Readers' Letters: We don’t need a Harrogate bypass or park and ride, we need to change our behaviour

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.

Below are a range of comments which were left under an opinion column by Vicky Carr about why Harrogate does not need a bypass or park and ride.

Great article Vicky. Really well put. The traffic problems we complain about are caused by all of us who chose to drive. P&R is expensive to deliver and will never happen and bypasses don’t solve the majority of local traffic which either has an origin or destination in the town. We need to make these small changes to our own behaviours if this is very going to improve.

Ian Brown

We need to have ways to reduce the need for cars. Building new roads will become unnecessary.

Andy Bell

Public transport has to be reliable, affordable and serve the area people want to travel from and go to. It falls short at the moment. Many people cannot leave their cars at home because there is no reliable, affordable or suitable option available. I do not have a car but I appreciate public transport, cycling and walking is not an option for everyone. I agree, a bypass would not solve the problem.

Anne Richards

I think Vicky's excellently argued piece has raised more responses than any other here. It would be encouraging to think that local councillors might take note, but I fear Vicky's wise words will fall on stoney ground.

Paul Reynolds

A bypass as the name infers is for through traffic to unclog town centres. Nothing to do with population. Ripon a fraction of the size of Harrogate benefits from one.

Granville Simpson

Agree with the above comment. P&R are to serve those in the surrounding villages who have to go to Harrogate for work, dentist, a bank or socialising as well as tourism. Sites near Pannel, Killinghall/ Ripley , Otley road and near Knaresborough would serve all surrounding villages, tourist as well as the new housing estates on the edge of Harrogate.

Clare Hardy

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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