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23
Mar 2022
Harrogate's Otley Road cycle route 'on budget' despite problems
Harrogate’s long-delayed Otley Road cycle path is on budget despite the troubled project running into more problems.
That is according to North Yorkshire County Council, which first secured funding five years ago and has recently faced design and safety complaints over the first phase of works completed in January.
The council – which is now reviewing designs for the final two phases – said the cycle path has so far been delivered to the expected costs and that it currently did not anticipate “any overspend”.
The project is part of a wider package of transport improvements for the west of Harrogate which once completed will cost around £4.6 million.
Around £2 million of this was allocated for the Otley Road cycle path, and so far £1.6 million has been spent on design, construction and utility costs, according to the council.
This is made up of £1.04 million on phase one and £559,182 on phase two which has yet to begin.
A council spokesperson said:
'No indication' on phase three progress
Phase one and two are being funded by the government’s National Productivity Investment Fund, while phase three will be built using contributions from housing developers planning to build hundreds of new homes in the west of Harrogate.
Kevin Douglas, chairman of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said the campaign group had been given “no indication” of how these negotiations with developers were progressing and that this was a “worry” for when the project could be completed in full.
He added:
Read more:
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- Next phase of Otley Road cycle path delayed and reviewed
His comments come after members of Harrogate District Cycle Action recently met with council officials to highlight their concerns over the first phase.
Parts of the completed works have been described as “unsafe” and “badly designed,” with a narrowed section of cycle path at Otley Road’s junction with Harlow Moor Road being a particular concern.
The council is currently in talks with Yorkshire Water to buy a small plot of land in order to remove a wall and widen a corner on this part of the route.
Otley Road cycle lane construction in December 2021.
The council also said it would take all feedback onboard as part of its review of phases two and three which are being redrawn in line with new government guidance.
Mr Douglas added:
The council previously said it hoped to start work on phase two in April.
However, this is now likely to be in May or June.
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