Almost 2,000 people have signed a petition calling for urgent action to repair a landslip in Knaresborough amid fears further deterioration this winter could make the problem much worse.
The petition urges North Yorkshire Council to prioritise the restoration of Viaduct Terrace, close to the town’s famous railway viaduct and River Nidd.
It will be considered by councillors on the Harrogate and Knaresborough area committee when they meet on September 24.
The petition was organised by councillors Hannah Gostlow and Matt Walker, who represent the town on North Yorkshire Council and sit on Knaresborough Town Council.
It calls for “meaningful stabilisation works” to begin before the onset of winter.
It states:
“The Knaresborough Viaduct is the heart of our town’s character and one of North Yorkshire’s most treasured landmarks.
“However, the ongoing landslip at Viaduct Terrace now threatens the safety, beauty, and economic vitality of our riverside.”
Those behind the campaign warn that delaying repairs until 2027 risks further erosion and could turn what they describe as a manageable project into a “multi-million-pound disaster”.
They also argue the condition of the riverside could affect independent shops, cafés and boat hire businesses which rely on visitors to the area.
Cllr Gostlow told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:
“The longer it takes to repair, the more impact it has on our town as a huge tourist destination and the waterside being a huge part of that.
“The aim of the petition is to ensure that the council knows the strength of feeling from residents on the issue and the significance that area has on the whole town.”
However, a report prepared for councillors reveals that work is already progressing towards reconstructing Viaduct Terrace.
North Yorkshire Council is in the process of awarding a contract which will allow early contractor involvement and detailed ground investigations.
Investigations will include taking cores to establish the depth of the viaduct foundations and drilling boreholes to determine ground conditions around the wall which needs rebuilding.
The council says earlier attempts to obtain quotations for the investigation work were unsuccessful because of the liabilities and risks associated with contractors working on or close to Network Rail infrastructure. Officials believe appointing a principal contractor will allow those risks to be managed.
The investigation and design work will be used to produce a business case for a bid for council capital funding.
Subject to funding being approved, reconstruction is expected to start in summer 2027 and be completed during the same year.
The timing is also constrained by the River Nidd, with works in rivers generally undertaken between June 15 and September 30 because of fish migration and spawning.
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