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02
Jan 2022
What stories to expect in the Harrogate district in 2022
In this article, we look at some of the biggest news events set to occur in 2022 including the refurbishment of Harrogate Convention Centre, devolution and the Harrogate Spring Water expansion plan.
From controversial expansions of bottling plants at Harrogate’s Pinewoods to multi-million pound refurbishment plans for the town’s convention centre, 2022 has a number of major storylines in store.
Political events are also on the horizon, as voters head to the polls in May to elect councillors to the new North Yorkshire super council.
Here the Stray Ferret looks at some of the storylines set to dominate the news over the course of the next 12 months and what they could mean for the Harrogate district.
Major Harrogate Convention Centre refurbishment
It could be the biggest single investment made by Harrogate Borough Council in recent times.
A £47 million spend, which would see the HCC refurbished and modernised, could be signed off this year by senior councillors.
Harrogate Convention Centre, which is earmarked for a £47 million renovation.
The project was outlined last year, but council officials have commissioned a series of reports, including an economic impact assessment, before any project is given the go-ahead.
The council told the Stray Ferret in July last year that a final decision will be made in 2022.
It could be the authority’s lasting legacy before it is scrapped and the convention centre is handed over to the succeeding North Yorkshire super council.
A changing political landscape
People across the Harrogate district will head to the polls in May for what will be a landmark occasion.
It will be the first time that the electorate has its say on who will sit on the new North Yorkshire council.
While the authority will not officially come into being until 2023, councillors will stand for seats on the authority regardless as part of the transitional period.
Polling day will give the opportunity for voters to show which party they have confidence in leading the county’s single council.
It will also give an indication of what the political make-up of the council will be and potentially what direction it will be taken in. The Conservatives currently have overwhelming control of both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.
Some senior Harrogate councillors, such as borough council leader Richard Cooper, have already revealed that they will not be part of the new council.
Come May 5, we will be much clearer on how the political landscape is shaping up.
Harrogate Spring Water, Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate.
Harrogate Spring Water expansion
Details of Harrogate Spring Water’s plan to expand its bottling plant in the Pinewoods are expected to be revealed this year.
Following a high-profile refusal of its previous plan in January 2020, the company announced its intention to resubmit a fresh proposal.
It would be a new application, said company bosses, and its old plan would be disregarded.
Read more:
- Why 2022 will be a big year of change for Harrogate’s local government future
- Harrogate Spring Water to submit fresh plan for Pinewoods bottling plant
- Harrogate business groups call for Station Gateway to be revised
However, since its announcement in July 2020, no proposal from Harrogate Spring Water has been made public.
The Stray Ferret has also been told that no meaningful talks with community groups have taken place since January’s refusal - something which the company promised to do.
In its most recent comments, Harrogate Spring Water said it was “still in the process of talking to all relevant parties”.
Station Gateway saga
One story which will continue into 2022 is the ongoing saga over the controversial Station Gateway project.
The £10.9 million scheme, which plans to reduce Harrogate’s Station Parade to single lane traffic and part pedestrianise James Street, will come before North Yorkshire County Council this month.
Latest Station Gateway visuals which show Harrogate's James Street pedestrianised.
If they decide to go ahead, work on the project will begin this year.
However, the scheme faces criticism from residents groups and businesses. A second petition has been handed into the county council, marking another sign of growing opposition to the proposal.
It could scrap the scheme altogether — but the indications are it will press ahead and continue to face objections as the deadline looms for the project to start.
Council bosses have until March 2023 to spend the money granted to them by government for the gateway scheme.
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