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07
Sept 2023
Council has failed cyclists in Harrogate, says campaigner
A cycling campaigner has described North Yorkshire Council's attempts to improve cycling around the Otley Road area of Harrogate as a "failed project".
The council announced 10 schemes yesterday costing £585,000 to relieve congestion and improve safety in west Harrogate.
Malcolm Margolis, a member of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said the funding provided by government in 2017 included provision for a cycleway from Cardale Park to the Prince of Wales roundabout in Harrogate.
This has now been abandoned, along with other recent cycling initiatives proposed or trialled by the council.
Mr Margolis said:
The £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway also looks set to be abandoned after the council admitted it failed to hold a public inquiry before issuing traffic regulation orders.
The council has proposed spending £100,000 to upgrade Nursery Lane for cyclists.
The new proposals include new pedestrian crossings, traffic light upgrades and bus shelter upgrades.
But there is little specifically for cyclists besides a £100,000 upgrade of the no through road Nursery Lane, which is accessed off Otley Road.
A report to councillors about this scheme said it would "investigate the potential of a cycle track order and associated infrastructure works to the surface". But it adds "third party land would be required".
New 20mph zone welcomed
But Mr Margolis joined other campaigners in welcoming the proposed 20mph zone covering streets in Pannal Ash and Oatlands.
The zone includes seven schools: Harrogate Grammar School, Rossett Acre Primary School, Rossett School, Ashville College, St Aidan’s Church of England High School, Oatlands Junior School and Oatlands Infants School.
Mr Margolis said this would "make the roads safer for everyone"
Hazel Peacock handing the road safety petition to Elizabeth Jackson of North Yorkshire Council in May.
Hazel Peacock, Dr Vicki Evans, Dr Jenny Marks and Ruth Lily, who represent the groups Oatlands Road Safety and Active Travel Campaign and Pannal Ash Safe Streets, said they were "delighted" the council had committed to delivering the proposals they put forward.
In a statement, they said:
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