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Coroner's lament for road of death

A coroner has thrown his weight behind a newspaper’s Safer A61 campaign.

The Harrogate Advertiser is calling for changes to the A61 from Harrogate to Ripon, which it claims is one of the most deadly stretches of road in the country.

Coroner Jeremy Cave recently completed the inquest of another road crash victim from the stretch – and he wants to make sure it’s one of the last.

Pledging support for the Advertiser campaign, he said: “Each year in this county, myself and my colleague, Michael Oakley, are asked what is the major contributor towards the number of deaths in that year.

“Whereas in the past I would have said most deaths were drug related, now I would have to say it was the number of road accidents, especially those involving motorbikes.

“Two of the worst roads are the A50 and A65, with the A66 holding a grim reputation. But the A61 is beginning to catch up.”

Skipton and Ripon MP David Curry recently backed the campaign and later this week, local residents will meet with county council representatives to discuss new safety measures for the A61.

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