Old A165 Filey Road to close amid landslip fears

A stretch of coastal road in North Yorkshire is set to be closed because of the danger of landslips.

Temporary traffic lights have been set up on the old A165 Filey Road linking Cayton Bay and Osgodby.

A county council spokesman said: "Given the unpredictable nature of further slippage it is expected the old A165 will have to be closed very soon."

The landslips have already led to the demolition on safety grounds of three cliff-top homes at nearby Knipe Point.

North Yorkshire County Council said it had undertaken a land stability assessment which had confirmed that the sandy clay scarp face was now within a few metres of the highway.

A council spokesman said: "It is very fortunate that the new A165 Scarborough to Lebberston diversion was completed last year.

"One of the factors why the new road scheme received priority funding was associated with the long term sustainability of the old A165 route.

"However it was not anticipated that the route would have to be restricted or closed this soon."

The county council has discussed the possible closure of the route with local property and landowners and bus operator East Yorkshire Motor Services, which uses the old A165 as a bus route.

"It is hoped that the impact on highway users will minimal given that traffic volumes on this old Filey Road are very low," said the council spokesman.

"However, local access to the Osgodby area from the south will be lost.

"Significant engineering works would be required even to temporarily stabilise the highway, and given the topography and geology of the area the highway authority is not in a position to maintain the route."

Although it would have to be closed to vehicles, it is expected that pedestrian and bridle access will be maintained on the south side of the highway.