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12
Oct
Residents left in limbo over future of Harrogate new build estate footpath
Residents on a Harrogate street have been left in limbo over the future of a footpath on their estate.
Redrow Homes unveiled its Granby Meadows estate in spring 2022. It includes a 1.5 mile cycle path from the Kingsley area, which connects to a “cut through” on Manners Close onto nearby Skipton Road.
Residents say the cut through, which was opened in May, was popular and was used frequently for cyclists, dog walkers and those venturing up town.
However, the path was closed just two months later after another developer, Park Lane Homes, sought to construct seven new dwellings.
Signage on the fence which enforces the closure gives no indication over how long construction will last. However, residents say they have been told it could be more than a year.
The move has left hundreds of households with no through access to the Stray. Some pointed to the cut through and connecting cycle path as a key selling point for purchasing their homes.
‘Unfair and detrimental’
Peter Redmond, who lives on Manners Close, told the Stray Ferret that the path was a “pleasant and safe walking route” for those living in the area.
Mr Redmond moved into his home in May last year and said he used the cut through to take his daughter to school and venture into town.
Part of the key selling point of the access was its convenience, but also how it connected different residential areas.
The cycleway which connects to the cut through on Manners Close.
He added that the closure adds more journey time onto those travelling into Harrogate, but also encourages them to use cars instead of greener options.
Mr Redmond told the Stray Ferret:
We think this closure is unfair and detrimental to homeowners and the public.
There are about 200 homes in Granby Manor, I would guess triple that in Kingsley Manor. Not to mention the people that just used it to walk from Starbeck into town without going by the road. I would guess around 1,500 to 2,000 people have had to change their plans and routes just so seven houses could be built without interference.
Mr Redmond said there was no consultation with local residents over the closure and that Park Lane said it would be closed for at least a year.
He argues that such an extended closure only encourages more people into their cars due to the longer routes into Harrogate.
Anne Scott, who moved into her home on Manners Close in November last year, agrees with such an assessment.
She used the cut through to walk her dog and also cites the footpath access onto Skipton Road as a reason for moving to the area.
Much of the confusion over the footpath closure lies in whether it is a public right of way and if it will ever fully reopen to connect with the nearby cycleway.
Next to the fence which enforces the closure is a blue sign signifying the cycleway — only adding to the confusion for residents.
Ms Scott said she hoped that the matter could be resolved.
She said:
It would be nice to know if there is a plan to reopen it as per the signs. People who live on the estate would like to know.
Joanne Atkinson moved into her new home on Manners Close in July last year.
She told the Stray Ferret that she sees people come up the cycleway from the Kingsley area and are forced to turnaround due to the footpath being closed.
Ms Atkinson complained to North Yorkshire Council over the closure. But, in an email seen by the Stray Ferret, the authority said the access was privately owned and the council has "no powers or duties over the access way".
Ms Atkinson said:
People walk up the cycleway and turn around. It seems to have been a completely pointless exercise.
The developers’ responses
The Stray Ferret contacted both Redrow Homes and Park Lane Homes to clarify the future over the footpath.
David Faraday, technical director at Redrow Yorkshire, told us that the land is owned by Park Lane Homes. However, he added that Redrow has requested that the footpath be reopened.
He said:
Although we do not own the land and it is not a designated public right of way, we have been in discussions with North Yorkshire Council and Park Lane Homes to put forward residents’ concerns and to request that the footpath is reopened for residents to use as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, James Clink, land and sales director at Park Lane Homes, said the matter has “not been a straight forward one”.
He reiterated that the land on the cut through is owned by Park Lane and is not designated as a public right of way.
Mr Clink added:
As you have pointed out, the land associated with the access road is privately owned (currently by us Park Lane Homes Ltd), then there are private rights to the residents and bona-fide visitors of the immediately adjoining 95 Redrow homes. This route is not adopted by the North Yorkshire Council Highway and is not a designated Public Right of Way.
The land will eventually be transferred to one of our plot owners and form part of their title as a access road that serves the development. Although we won’t be able to police who eventually uses this route, the rights do not extend to the wider public or the previously developed Redrow site just off Claro Road.
When asked whether any consultation was carried out, Mr Clink said that notice of the closure of the footpath was advertised through signs at “various locations across the access road”.
He added that two alternative routes have been advertised at the site closure — though residents argue that these add more to journey times and encourage car use.
The Park Lane Homes construction site on the opposite side of the footpath.
The Stray Ferret also asked Park Lane Homes why the path could not be partially opened to facilitate access.
Mr Clink said:
Consistency is key, at this time our health and safety advisor don’t see a viable option of being able to give access temporary or otherwise through what will be a live construction site.
If we had the luxury of more space and we were able to safely create a segregated safe pedestrian zone around the perimeter of site, then we would but it’s just not possible unfortunately. Once we have completed the development the route will re-open and remain so in perpetuity for the convenience of the Granby Meadows resident.
When asked what discussions it has had with developers over the path, Karl Battersby, corporate director for environment at North Yorkshire Council, said:
The lane in question belongs to the housing developer and does not form part of the adopted public highway. It is also not designated as a public right of way and therefore we have no powers to close the route.
As the construction of an approved housing development is ongoing, the developer has advised that the lane is not wide enough for construction vehicles and cyclists/pedestrians to pass. People who normally use the route are therefore required to divert through the Sanders Walk development until the lane is reopened.
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