The councils behind the Harrogate Station Gateway said it was time for the town to “seize the opportunity” today, as new details of the project emerged.
A media briefing was held in Harrogate today before a third phase of consultation on the latest proposals begins on Wednesday.
Key elements of the scheme, including the part-pedestrianisation of James Street and some of Station Parade being reduced to single lane, remain in place and are non-negotiable, councillors said.
But the briefing did reveal some changes:
- Two approaches to the Odeon roundabout will be reduced to single lane to make it safer for cyclists. But it won’t be a Dutch-style roundabout giving priority to pedestrians and cyclists.
- Nine trees will be felled as part of the scheme. Twenty-four new ones will be planted.
- The project is predicted to extend the average journey time around town by 73 seconds at peak times.
- Two taxi bays on Station Parade will be lost but new bays will be introduced elsewhere.
- North Yorkshire County Council, the lead partner, has pledged to “robustly defend” any legal challenge after a Harrogate property owner said he was considering a judicial review.
- Inflation and the cost of living crisis are prompting concerns about whether the scheme can be delivered in full. Some cheaper materials could be used.
- North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council have pledged £300,000 between them to bring the value of the scheme up to £11.2 million.
- The start time has been pushed back again until late spring or summer next year and is due to complete by March 2024.
The Odeon roundabout
Conservative councillor Keane Duncan, the executive member for access and transportation at the county council, told the briefing it was time to “crack on”.
He said:
“We want to continue with this scheme. It’s an exciting opportunity for Harrogate. We are at the stage where we either seize the opportunity or lose it.
“We need to take this scheme forward. If we didn’t it would be a travesty for Harrogate.”
Read more:
- Another consultation to take place on £10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway
- Harrogate property developer considers Station Gateway legal action
The scheme aims to encourage cycling and walking and make the town centre a more pleasant place to visit.
But business groups fear the loss of parking spaces and potential congestion could deter shoppers.
Cllr Duncan said the council didn’t want a “war” with businesses, which have expressed major doubts about the initiative.
He said the gateway would attract more people into the town centre and be good for business.
‘First major investment in Harrogate for 30 years’
Councillor Phil Ireland, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, said the scheme was a “fantastic regeneration project and the first major investment in Harrogate in 30 years”.
Cllr Ireland added that if it didn’t succeed, after months of wrangling, it could “affect how Harrogate is looked upon when future funding is available”.
He said the average car journey in the Harrogate district was less than 2km and this scheme would encourage more people in the town centre vicinity to walk or cycle. Those who didn’t, he added, still had 6,000 parking spaces, many of which are free.
The Harrogate scheme is one of three in North Yorkshire, and 39 nationally, being funded by the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund.
Tania Weston, Transforming Cities Fund programme manager at the county council, hailed the public realm benefits, such as completely revamping Station Square to include a water feature and new seats.
Ms Weston added empirical evidence suggested there was widespread misconception about the impact of active travel schemes on businesses, with them usually having a “positive or neutral” impact.
One Arch
She said there would also be a focus on making One Arch “pleasanter” by improving the landscaping and introducing lights with a “shimmering” effect inside the tunnel.
Drop-in sessions will be held from 9am to 5pm at the Victoria Shopping Centre on August 4, 5 and 6 as part of the consultation. An online event will be held on August 10 at 6pm.
