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26
Jan 2023
Local Liberal Democrats could determine fate of £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway
A decision on whether to proceed with the £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway could depend on a Liberal Democrat-controlled committee of councillors.
The gateway scheme, which would radically transform the area opposite Harrogate train station, has proved highly divisive and controversial.
It would see James Street partly pedestrianised and a section of Station Parade reduced to single lane traffic to make way for cycle lanes.
Funding for the scheme was secured in March 2020 but nearly three years later, and despite three consultations, North Yorkshire County Council has yet to make a final decision on whether to proceed.
Part of James Street would be pedestrianised.
The council's Conservative-controlled executive has now said the scheme will come before its Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee before a final decision is made. Eight of the committee's 14 members are Liberal Democrats.
The committee is currently only an advisory body but Cllr Keane Duncan, the executive member for highways and transportation at the council, suggested its views will be crucial. He said:
Read more:
- New consultation reveals more people still oppose than support £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway
- Harrogate Station Gateway consultation in numbers
Asked whether the Conservatives had passed the buck on such a political hot potato, Cllr Duncan replied:
Cllr Keane Duncan in Harrogate
Cllr Duncan, who lives in Ryedale, said he had no vested interest in the scheme, which he inherited when he took up his role in May last year. But he added:
Consultation was 'never a referendum'
The third consultation revealed once again more people feel negatively than possibly towards the scheme, albeit by a slender margin of 46% to 45%, with nine per cent neutral.
Cllr Duncan said the consultation "was never meant to be a referendum" and there was "significant support" for key elements of the scheme, including changes to the public realm and better walking and cycling infrastructure. He added:
Cllr Duncan also suggested scrapping the scheme could damage Harrogate and North Yorkshire's chances of future funding.
Cllr Keane Duncan will talk about other Harrogate transport issues, such as the A59 Kex Gill realignment, the proposed park and ride and the threat to bus services in an interview on Saturday.
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