An online event on Harrogate’s Station Gateway project will be held today after officials signalled their determination to push ahead with the scheme despite a legal threat.
It will be held at 6pm after drop-in sessions took place at the Victoria Shopping Centre last week.
The events are part of a third consultation on the £10.9 million project which aims to make the town centre more accessible with cycle lanes and pedestrianisation.
However, the plans have failed to win over the support of some residents and businesses who are worried the changes could cause more congestion and drive shoppers away.
These concerns came to a head when one of Harrogate’s leading property companies made a proposed claim for a judicial review against North Yorkshire County Council which is leading on the project and delayed the submission of a final business case to secure funding.
Hornbeam Park Developments claims a previous consultation was “unlawful” and that the county council “failed conscientiously” to take into account the feedback.
Yet the authority said it “does not accept” the claims and now aims to submit the final business case at the beginning of next year.
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Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways, said the county council wanted to “crack on” with next stages of the project as he also urged people to share their views on the latest designs.
He said:
“The county council is keen to hear views on ambitious plans to help make Harrogate town centre more accessible to residents and visitors.
“As part of the latest consultation we will be sharing updated designs and seeking views on key elements of the Gateway project, particularly around traffic and transport.
“Your responses will be vital to ensuring we deliver the very best scheme for residents and businesses.”
An online survey is also being run as part of the latest consultation which will close on 23 August.
The county council has stressed that the survey is not revisiting the principle of key parts of the project – including reducing Station Parade to one-lane traffic and a part-time pedestrianisation of James Street – but instead is gathering views on final designs and traffic impacts.
After the consultation ends, the authority aims to start construction early next year with completion in winter 2023/24.
There are, however, questions over how possible court proceedings could impact deadlines for the project which is being funded by the government’s Transforming Cities Fund.
A Department for Transport spokesman said it expects the project to be delivered by an already extended deadline of March 2024 and that where there are any further delays, deadlines will be “reassessed by a panel on a case-by-case basis”.
But when asked what a possible judicial review could mean for the scheme, the spokesman added “we can’t comment on the specific funding arrangements… as this information is commercially sensitive”.
Also included in the Gateway plans are upgrades for Station Square and the One Arch underpass, as well the Odeon cinema roundabout and several other streets in the area.
More details of the proposals are available online where you can also have your say and find out more about today’s online event.
