Readers’ Letters: Most Harrogate residents don’t even want the Station Gateway scheme

Readers’ Letters is a free weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

The Stray Ferret attended a business-only meeting about the scheme this week, during which we brought our readers live updates, and found out more about the £12.1m proposal.

In my opinion, the majority of Harrogate residents and people in surrounding areas, as well as most businesses, neither supported nor wanted the Gateway scheme.

Why don’t council officials listen to this majority? It is a total waste of time and public money.

I have always lived within a five-mile radius of Harrogate, travelled to other parts of Europe and overseas during my lifetime, so my views are not single-minded.

Patricia Perry, Harrogate 

Stray Ferret readers can now debate on topics in the comments section of our website. Below are some recent comments that have been left on our free-to-read stories.

Station Gateway benefits are ‘minimal’

This comment followed a free story published by the Stray Ferret earlier this week, which prefaced the business-only meeting on Tuesday.

I don't see the point of a short cycle lane that isn't linked to anything. I agree One Arch needs improving, as does Station Square, which will hopefully open that area up.

Otherwise, the benefits to the town are minimal.

Clare Mulcahy

Transport boss is still in post despite ‘constant errors of judgement’

This comment was left on a recent Readers’ Letters column. The reader expresses concern about the council’s transport boss ‘refusing to accept responsibility for his failure’ relating to flooding in Knaresborough.

We have been subjected to denials by one councillor who refuses to accept responsibility for his failure in this subject.

Councillor Keane Duncan refused to accept that blocked drains on the A59 by Mother Shipton’s were the reason for the flash flooding not long back. This, with his disastrous leadership, should have seen his removal from post as transport chief.

Despite his constant errors of judgement, he is still in post.

Richard Coppinger

Another accident on the A61 – and still the council defends the speed limit

This comment was left on a story about a motorcyclist who was injured in a crash on the A61 near Ripon earlier this week. Ripon City Council has faced backlash for objecting to a bid to reduce the speed limit on the road, which the Stray Ferret has covered extensively, despite many residents calling for change.

Sad to see another accident on this dangerous road – and Ripon City Council still maintains the speed limit shouldn’t be lowered. 

Unbelievable!

Ian Brown 

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

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