Readers’ Letters: Is Harrogate's Victoria Avenue £1 million upgrade value for money?

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.

Harrogate's Victoria Avenue recently underwent a £1 million upgrade, but the scheme has proved divisive. This reader shares his view on the changes and sent us the below photos.

I was in town today (September 2), so thought I’d have a look at the newly refurbished Victoria Avenue to see what you get for several weeks of disturbance and close to £1 million.

I was impressed by the new road surface, crossings and white lines, less so by the reused plastic bollards and the rubbish and signage simply left behind.

Is this value for money? I’m not so sure it is.

Phil Jarman, Harrogate

'We are lucky' to have Active North Yorkshire

This reader praised North Yorkshire Council's in-house leisure company and its swimming programme, which proved a big hit for her family over the summer break.

Kudos all round for the swimming pool programme at Active North Yorkshire and all those facilitating it over the summer holidays.

My grandchildren – aged 4, 10 and 11 – and I made good use of the Ripon and Harrogate pools.

The staff are all helpful, and the lifeguards well-trained and super vigilant.

We are lucky to have such an excellent facility.

Jane Heller, Markington

Concerns raised over Tesco roadworks communication

This reader claims New Park residents have received a lack of communication about the Tesco roadworks along Skipton Road. 

I am a resident of Euclid Avenue which, along with Electric Avenue, is most directly affected by the removal of direct access to/from Skipton Road.

This has been done, to the best of my knowledge, without residents having the benefit of any sort of consultation, which might have provided us with clear instruction, assurance, an alternative plan and an apology for the inconvenience.

We have received nothing as far as I am aware. Nothing from Tesco, nothing from North Yorkshire Council and nothing from Harrogate Town Council. We also have not received anything from our local councillor or our MP.

We residents clearly are not on their radar.

On August 17, I wrote to Harrogate Town Council's clerk about the failure to communicate anything to residents about the disruption.

On August 19, I also emailed Cllr Monika Slater [a Liberal Democrat who represents Bilton Grange and New Park] setting out my concerns. 

I followed up with reminders to both on August 27, but I have not received a response from either. 

John Lawrence, Harrogate

Since receiving this letter, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Tom Gordon, announced he and Cllr Slater were to visit the site on Saturday, September 6, to hear residents' concerns. 

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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