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04
Jan 2022
Councillors urged to drop 'crazy' Harrogate Station Gateway scheme
Councillors will this week debate a petition urging them to abandon the £10.9 million Harrogate Station Gateway.
North Yorkshire County Council is due to decide shortly whether to proceed with the scheme, which would part-pedestrianise James Street and reduce traffic to single lane on some of Station Parade to encourage cycling and walking.
A petition by Harrogate Residents Association calling for the scheme to be halted generated 714 signatures.
Petitions that attract 500 signatures are automatically scheduled for debate by the county council.
It will therefore be discussed by the council's Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee on Thursday – although a final decision on what happens next will be made later.
Read more:
- Majority are negative towards Harrogate Station Gateway, consultation reveals
- Stray Views: Station Gateway will benefit far more people than cyclists
Anna McIntee, co-founder of Harrogate Residents Association, will be given five minutes to speak before councillors debate the matter for a maximum of 15 minutes.
Ms McIntee told the Stray Ferret it would be "crazy" to proceed in the face of widespread opposition from residents and businesses.
She said:
The county council revealed last month that of 1,320 people who replied to an online survey, 55% felt negatively towards the gateway, 39% felt positively and five per cent felt neutral. One per cent said they didn’t know.
Shortly afterwards three Harrogate business groups urged the county council and Harrogate Borough Council. which also supports the initiative, to "put the brakes on this scheme".
Many of those opposed fear the scheme will push traffic into residential areas and damage business.
'No decision taken'
A report to councillors recommends they 'note' the petition and 'consider a response'. It adds:
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