Readers’ Letters: ‘I am tired of these endless roadworks – they’ve had a huge impact on my business’

Readers’ Letters is a free weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This week, we’ve collated some of our readers’ comments that have been left on recent stories. 

Few topics raise readers’ blood pressure more than roadworks – and this week is no exception. These comments were left on a story about a Harrogate business owner, who said the sheer volume of roadworks locally was tantamount to a “sustained, unnecessary attack on our business”.

As the Stray Ferret know, I too am tired of these endless roadworks. They have had a huge impact on my business this year. The council has allowed the contractors to dictate their own terms, and it has created months of both disruption and pollution. The contractors seem to work minimal hours each day and [there] seems to be no joined-up thinking when planning these things. Why can't more work be done through the night? Yet again, NYC is damaging businesses through poor planning.

Andrew Hart

M&S on Leeds Road must be suffering too - they were giving away bunches of roses absolutely free yesterday. I know because I got one!

David Owen

More roadworks

Disruption to local roads continued the following day as a four-day closure on Starbeck High Street got underway. Frustrations grew amongst our readers.

I agree these seemingly uncoordinated roadworks are causing huge problems. As usual, North Yorkshire seems to operate a ‘radio silence’ policy. Communication is key here. 

Let’s have some basic information about roadworks. This could be easily done by directing us to simple information on their website. It’s not a great website but it’s better than nothing.

Ian Brown 

'Captain Pothole' steps down

The Stray Ferret this week exclusively revealed councillor Keane Duncan, now the former transport chief, has resigned from his executive post. Cllr Duncan has come under a lot of scrutiny over the years. Our readers left the below comments.

Add the roadworks debacle, which is [one of] the worst cases of bad/no planning I can ever recall, and you have evidence of a lack of competence on a world-class scale.

Nigel Law

Let us hope that North Yorkshire Council reviews ALL the projects that this councillor has been involved with, and his replacement does not continue to waste money, and the public obtain the truth about expenditure.

Ian Watson

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

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