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31
Jul
Cost concerns delay response to Otley Road cycle route extension in Harrogate
Harrogate Town Council wants to know how much it will cost to extend the controversial Otley Road cycle route in Harrogate before coming up with a view on the scheme.
The extension forms part of new active travel proposals by North Yorkshire Council for west Harrogate.
The plans also include creating a segregated cycleway and footway on Pannal Ash Road and upgrading the toucan crossing near Rossett Acre Primary School.
Otley Road was supposed to form part of a traffic-free route from the bus and train stations in the centre of the town to Cardale Park, where thousands of new homes are being built.
The first of three phases of the scheme opened in 2022 at a cost of £2.2 million but its design was widely criticised by residents and cyclists for the way it zigzags along the road and footways from Cold Bath Road to Harlow Moor Road.
A second phase, from Beech Grove to Cold Bath Road, was abandoned. Now, the council wants to create a three-metre wide shared path for pedestrians and cyclists from Beckwithshaw that will join the existing route.
The Otley Road cycle route.
Town councillors in Harrogate are due to issue a response to the plans as part of North Yorkshire Council's consultation.
However, at a town council planning committee meeting on Wednesday (July 29), councillors voted to delay their response because they more detail on the proposals, including cost.
Cllr Tom Martin, a Conservative who represents Valley Gardens ward, said it was the right decision for the council not to respond until it had more information.
He said:
I think broadening out the response to look into the details of how the proposal is being funded or what pots of funding are being targeted. We are keen to understand the source of that funding and that would be helpful for people to know.
More details on the extension are set to be revealed at a drop-in public meeting today (July 31).
Officials at North Yorkshire Council say the route, which would require new and upgraded crossings, will improve road safety, reduce congestion and encourage sustainable travel.
A council statement said:
The proposed cycle facility on B6162 Otley Road will start at the Pot Bank / Otley Road junction and continue towards Harrogate town centre, where it will connect to the existing cycle facility on Otley Road.
Tonight's drop-in session will take place at Harlow Hill Methodist Church from 5pm to 8pm.
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