QUESTIONS have been raised over the safety of a much-used A-road layby after highways bosses said it would be dangerous to site a burger van there.

North Yorkshire County Council’s highways department has objected to former restaurateur David Wraight’s plan to launch The Yorkshire Highwayman mobile food stall on the A684 between Northallerton and the A19, near Winton Bank.

Highways bosses said use of the layby, which is a redundant stretch of road following re-alignment of the A684, from the opposite side of the road would be hazardous.

Ahead of a Hambleton District Council licensing committee hearing, the county council officers said the layby functioned effectively when traffic travelling from Northallerton entered the layby using the western-most access and exited using the eastern-most access.

The officers added: “However, should the western-most access be used for both entry and exit movements we would have concerns regarding the visibility available in this location, which is a result of the crest of a hog curve to the west of this access.

“Vehicles leaving the layby from the western access, as well as those travelling westbound and turning into this access, would not have the visibility available to them required under Design Manual for Roads and Bridges standards.”

In a letter to Hambleton council, Mr Wraight said he did not believe the highways authority’s objection was justified.

He stated: “The layby has been in operation for many years and is constantly used. If the layby was a danger to cars turning right on to the A684 towards Northallerton why has this not been dealt with? The Vicky Anderson Training Centre which is nearer the brow of the hill has plenty of cars that make right turns crossing the carriageway and heading towards the A19. This has not caused any problems and is in fact nearer the area of objection by North Yorkshire County Council.”

Mr Wraight added while Department for Transport figures stated the stopping distance at 60mph was 73 metres, the distance between the western exit of the layby and the blind spot was more than 100 metres.

When asked why the layby was open to west-bound traffic, a county council spokesman said: “It is not a formalised lay-by, and hence is not signed as such. Since it still forms part of the public highway motorists are still able to use this space, but as with any turning movement or manoeuvre, should do so with the appropriate degree of care and attention.”