The debate over whether walking and cycling schemes push traffic elsewhere in Harrogate has intensified over the last 12 months.
North Yorkshire County Council has implemented road closures, introduced a low traffic neighbourhood on Beech Grove and started work on a multi-million pound cycle route on Otley Road.
All of this is part of a push to get people out of their cars and on foot or to pick up a bike, the council says.
But some of the measures, such as Beech Grove, have proved contentious and led to petitions calling for them to be removed.
One of the most frequent criticisms of the county council is that these measures push traffic elsewhere.
This week, the Stray Ferret was told that the council’s cycling agenda has led to traffic building up on Cold Bath Road and made it unsafe for schoolchildren.
‘It’s no busier’
The closure of through traffic on Beech Grove is designed to link with the upcoming Otley Road cycle route, which started construction on its first phase this month.
According to the county council’s own figures, around three cyclists an hour use the LTN. However, campaigners argue that it is much more than that.
Some have gone as far as to sit on Beech Grove counting cyclists passing through themselves and reported 17 within an hour.
Valley Drive, which is closed to traffic from Cold Bath Road.
But critics say the by-product of the measure is the shifting of traffic elsewhere, namely onto Cold Bath Road.
The Stray Ferret went out to the road to check if it was busier.
Traffic built up at drop off and pick up times outside Western Primary School, nearby independent businesses and residential areas.
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Cars pulled into nearby streets as children waited patiently on the corner and other drivers tried to the negotiate the newly closed Valley Drive, which no longer allows entry from Cold Bath Road.
However, one business owner told the Stray Ferret that it was “not busier than usual” and it would have been noticeable had it been.
The sentiment, though, is not echoed by Western Primary School headteacher, Tim Broad.
Tim Broad is the headteacher of Western Primary School.
Mr Broad told the Stray Ferret that the road was busier due to Beech Grove and the Otley Road construction.
He said:
“I don’t feel that our children are as vulnerable now since the covid guidance has changed and we are no longer using our playground gate as an exit.
“Drop off and collection are safer in that respect but obviously the busier the road, the bigger the threat to children.”
‘No increase’ in traffic, says highways boss
Much of the criticism for the introduction of these schemes comes back to the inbox of Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for highways.
As is the case with politics, someone has to be accountable for proposals which affect peoples’ lives.
Read more:
- Around three cyclists an hour using Harrogate’s new low traffic neighbourhood
- ‘It’s working well’: Campaigner counts cyclists using Harrogate’s Beech Grove
- Beech Grove closure to remain in place, despite petition objecting
Cllr Mackenzie has faced down emails and petitions from residents who no longer want the LTN because they say it makes Harrogate busier for traffic.
We put the concerns to Cllr Mackenzie over the increase in traffic on Cold Bath Road.
But, he said the authority had not seen any issues with traffic as a result of the measures brought in. Cllr Mackenzie said the highways department monitored traffic regularly.
Cllr Mackenzie said:
“Cold Bath Road is a very busy road and there is a lot going on there. We are mounting the traffic levels and we are seeing no increase.”
He added that a report on consultation responses into Beech Grove over the last six months is due to be published “in the coming weeks”.
