After years of delays and frustration, Harrogate cyclists finally had something to celebrate today.

Members of Harrogate District Cycle Action and Wheel Easy gathered at the junction of Wetherby Road and Slingsby Walk to mark the opening of a new toucan crossing.

They have fought for years for cycling improvements, only to see proposed schemes either drastically watered down or turn to dust.

There was a slight sense of disbelief that something tangible had happened as they ate cake to savour the moment.

“It’s a great addition to cycling and walking,” said Joe Smith. “We live locally and crossing Wetherby Road was a bit of a nightmare.”

Retired consultant Geraldine Bynoe crossed Wetherby Road for 20 years on her way to walk at Harrogate District Hospital. “This crossing would have been really helpful for me, but it will be useful now for the hospital,” she said.

Years of disappointment

The last major North Yorkshire Council-funded active travel scheme in Harrogate was phase one of the Otley Road cycleway, which was supposed to be the start of a segregated cycle route from the bus and train stations to Cardale Park.

But the meandering route united cyclists and motorists in criticism. Phase two was shelved and phase three is due to be funded by developers at some unspecified future date.

Plans to close part of Beech Grove to traffic were shelved and a cycleway on Victoria Avenue was scrapped due to cost. A short, disconnected cycle route on Station Parade is still planned as part of the £14.6 million Station Gateway.

Mr Smith says: “Otley Road is beyond redemption. It would be useful but it’s such a dog’s breakfast. Beech Grove worked well until they stopped it.”

A new pedestrian and cycle lane from the Kingsley area, past Harrogate High School, has proved popular but that was funded by housing developers.

What next?

Asked what they would like to see next, John Rowe echoed the call for the Beech Grove scheme to be revived and for action progressing designs that have existed since 2016 for a segregated route from Starbeck to Harrogate town centre.

Malcolm Margolis also backed the call to revive plans to make the road between Harrogate and Knaresborough more cycle-friendly.

But today was a time for celebration. Mr Margolis said:

“It’s taken over 10 years to get this and it’s really good to see it finally here and being well used. We appreciate that some of the officers at North Yorkshire Council pushed for this and made it happen.”

You wait years for one crossing then a second comes along: another crossing is due to be built at the junction of Slingsby Walk and Oatlands Drive in February, close to the entrance of St Aidan’s Church of England High School.

But after so many let downs, nobody is banking on it until it happens. Experience has taught them it's all about delivery.