RESIDENTS of upper Wensleydale urged North Yorkshire County Council to redouble its efforts to build a salt barn to help with winter road clearance.

A lorry jackknifed in Bainbridge in icy conditions on Wednesday morning, blocking the road through the village for two hours as people tried to travel to work.

Coun Yvonne Peacock, who represents the village on Richmondshire District Council, said road conditions were the worst for 50 years.

She said the temporary location of the road salt and grit pile at Tarney Fors was not easily accessible and too far for gritting lorries to travel.

The pile was moved from the centre of Bainbridge to allow the former county council depot to be redeveloped for a new national park centre and housing.

"There were problems on the main road between Bainbridge and Hawes and it is a long way up to Tarney Fors," said Coun Peacock. "The articulated lorry was stuck at The Nick from 6.30 to about 8.30, completely blocking it, and that caused problems for the gritters needing salt.

"I have been in Bainbridge for 50 years and I have never seen the road west of the village in the state it was on Wednesday morning."

The county council plans to create a permanent salt barn in the valley bottom and talks with a landowner are progressing.

Coun John Blackie, who represents Hawes, said gritters had managed to get to Tarney Fors on Wednesday morning, but agreed the location was far from ideal. "I have spoken to senior county council officers and to a landowner who indicated some time ago that he could be interested in providing a site for the salt pile," said Coun Blackie. "We need a salt barn on the valley bottom in upper Wensleydale and I would hope that the county council will treat this as urgent and certainly have something in place by next winter."

See weather round-up on page 14.