New details were revealed tonight about the £12.1 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme. 

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce and Harrogate Business Improvement District hosted a business-only meeting at the Cedar Court Hotel.

Councillor Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire Council's executive member for highways and transportation, road safety, cycling and active transport, joined five council officers to give a presentation and answer questions. Here's what happened.

That's all for tonight. We will dissect tonight's events in more detail on the website soon so look for more gateway coverage soon.

7.28pm: Meeting ends

Cllr Duncan winds up the meeting by saying it has been a "considered, balanced and fair discussion". He adds he hopes the scheme will have a "positive benefit on Harrogate" and warns "if we miss this opportunity I fear we would not get future opportunities to benefit the town".

7.19pm: Robert Ogden raises UCI concerns

Robert Ogden, owner of James Street jeweller Ogden of Harrogate, raises the spectre of the UCI Road World Championships by suggesting nobody will be able to enter Harrogate for an extended period during gateway roadworks.

Mr Mason says it comes down to having clear plans and being able to communicate effectively when those plans change.

7.08pm: 'Detrimental to businesses'

Steven Baines, who owns properties on Lower Station Parade, says the benefits of the Lower Station Parade bus lane saving 20 to 25 seconds per journey will be more than offset by the impact on businesses in the area. He adds:

"The whole scheme for Lower Station Parade is badly thought out and will be detrimental to a lot of businesses."

Cllr Duncan says One Arch will have lighting and drainage benefits and Mr Mason says the gateway could be a catalyst for further development and public investment.

7pm: 'We need more imagination'

Solicitor, BID director and property owner Russell Davidson receives applause when he asks why the gateway isn't part of a wider plan to improve Harrogate. He says Station Parade and Oxford Street "blight this beautiful town" and "we need a bit more imagination".

Cllr Duncan says the reality is there is a set budget and the scheme has already been de-scoped. He says failing to deliver it could have significant impact on future council funding bids to central government. 

6.56pm: 'Why is there no public consultation?'

William Woods, who owns William Woods Interior Design on Station Parade, asks why there hasn't been a public consultation on the latest plans considering how three previous consultations have revealed widespread opposition. He adds: "It hardly feels democratic and it feels like you are pushing the scheme through the back door as many people don't know about it."

Cllr Duncan says: "I can't think of a single scheme that North Yorkshire Council or North Yorkshire County Council has ever consulted on more widely."

6.54pm: 'Huge impact on town'

Sara Ferguson, a business owner and Harrogate BID director, asks what provision there will be for businesses in the town centre when work takes place.

Barrie Mason, the council's assistant director highways and transportation, says it is looking to keep Station Parade open at all times. He also suggests a unit in town could be converted into a hub to keep people informed on the scheme.

Cllr Duncan adds "we are not just going to rock up and do works" and pledges to consult with businesses.

6.50pm: Beulah Street businesses told they can load on double yellow lines

Sophie Hartley, owner of Sophi Likes on Beulah Street, expresses concerns about the loss of loading bays on Station Parade. Mr Roberts says businesses will be able to park on the double yellow lines to load and unload and will also be able to drive down Beulah Street when the bollards are down at the start and end of days.

6.41pm: Will council use its own firm as contractors?

Mr Waddington is now asking about which contractor will be used. Council officers say they are thinking of using council-owned firm NY Highways to do the work rather than Galliford Try, which was initially selected as the first phase early contractor involvement. It's essentially a two-horse race that will come down to "best value", they say.

6.36pm: Parking concerns for Lower Station Parade and Bower Road

David Waddington, of Hornbeam Park Developments, says although the loss of 0.3% of car parking spaces in the town centre doesn't sound too damaging, 26 spaces will be lost on Lower Station Parade and just three will remain. 

Mr Roberts says it's a valid concern but it's a matter of balancing the benefits with the drawbacks. He says "in that isolated area there will be impact on those businesses but when I go to visit York, for example, I don't expect to park outside where I want to go".

6.31pm: Work won't begin until April

A new slide reveals work is not now due to start until April 2025 — later than previously thought. We understand the council is at risk of losing the funding if it starts later than then. As for when it finishes, the slide says 'to be confirmed'. Work is expected to last about a year.

6.28pm: Ice rinks on Station Square?

Mr Roberts says another myth is the Station Square proposals are underwhelming and lack greenery.

He says three trees will be removed and six will be planted. There will also be 500 plants introduced. A presentation slide says:

"There will be high quality materials, a fantastic lighting scheme and sockets that can facilitate markets, ice rinks etc."

6.22pm: 'The designs aren't Harrogate'

Mr Roberts has started a myth-busting session in which he begins by saying the scheme aims to "harness the history of the spa town" and will use high quality material. he says a lot of the budget is going on better lighting in Station Square and the One Arch pedestrian tunnel.

6.17pm: New bus lane will save 20-25 seconds a journey

Mr Roberts says it may not sound a lot but over the course of the year "that's a big benefit".

6.12pm: 'We can't spend it on potholes'

Matt Roberts, the council's  economic and regeneration project manager, says the council is "beholden to government" on the funding and "can't spend it on potholes". He says the car is less impacted by the scheme than it was originally and there "should be a lack of controversy now".

6.08pm: 'It's been a bit of a headache'

Cllr Duncan starts by saying it's "fair to say the gateway is a high profile scheme", that represents the biggest investment in Harrogate in over 30 years. He adds:

"It’s been a bit of a headache for me personally and is a scheme that has come with some controversy."

He says consultation on the traffic regulation orders is over and it's now about delivery, and warns there will be disruption. 

6.01pm: Business owners arrive

The room is filling up as the meeting prepares to begin.

5.58pm: Cllr Keane Duncan arrives

The councillor with oversight of the gatewat will be supported tonight by five senior officers at North Yorkshire Council. They are:

Barrie Mason, assistant director highways and transportation

Richard Binks, head of major projects and infrastructure

Tania Weston, economic and regeneration programme delivery manager

Marcin Dane, principal regeneration officer for Harrogate and Knaresborough

Matt Roberts, economic and regeneration project manager

5.56pm: Tonight's agenda 

Tonight's agenda has been revealed, It includes: a presentation on what is the Harrogate Station Gateway now and what does it hope to achieve; myth-busting; future milestones; key messages and a question and answer session.

5.50pm: Large council team in attendance

Five council officers are here but no sign yet of Cllr Keane Duncan. the executive member for highways, who has oversight of the scheme. We understand he is heading this way from Leeds, although his mode of transport is unknown.