North Yorkshire County Council officials are to investigate a low traffic neighbourhood scheme on Beech Grove after a 600-signature petition was handed in to the authority.
Residents have raised concern that the closure to through traffic on the road and Lancaster Road is inconvenient, pushes traffic elsewhere and that very little notice was given over the decision.
A consultation on the scheme closed this past weekend, but it will remain in place as a trial until August 2022.
However, the county council is now set to investigate and debate the matter after 655 people signed a petition calling for the scheme to be scrapped.
In response, the county council said:
“The matter has been referred to the council’s highways service for investigation. They will contact the petitioner directly.
“As over 500 signatures have been received, the petitioner is also able under the council petition scheme to attend a meeting of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee and have the matter debated.”
Anna McIntee, a Harrogate resident and co-founder of the Harrogate Residents’ Association, launched the petition after she believed the scheme only pushed traffic elsewhere in the town.
She told the Stray Ferret:
“The changes to Beech Grove and Lancaster Road affect the day to day lives of so many residents and locals, who use this road and surrounding the area. Many people rely on their cars.
“We need to see the data that cycling has increased since the trial LTN introduction in February of this year.
“Grant Shapps said himself ‘’I’ve set out tough new conditions to ensure these schemes are properly consulted on and that evidence of this is shown before schemes are rolled out. Plus monitoring reports are submitted after the schemes open to clearly show how they have been modified based on local feedback.’’.
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However, Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, said previously that the scheme had been successful in freeing up road space for up for cyclists and pedestrians.
He added that there was a “good chance” of the low traffic neighbourhood becoming permanent.
Cllr Mackenzie said:
“Its been successful. There’s been views in both directions but most residents have accepted it as a positive.
“I see it continuing after 18 months. It’s a part of town where we are making changes to sustainable travel. I can see the Low Traffic Neighbourhood remaining in place formally.”
