longer economically viable.

And the lack of signage is producing other knock-on problems for businesses and farms in the area, who face delayed or cancelled deliveries due to drivers being unable to find the village.

Flo Grainger, 66, runs a caravan park and cafe on the main road into Masham and says the latter will have to be closed due to the downturn in trade, which she attributes to the sign issues.

Ms Grainger told the Yorkshire Post when she opened about 250 cars would pass her business an hour but that this had declined to barely 100 since the A1 upgrade.

She has since reduced her opening hours to two days a week but says she can no longer continue and warns many other businesses are seeing reduced takings.

“This area was devastated by the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001 and so many had to diversify into other businesses to support their income, with a great many relying on connecting with tourists to support these businesses.

“The agricultural economy is being hard hit too. We use predominantly local suppliers in our cafe and they will be affected by the closure.

“Of course the recession is playing a role but that is affecting everywhere. It is not just myself that is suffering. The pubs and cafes that are at the heart of this part of the Dales all tell me trade is down.

“The move has caused mayhem in this part of the world. The old route has always been the main route into the Yorkshire Dales from the motorway.

“I have looked at equivalent situations in other parts of the country and the most they have been charged is £4,000.”

Masham was not included in new signs as the A1 route has been upgraded to motorway status, meaning new rules apply which state that only “primary destination” can be included.

The town’s MP Julian Smith, (Con, Skipton and Ripon) has previously described the £36,000 quote for bringing in two new signs as “staggering” and said the Highways Agency had a responsibility to support economic growth in the area’s surrounding networks, as well as keeping costs in line.

A spokesperson for the Highways Agency, which manages motorways and major A-roads in England on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, told the Yorkshire Post: “The Highways Agency has and will continue to work closely with the local community in Masham to find a solution for brown signs that meets their expectations and is affordable, while ensuring they fulfil their purpose of directing visitors to Masham.

“It is important that any solutions reached take account of the need to maintain a safe and free-flowing road network.”