North Yorkshire County Council has confirmed that the £10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway will be recommended for approval next week.
The Stray Ferret revealed last week that the county council’s executive was expected to give the green light on January 25.
Now the county council, which is the lead partner for the scheme, has confirmed the executive is recommended to take the proposals forward to detailed design stage so work can start in spring or summer.
It says the move will save shops from decline, make the town centre more attractive and improve the town centre for cyclists and pedestrians.
James Street will be partly pedestrianised and traffic on some of Station Parade reduced to single lane.
The decision comes despite widespread opposition to the scheme from businesses and residents.
The results of the second phase of consultation, published last month, revealed that of 1,320 people who replied to an online survey, 55% feel negatively, 39% positively and five per cent neutral towards the scheme. One per cent said they didn’t know.
Nevertheless the scheme is expected to proceed with only minor amendments.
Read more:
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- Harrogate business groups call for Station Gateway to be revised
A report to councillors acknowledges there has been “a general reduction in the level of support for the changes”. It says the main concerns are the negative impacts on businesses, congestion, air quality and the attractiveness, accessibility and safety of the town centre.
It adds that officers believe:
“The proposals will have an overall positive impact on the local economy, air quality and the attractiveness, accessibility and safety of the town centre with a minimal increase in journey times and flows in the worst case traffic modelling.
“It is therefore considered appropriate that the proposals be taken forward through detailed design and implementation.”
The report adds the “overall impact on retail footfall is expected to be positive”, adding.
“Evidence suggests that the town centre retail sector is at risk of decline in the medium term. There is also a growing body of case study evidence which indicates that the scheme will increase footfall and economic value.”
Residents living near the town centre fear their streets will get more traffic.
Extra traffic in residential areas
Regarding concerns that the changes will displace traffic along the A61 Cheltenham Crescent into nearby residential streets, the report says traffic modelling looked at “significant changes (an average change of 3 vehicles per minute or more)”, adding:
“At the worst time of day (the afternoon peak hour) only East Parade experiences a significant increase in flow (5 vehicles per minute).”
The Harrogate scheme is one of three in Yorkshire being paid for with £42m from the government’s Transforming Cities Fund.
County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said:
These proposals represent the biggest investment in Harrogate, Selby and Skipton town centres in decades and aim to increase productivity by making it quicker, easier and safer for people to travel around and connect with economic opportunities.
“We want to encourage more people to travel by foot, bike and public transport because it is good for health and the environment by promoting fitness and reducing congestion. The spending will also provide a welcome boost for our town centres after two difficult years of trading during the pandemic.
“The entire project is a great example of partnership working between Craven District Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Selby District Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and is set to deliver real benefits to residents and businesses across our county.
“We have listened to feedback from the public consultations and are confident people will be pleased with the results.”
