North Yorkshire Council was expected to give the go-ahead this month to the £14.6 million Harrogate Station Gateway project.

The scheme would see major changes to Station Parade, including a cycle lane, and Station Square. But it has been dogged by opposition from local businesses and residents.

The anti-gateway campaign group Get Away failed in a legal challenge to halt the project this year but indicated immediately afterwards that it would appeal. No date for the appeal hearing has been revealed.

When the council won the High Court battle in August, it seemed to pave the way for work to finally start.

Councillor Malcolm Taylor, the executive member for highways said the ruling “allows us to move forward with confidence” and a final report would go before the council executive in October.

But since then, there has been silence.

When the gateway did not feature on the agenda for the final executive meeting of the month, we asked Cllr Taylor why the issue had been delayed.

He said:

“I am awaiting a briefing from officers on the current position but as you are probably aware a further legal challenge in the form of an appeal has been lodged.”

There appears to be no sign of work beginning anytime soon and the long-running saga will rumble in 2026.