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12
Mar
Campaigners launch further legal action against Harrogate Station Gateway
Campaigners have launched further legal action against the £14.6 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme.
Cllr Malcolm Taylor, the Conservative executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire Council, said the authority had received a pre-action protocol letter challenging the validity of the fifth and final Traffic Regulation Order required for the scheme.
In a report ahead of a council meetng next week, Cllr Taylor said the scheme "continues to be delayed by legal challenges from a small minority of local businessmen".
The Get Away campaign group launched a bid to stop the council scheme, which would involve major changes to Station Parade and Station Square, after it said the project would harm the town centre and waste public funds.
Cllr Taylor said the council had now received further legal letters.
He said:
The council also received a pre-action protocol letter challenging the validity of the fifth and final Traffic Regulation Order required for the scheme. The grounds for challenge are largely the same as those used to unsuccessfully challenge Traffic Regulation Order 1-4. We have since submitted our ground for resistance.
Cllr Malcolm Taylor
Cllr Taylor added that campaigners had also challenged the council over its decision in November 2025 to enter into a contract with NY Highways for the project.
He said that the authority will apply to the court for the two legal challenges to be heard at the same time.
Cllr Taylor added:
It should be noted that the complainants have also challenged the decisions of West Yorkshire Combined Authority/York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to approve business cases and/or funding. We are in a position to enter into contract with NY Highways immediately on the release of funds from West Yorkshire Combined Authority/York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority once the legal processes have concluded.
The campaigners' case
Judge Mark Ockelton rejected Get Away's initial legal challenge following a two-day High Court hearing in April 2025.
However, Get Away claimed the judge’s decision was flawed and won permission to review the ruling.
The Court of Appeal hearing was held last Tuesday (March 3) but the verdict has yet to be announced.
Get Away argues that the council’s decision is unlawful on multiple grounds, including:
- Failure to carry out a lawful and adequate public consultation on the revised scheme
- Pressing ahead in the face of ongoing Court of Appeal proceedings against Traffic Regulation Orders 1–4, and despite the council’s own business case recording a 75% risk of a successful legal challenge
- Relying on a flawed business case which significantly overstates benefits to bus use, cycling, walking, rail patronage and air quality.
- Lack of information on traffic impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, heritage, safety and effects on protected species.
- Irrational reliance on a seven-year-old parking study which is at odds with the council’s own 2025 Parking Principles.
A spokesperson said:
The Get Away campaign is supported by the majority of traders in Harrogate town centre. A survey of circa 200 local businesses has found that 90% of them do not want the scheme.
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