Plans to create Harrogate’s first Dutch-style roundabout have been dropped from the town’s proposed £11.2 million Station Gateway.
The roundabouts, inspired by road layouts in the Netherlands, have been in the news this week for their questionable safety record.
Only one currently exists in England — in Cambridge. Data yesterday showed there had been 10 collisions, including three serious ones, in the three years after it was first used in 2019 compared to six minor incidents in the three years before.
However, the number of cyclists using the roundabout has increased by almost 50% since 2017.
North Yorkshire County Council revealed plans in October 2021 to adopt a Dutch-style roundabout outside the Odeon as part of the gateway scheme, which aims to encourage active travel.
The roundabouts contain an outer ring for cyclists and zebra crossings for pedestrians. Motorists have to give way to both.
North Yorkshire County Council, which led on the gateway project before it was abolished and replaced by North Yorkshire Council this month, said at the time the style of roundabout “balances the need for increased protection and priority for pedestrians and cyclists with maintaining capacity for vehicles”.
Junction changes were put forward for the existing East Parade, Station Bridge, Station Avenue and North Park Road roundabout in front of the Odeon cinema.
The Odeon roundabout
The Stray Ferret received numerous emails this week asking whether Harrogate’s Dutch-style roundabout was still due to go ahead in light of the concerns about the one in Cambridge.
We asked North Yorkshire Council whether it still planned to proceed with a Dutch-style roundabout. A spokeswoman replied:
“We took the decision not to install a full Dutch-style roundabout.”
The council later added the decision was made last year.
The fate of the gateway scheme could be decided next week.
North Yorkshire Council’s Liberal Democrat-controlled Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee is due to make a recommendation on the gateway scheme next week.
Cllr Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways and transportation at the council, has said he will abide by the decision of local councillors.
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