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20
Dec
Harrogate Station Gateway set for fresh legal challenge
The business coalition opposed to the £12.1 million Harrogate Station Gateway is preparing to mount a legal challenge in the new year.
North Yorkshire Council revealed yesterday (December 19) it had approved Traffic Regulation Orders, paving the way for work to begin in spring on the biggest changes to Harrogate town centre for 30 years.
The council also rejected holding a public inquiry, even though it acknowledged in a report ahead of the decision the proposals are hugely controversial, have attracted widespread opposition and would have a significant social and economic impact.
It also warned a public inquiry would mean extra costs and delays which “could impact on the council’s ability to progress the project”.
But its decision to press ahead without appears unlikely to go uncontested.
Harrogate businessman Steven Baines, who leads the Get Away coalition formed to oppose the scheme in its current plans, said:
We are very disappointed that the council were not willing to listen to the very valid concerns of local people and local businesses and are just pushing ahead with their own agenda. The damage the proposed works will do to the town centre is enormous.
We are already seeing businesses closing due to rising costs, falling footfall and the increased pressure from online and out of town shopping, the two years disruption that the works will take will inevitably lead to even more closures making Harrogate even less attractive to shoppers and new businesses looking to open.
As a group we are looking at what avenues are open to us and are in discussions with our legal advisors, we do not believe that the council has fulfilled its correct obligations and are looking to make a challenge in the new year.
Steven Baines on lower Station Parade. The bus lane will replace the parking bays on the opposite side of the road.
Mr Baines outlined the group’s main concerns to the gateway in an interview with the Stray Ferret, which you can read here.
Among them are plans to introduce a 36-metre long bus lane — which is the equivalent length of three buses — on lower Station Parade.
The Stray Ferret asked the council to respond to the group’s concerns on Thursday last week and has not yet had a response.
Second legal challenge
The council admitted it breached public law when Harrogate property firm Hornbeam Park Developments initiated a judicial review last year.
That forced the council to drastically revise its proposals. It dropped plans to reduce Station Parade to single lane traffic and pedestrianise part of James Street.
The current plans include introducing a cycle lane on Station Parade and a bus lane on lower Station Parade as well as public realm improvements to Station Square and the One Arch pedestrian tunnel.
It is mainly funded by the government’s Transforming Cities Fund.
The council report ahead of its decision on Traffic Regulation Orders said:
Officers consider that the proposed measures and recommendations set out in this report will support local travel improvements and wider strategic aims in accordance with the aims of the Transforming Cities Fund initiative.
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