Two major parts of Harrogate’s £11.2 million Station Gateway project look set to be scrapped.
Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire Council, said reducing Station Parade to one lane and pedestrianising James Street would need be dropped from the scheme in order for it “to be successful”.
The move comes as council officials are currently drawing up alternative options for the project after the previous proposals were paused last month.
The original plans included reducing a 300-metre stretch of Station Parade to single lane to make space for cycle lanes and the part-pedestrianisation of James Street.
Cllr Keane Duncan.
However, Cllr Duncan, who is also the Conservative candidate for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said new proposals for the gateway project required major changes.
He said:
“We need to make fundamental changes to the gateway if we are to secure investment for Harrogate.
“The proposal to reduce Station Parade to a single lane has been the most divisive element. To be successful, we would need Station Parade to remain as two lanes.
“And plans for James Street would need to be removed from the scheme’s scope altogether.”
The council halted the scheme immediately after lawyers acting on behalf of local property firm Hornbeam Park Developments launched a judicial review.
As a result, the authority announced it would draw up alternative options which would focus on “a high quality pedestrian-focussed public realm scheme, with improved access into the bus station, and better traffic flow through co-ordinated signal timings”.
Read more:
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Full proposals are expected to be put before senior North Yorkshire councillors at a later date.
Cllr Duncan added that the new scheme would still be able to deliver public realm improvements.
He said:
“A new gateway proposal would allow us to move forward with first-class public realm improvements to Station Square, give One Arch the attention it needs and tackle congestion by upgrading the myriad of uncoordinated traffic signals.
“We have a final window of opportunity to produce a deliverable and beneficial scheme. This will not be easy, but I am committed to a cross-party effort. Constructive conversations are already taking place between Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors.
“My hope is to achieve a revised project plan with clear support from the public.
“I hope that residents and businesses can be encouraged by the pragmatic effort under way and the prospect of key changes to the Gateway that would see more controversial elements removed.”
