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25
Jan 2021
Council to recommend Wetherby Road land for Stray swap
A plot of land at Wetherby Road has been recommended to be exchanged for grass verges on Otley Road and designated as Stray land.
Harrogate Borough Council carried out a 12-week consultation over three plots of land to replace the verges, which will be removed for a new cycle route.
A majority of those who responded backed the council's preferred option to designate land on Wetherby Road next to the war memorial as Stray land in exchange.
As part of the Stray Act, a suitable plot of land must be offered in exchange. It follows lengthy discussions between the council and the Duchy of Lancaster over land to designate to the Stray.
The responses to the consultation are due to go before the General Purposes Committee this week. Councillors will be asked to recommend that the authority's cabinet approves the land proposals.
In total, the authority received 443 responses to its consultation.
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Of that number, 214 respondents (49%) strongly agreed with the proposal to exchange the Otley Road verges to one of the three options outlined by the council.
However, 161 (36%) strongly disagreed with the plan.
Some agreed with the options, but felt the proposal "should be put back to residents once a decision has been made". Others said they supported the move "as long as there is still enough pavement to walk down with a pushchair".
As part of the exchange, the council outlined three plots of land for the exchange:
- Wetherby Road land next to the war memorial (preferred option)
- St James Drive verges
- Arthurs Avenue verges
In the responses, 246 (81%) agreed with the council’s preferred option of land at Wetherby Road next to the war memorial.
Those who agreed with the Wetherby Road plot felt it was "the most logical reason to form a continuous community resources" and "seems already part of the Stray".
However, 14 agreed with the second option of verges at St James Drive and 45 supported the verges at Arthurs Avenue.
Some disagreed with the options outlined and said they did not want the Otley Road verges removed. Others said "the Stray should not be disrupted for cyclists" and questioned the need for a cycle route.
Residents were also asked whether they agreed with the council’s plan to amend the Stray bylaws to permit cycling on the Otley Road route.
A total of 235 strongly agreed (54%), while 162 (36%) strongly disagreed.
Councillors on the committee have been recommended to submit the proposed bylaw change to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
It comes as North Yorkshire County Council looks to press ahead with the cycle route on the stretch of road between Harlow Moor Road and Beech Grove.
The project has already been delayed and the negotiations over the Stray land have been a further stumbling block for the second phase of the scheme.
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