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Jun 2020

Last Updated: 24/06/2020

Transport

Harrogate retailer threatens to rip up pavement widening cones

by Connor Creaghan

| 24 Jun, 2020

It has not gone down well with the majority of business owners on the street. Many told The Stray Ferret that the road is wide enough already.

A Harrogate retailer has threatened to rip up pavement widening cones that cut off parking on West Park.

North Yorkshire County Council put up the cones this morning to encourage social distancing on West Park and Royale Parade in Harrogate.

It has not gone down well with the majority of business owners on the street. Many told The Stray Ferret that the road is wide enough already.

When the council introduced pavement widening

Why the county council wants pavement widening

Georgie Roberts owns women's clothing store Georgie's and was one of many businesses that found the cones this morning. She said:

"I am sick of the council. I will move the cones myself. I don't care. It would be very nice to get a letter from the council to explain the plans. I am absolutely furious. We have got very wide pavements on West Park."

Lisa Hawksworth is the manager of 27 West Park Antiques added:

"I can understand we're trying to protect people but we are moving down to one metre. So the priority should be getting people back into the town to use the parking that is already there. It shocked me."

It is not clear how long the cones will be up for. On other streets in Harrogate, they will be there until September.

When Brian Marshall, the owner of the Luxe Company, saw the cones he immediately sent a complaint to the council.

"This is farcical. The pavement is wide enough out there. We do not need this, why are they doing it now they are relaxing the social distancing rules? It's ridiculous."

Sally Monkman owns Boho Chic and echoed complaints about the council's communication with businesses. She said:

"I had no idea that this was happening. They are killing the shops with this. It's very difficult because they are not providing a different parking solution."

The issue of pedestrianisation seems to divide the hospitality sector and the retail sector.

Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for Harrogate, said in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon that he supported using outdoor space for hospitality and added that jobs in the district “depended on it."

Mike Jarvis, the manager of COOK Harrogate, was more welcoming of the measures. He told The Stray Ferret that there is enough parking around the area.

"I am not particuarly worried about it. I presume it's a short term measure, it's not the end of the world."

Siobhan Dodds, the assistant manager at Arlo & Jacob, said:

"I think all of the parking at the front can actually put people off because it can look quite hectic. We are just finding the new normal, it could be a positive thing."

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Harrogate retailer threatens to rip up pavement widening cones

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