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06
Jan 2022
Station Gateway petition rejected as council accused of ‘ploughing ahead’ with scheme
A petition calling for the Harrogate Gateway project to be halted has been rejected by councillors ahead of a final decision on the £10.9m scheme later this month.
Harrogate Residents Association delivered the 714-signature petition to a North Yorkshire County Council meeting today when the group’s co-founder Anna McIntee accused the authority of “ploughing ahead” with the project without listening to concerns.
Ms McIntee said the scheme – which aims to boost cycling and walking and create a more attractive entrance to the Station Parade area – would have a “radical” impact on traffic and businesses.
But councillors hit back at the claims saying the group has previously opposed “any” projects which promote sustainable travel and that the Gateway will deliver on its aims if approved at an executive meeting on January 25.
Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, said:
Read more:
- Majority are negative towards Harrogate Station Gateway, consultation reveals
- Stray Views: Station Gateway will benefit far more people than cyclists
Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, also said claims in the petition that the project will “adversely affect every resident in Harrogate” were “demonstrably false”.
He said:
Included in the project are plans for a part-time pedestrianisation of James Street and reducing Station Parade to one-lane traffic to make way for a cycle lane.
There are also proposals for upgraded junctions, more cycle lanes and improvements to Station Square as well as the One Arch underpass with the aim of providing better links to the train and bus station.
Gateway project 'a big step forward'
The project has won the support of campaign group Harrogate and District Cycle Action which said in a statement to today’s meeting that the Gateway will be a “big step forward” towards a greener future.
Yet the rejected petition from Harrogate Residents Association still marks a sign of growing opposition against the project which was recently dealt a blow after a latest council-run survey.
Residents were shown the plans at a public meeting at Victoria Shopping Centre last October.
Consultation results released in December revealed 55% of 1,320 respondents felt ‘negative’ about the project, while 39% felt ‘positive’. The remaining 6% were either ‘neutral’ or said they didn’t know.
Speaking at today’s meeting, Ms McIntee questioned how the councils could now push ahead with the project.
She said:
The Gateway scheme is being funded by the government’s Transforming Cities Fund, with a deadline for the awarded £10.9m to be spent by early 2023.
If the project is approved later this month, construction could start in spring 2022.
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