This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Politics
    • Transport
    • Lifestyle
    • Community
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Education
    • Sport
    • Harrogate
    • Ripon
    • Knaresborough
    • Boroughbridge
    • Pateley Bridge
    • Masham
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Podcasts

Interested in advertising with us?

Advertise with us

  • News & Features
  • Your Area
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Podcasts
  • Politics
  • Transport
  • Lifestyle
  • Community
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Education
  • Sport
Advertise with us
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Latest News

We want to hear from you

Tell us your opinions and views on what we cover

Contact us
Connect with us
  • About us
  • Advertise your job
  • Correction and complaints
Download on App StoreDownload on Google Play Store
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comments Participation T&Cs
Trust In Journalism

Copyright © 2020 The Stray Ferret Ltd, All Rights Reserved

Site by Show + Tell

Subscribe to trusted local news

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

  • Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.

Already a subscriber? Log in here.

07

Sept 2023

Last Updated: 08/09/2023
Environment
Environment

Council has failed cyclists in Harrogate, says campaigner

by John Plummer

| 07 Sept, 2023
Comment

0

collage-maker-07-sep-2023-03-15-pm-4802

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:

“This failed project, it should be noted, was the brainchild of the county council, not of cycling campaigners.
"Six years later almost all the cycling elements have been removed.
"This is hugely disappointing, and adds to the council’s failure to deliver funded cycle schemes on Victoria Avenue, the A59 near Knaresborough and Oatlands Drive, and the removal of the successful modal filters on Beech Grove.”


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 hands the road safety petition to Elizabeth Jackson of North Yorkshire Council

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:

"This is a brilliant response to the calls for safer streets by the local community, schools, education leaders and local cross party councillors, who have been fully supportive of the campaigns in recent years.
"These changes will not only improve safety, but will make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of the whole community, access to walking and cycling and the environment.
"We look forward to continuing to work with Cllr Keane Duncan and North Yorkshire Council staff on the delivery and specifics of the plan, to ensure the best possible outcomes for children, young people and the local community."






Read more:



  • Landmark Harrogate road safety and transport package unveiled

  • Tory accuses Lib Dems of being ‘anti-cycling' in Harrogate Station Gateway row