Reader's letter: A Harrogate bypass would be expensive, solve nothing, and damage the environment

Reader Malcolm Margolis sent us this letter in response to Vicky Carr's column at the weekend, Why Harrogate does not need a bypass or park-and-ride. Mr Margolis has long been an advocate of cycling, and in 2019 was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to cycling.

Vicky Carr is right. We need to learn to leave the car at home when we can. My wife and I are in our mid 70s. We habitually cycle, walk or use the bus. We do small food shops most days but if we do need to do a big shop, go to the tip, or travel long distances we use the car. We drive about 4,000 miles a year.

Many use their cars because they have no other realistic choice. We are fortunate to live in Harrogate, close to its many amenities. Those who live out of town, often with limited or non-existent bus services, work a long way from home, have health issues etc, naturally rely on their cars.

Regarding the bypass, Vicky says the 2019 council survey showed that almost half the journeys in Harrogate were local. In fact, their survey showed that 93% of the traffic is local. Only 7% neither starts or finishes in Harrogate, and actually wants to bypass the town.

Another argument against a bypass is that it would wreck, among other things, the Nidderdale Greenway between Bilton Lane and Ripley, the hugely popular traffic-free path enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people of all ages and abilities every year.

A bypass would be hugely expensive (potentially £150 million plus), solve nothing, and cause immense damage to our local environment.

Malcolm Margolis

What do you think? Does Harrogate need a bypass or a park-and-ride facility, or do you think congestion would be better tackled another way? Let us know at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.