The councillor in charge of transport in North Yorkshire was in Harrogate tonight to give business leaders an update on various schemes, including the £11.2 million Station Gateway..
Cllr Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways and transportation at North Yorkshire County Council attended Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly meeting.
He gave an update on the £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway after traffic orders were published last week, one of which was for the closure of part of James Street. Here’s how the evening went:
7.51pm: Cllr Duncan reaffirms his commitment to listen
In response to some more negative comments, Cllr Duncan says again he will listen to the area constituency committee. And with that he returns to his seat as the meeting draws to a close.
7.46pm: ‘I am prepared to change course’
Responding to claims that information supporting the scheme is flawed and the council has not listened to businesses, Cllr Duncan says:
“I think there is more support for this scheme than those who shout the loudest would have us believe.
“I am prepared to look at the evidence, make decisions and change course.”
7.40pm: ‘You’re riding roughshod over us’
A member of the audience gets a round of applause for saying the council is “riding roughshod” over local opinion and has “not taken on board any of our points”.
Cllr Duncan says he has inherited the scheme and will abide by what the Lib Dem-controlled committee agrees. His role, he says, is to bring matters to a conclusion, although he thinks overall the scheme is positive.
The questioner responds by calling the scheme a “joke”.
7.35: Harrogate congestion zone ruled out
It’s question time, and things could get lively. The first question asks whether Cllr Duncan has considered a congestion zone for Harrogate and he flatly rules it out.
7.31pm: Lib Dems will decide on fate of scheme
Cllr Duncan is a Conservative but he says he will abide by the decision of the Lib Dem-controlled Harrogate area constituency committee, which will meet to discuss the subject in May. He says:
“I will implement whatever decision is taken. It’s right that Harrogate and Knaresborough councillors have their say.”
Some Lib Dems feel they’ve been delivered a hospital pass because the area constituency committee is an advisory body and the Conservatives want to avoid making an unpopular decision.
Cllr Duncan has said previously that “with power comes responsibility” and the Lib Dems are being empowered as part of the new council’s commitment to “double devolution” whereby local decisions will be taken locally.
If the gateway goes ahead, Cllr Duncan says the council will “look to start construction in winter this year and finish in winter 2024”.
7.28pm: 40 parking spaces would be lost
Cllr Duncan says surveys show 500 to 600 parking spaces could be removed from Harrogate town centre without any significant impact but this scheme would only remove 40 spaces — 20 on James Street and 20 on Station Parade.
He makes four pledges:
1 To conduct a full review of car parking in Harrogate town centre.
2 To manage disruption, adding: “It cannot be denied there will be disruption. We will draw up a construction management plan.”
3 No compromise on quality of construction materials.
4 Traffic flows will be revisited and reassessed.
7.22pm: Gateway consultations ‘not a referendum’
The latest consultation responses revealed 46% were negative towards the project compared with 45% in favour and nine per cent were neutral.
Some businesses and residents have said this proves the scheme should be dropped but Cllr Duncan says “this was a consultation not a referendum” and opinion is “finely balanced”.
7.16pm: Station Gateway – water feature scrapped
He says the scheme will “encourage a shift from motorised vehicles to low carbon and sustainable transport” but adds the aim of the scheme is also regeneration, improvements to the public realm and to support businesses in Harrogate. He says:
“This is not just a transport scheme it is about redeveloping a key corridor of Harrogate town centre.”
He says the Station Square water feature has been removed from the scheme “due to practical and cost constraints”. It would have cost £500,00 he says.
But he adds there will be “no compromising” on high quality materials despite soaring building costs.
As for delays caused by road closures and reducing Station Parade to single lane, he says the “worst case scenario” is that an average 15-minute journey around Harrogate will take an extra 53 seconds if the gateway goes ahead.
7.12pm: ‘Hardline’ cyclists criticised
Cllr Duncan is now talking about active travel on Otley Road and Beech Grove. Regarding phase two of the Otley Road cycleway, which has been scrapped, he said:
“The feedback we were getting was negative even from the beneficiaries of the scheme. For me, that was strong, compelling evidence of why we should not proceed.”
He then takes a swipe at some cyclists.
“There is a hardline cycle lobby which in my view do not speak for everyday people in Harrogate.
“I see my role to listen to everybody and not just those who shout the loudest.”
7.10pm: Car is ‘key but not king’
Cllr Duncan says the “car is key but not king”.
Regarding electric vehicles, he says 3,000 new charging points are needed in North Yorkshire by 2030.
Regarding safety, he says the council has some particular concerns about children in Pannal Ash and Oatlands where 9,000 children travel to school.
As for the 20’s Plenty For Us, he says “I’m struggling to see that a one-size fits all intervention is best way forward” and targeted interventions are better but a review is pending.
7.08pm: Bus network ‘fragile’
Cllr Duncan is now talking about buses. He says at least a third of routes in the county are at risk of timetable changes or being removed all together.
He says recent £1.7m government support and £1.6m from the county council have provided services with a lifeline.
He says the £2 fare cap has increased passenger numbers but doesn’t give figures and says it remains a difficult time.
7.05pm: Council ‘not anti-car’
Cllr Duncan says the new North Yorkshire Council is not anti-car, adding:
“However it’s right that people are able to walk and cycle are able to do so safely and efficiently.”
6.52pm: ‘Renewed vision and focus on Harrogate’
Cllr Duncan (centre) at tonight’s meeting
Cllr Duncan starts by giving a speech before facing questions. He says the new North Yorkshire Council will provide a “renewed vision and focus on Harrogate”.
Read more:
- Council bids for £3m for cycling projects in Harrogate and Knaresborough
- Traffic order issued to close part of Harrogate’s James Street to vehicles
