Road hit by 2024 landslip to stay shut until 2027

Repairs to a road closed by a landslip in 2024 could mean the route does not reopen until 2027.

Glen Esk Road, known locally as "Danger Bank", was a popular road for people travelling between Whitby and Ruswarp.

It closed after the slip in August 2024 and North Yorkshire Council has now confirmed it "aims to deliver the works as soon as possible in 2027".

Whitby town councillor Linda Wild said the situation was "impossible", adding: "This means people have to take longer alternative routes, which causes congestion elsewhere and brings great inconvenience to all traffic and local road users."

Wild said the road was the main route for many Whitby and Ruswarp residents trying to avoid peak time or holiday season traffic.

She was concerned about the risk of further damage to the road, after the council confirmed its condition had deteriorated over the winter.

"Surely the longer the road is unattended, the more risk there is of it getting worse? I am very disappointed on behalf of the people in Whitby and we will be pushing North Yorkshire Council - hard - to get on with this work."

Town council colleague Heather Coughlan, who represents Ruswarp, said: "It is absolutely disgusting. The road should have been fixed a long time ago. This delay is shocking, it will add huge inconvenience to peoples' journeys and there will be a knock on effect for local businesses."

Kyle Clacherty, co-owner of Jacksons Butchers in Ruswarp, said he had feared the road would never re-open.

"It's a nice surprise to hear it will be open again, as it it will benefit the community and our business.

"There are lots of houses nearby – if they have to go the long way round they might be tempted to shop elsewhere which would cost us business," Clacherty added.

In a statement to members of North Yorkshire Council's Scarborough and Whitby committee, the council's highways team said: "Design and funding were in place for the works to be commenced in 2026."

But the statement continued: "After further extensive slippage over the winter period the original design is no longer considered feasible and it cannot be amended in time to allow the works to proceed this year.

"An options review is currently underway with a revised design to be developed this year, with the aim of delivering the works as soon as possible in 2027."