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20
Jul 2023
Tory accuses Lib Dems of being ‘anti-cycling' in Harrogate Station Gateway row
The Conservative councillor in charge of delivering Harrogate’s £11.2m Station Gateway scheme has criticised the Liberal Democrats following the party’s decision to oppose the scheme — just two months after giving it their backing.
In May, the controversial active travel scheme received cross-party support among local Tories and Lib Dems.
A majority of Lib Dems said it should go ahead, providing the council engages with residents, businesses and local councillors “in a meaningful way”.
But the party withdrew its support this month, claiming the council had reneged on its promise to work with locals.
At a full meeting of the council in Northallerton yesterday, Conservative executive councillor for transport and highways, Keane Duncan, delivered a scathing assessment of the Lib Dems’ changing stance on the gateway and also disputed that any promises agreed at the May meeting had been broken.
He said:
Read more:
- Harrogate businessmen give council notice of Station Gateway legal action
- Council spends £2m on consultants for Harrogate’s Station Gateway
- Lib Dems withdraw support for Harrogate’s Station Gateway
Liberal Democrat councillor for High Harrogate and Kingsley, Chris Aldred, then accused Cllr Duncan of making the statement in order to further his own political ambitions.
On Friday, Cllr Duncan was selected by the Conservatives to be its candidate for the first mayor of York and North Yorkshire with elections next year.
Cllr Aldred later demanded the council investigates the “factual accuracy” of Cllr Duncan’s statement.
He said:
Cllr Duncan’s comments also provoked veteran Harrogate councillor Pat Marsh, who was one of three Lib Dems to oppose the scheme in May.
Cllr Marsh said:
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is current reviewing the business case for the project with a final decision on whether it goes ahead expected later this summer.
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