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05
Jul 2021
Last Updated: 05/07/2021
£10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway scheme moves to design stage
It comes amid sharp division over plans to reduce Station Parade traffic to one lane and to pedestrianise part of James Street. The gateway scheme aims to transform travel in Harrogate by encouraging more people to walk and cycle.
Detailed plans to introduce one-way traffic on Station Parade and to pedestrianise part of James Street are to be drawn up.
These two proposed major changes to Harrogate town centre are the most contentious aspects of the £10.9 million Station Gateway project, which aims to increase cycling and walking and reduce traffic.
Some businesses fear the changes, which would slightly reduce the number of parking spaces, could hamper trade.
The decision to proceed to design stage follows the recent publication of a 160-page document analysing consultation responses to the scheme, which is a joint initiative between Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Of 935 people who replied to a consultation question about Station Parade in an online survey, 49 per cent preferred the one-lane option, 27 per cent preferred the two-lane option and 24 per cent preferred neither.
Of the 934 who replied to a question about pedestrianising the northern section of James Street, between Princes Street and Station Parade, 54 per cent said they were either positive or very positive about it while 38 per cent were negative or very negative towards it.
Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, acknowledged opinion was divided and questions remained.
But he added that just because designs were being drawn up did not mean the scheme was certain to proceed and there would be at least another two consultation stages.
He said:
"There are questions about whether one lane southbound will be sufficient to carry the volume of traffic that the A61 (Station Parade) takes. I myself still have questions about it.
"I will look at the designs to see how buses enter the one-lane system.
"I will want to know a bit more about the likely effect on other roads in the area, and additional transit times for southbound traffic heading from Ripon to Leeds.
"We have to make progress but there will be plenty more time to ask questions."
Read more:
- Another £3m allocated to controversial Harrogate Station Gateway scheme
- Decision to proceed with £7.9 million Station Gateway sparks anger
Cllr Mackenzie said Harrogate was the most congested place in North Yorkshire besides York and the 15,000 responses to the Harrogate and Knaresborough congestion survey in 2019 showed strong support for better cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
The three councils have secured £34 million from the UK government's Transforming Cities Fund, which aims to change the way people travel.
The funding will also be used to pay for walking and cycling schemes in Skipton and Selby but neither of those has proved as controversial as the one in Harrogate.
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