Calls For Progress On Scarborough's Oliver's Mount Access Road

North Yorkshire Council is facing pressure to resolve a seven-year access issue at Scarborough's historic Oliver's Mount race circuit, as operators warn future seasons could be at risk.

North Yorkshire Council is facing mounting pressure to resolve a long-standing access issue at Scarborough's historic Oliver's Mount race circuit. Jackson's Lane, the primary access route to the venue, has been closed for seven years due to safety reasons, creating significant logistical challenges for race organisers.

The circuit operators recently stated that while Jackson's Lane is an adopted highway, leaving the council with a statutory obligation to repair and maintain it, they accept that a permanent fix will realistically take several more years to achieve.

In the meantime, operators are seeking a practical, medium-term solution. They believe a two-way stone track from the Musham Bank roundabout is the right answer, as it would provide reliable access without the need for ongoing traffic management, eliminating inconvenience for local residents.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Scarborough Councillor Rich Maw asked for clarity on the council's plans during a recent meeting.

Councillor Rich Maw said:

"It's seven years since the access road to Oliver's Mount was closed, severely impacting race days. The operator is considering restarting formal action under the Highways Act, and that future seasons may be put at risk due to delays in planning submission and delivery.

So, can the exec member please set out a clear and realistic timetable for either a permanent repair to Jackson's Lane, or an interim solution that genuinely removes the need for mush and bank road closures?

What specific steps are being taken to ensure this issue is finally resolved, rather than continuing to be deferred as complex matters?"

For the 2025 major event weekends, North Yorkshire Council installed a temporary plastic track solution, taking on the larger share of the costs, while sponsor HMH Civils undertook significant civil works to enable the route. However, the venue's operators noted that while this arrangement worked operationally, it was very expensive to install and highly disruptive to local residents.

Executive Member for Highways, Councillor Malcolm Taylor, responded to the concerns by outlining the local authority's immediate plans for the circuit's access.

Councillor Malcolm Taylor said:

"The council fully recognizes the importance of the racing events at Oliver's Mount and is committed to working with the operator to ensure that there is a suitable means of access given that we've had to close Jackson's Lane for safety reasons.

Access for racing events last year and so far this year has been provided using a temporary track matting arrangement. After review of that track matting solution, we agreed to work with the operator to layer two way stone track. The track matting arrangement is resource-intensive and the associated traffic management causes disruption on the local road network.

The new arrangement does, however, require planning permission, and officers are finalizing the planning application at this moment."

Addressing the timeline for both the interim track and the long-term repairs to Jackson's Lane, Councillor Taylor confirmed that progress is being made on a permanent land stabilisation scheme.

Councillor Malcolm Taylor said:

"It will be necessary to utilize the track matting solution for the racing event planned for June, but it is hoped that events after that will benefit from the new arrangement.

The solution to this is the reopening of Jackson's Lane, and I'm pleased to confirm that we are preparing to go out to tender very shortly to deliver the land stabilization scheme. The council has already committed £780,000 to cover the design development stages, with the further funding to be confirmed once the cost of the solution is known."

Since 2019, the team behind Oliver's Mount says it has invested significant time, effort, and personal finances to restart the races and secure the venue's future. Describing the council-owned asset as a jewel in the crown for real road racing and for Scarborough, the operators remain hopeful that the local authority will support them through this final challenge so the historic circuit can continue to thrive for generations to come.