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02
Jun
Crescent Gardens: Private road fee revealed
North Yorkshire Council has revealed how much it received from Impala Estates to buy Crescent Gardens in Harrogate and turn it into a private road.
The Harrogate-based property developer said last weekend it had “taken ownership” of the road, which was previously a public highway.
Impala bought the former Harrogate Borough Council headquarters beside the road for £4 million in 2020 and is converting it into offices, a roof garden restaurant and gym.
It said converting the status of the road would “allow the next phase of the landmark redevelopment to move forward” as well as “create a safer, more accessible space for pedestrians and cyclists”.
The company declined to say how much it paid for the road.
However, the council revealed the figure was £250,000 in response to an enquiry by the Stray Ferret.
The council confirmed a stopping up order had been authorised by the Department for Transport and the road was now private, even though bollards have yet to be installed.
A new planter on Crescent Gardens.
Thirty-five parking spaces have been lost as a result of the change.
Former Harrogate borough councillor and current North Yorkshire councillor Nick Brown said this would have a detrimental impact on shopping in the town and claimed this highlighted how the ‘anti-motoring lobby still holds sway’ at North Yorkshire Council.
Asked to respond, a council spokesperson said:
This was a project that was started by Harrogate Borough Council with the sale of Crescent Gardens. The removal of 35 public parking spaces on Crescent Gardens is the final stage. For context, there are 5,581 parking spaces in Harrogate town centre.
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