Plans to introduce a left-turn only rule at a junction in Harrogate have been scrapped.

North Yorkshire Council proposed bringing in a traffic order to prevent vehicles from turning right at the junction of Belford Road and Victoria Avenue, opposite the library.

But it said at a consultation event this week the idea had proved unpopular and been dropped.

However, other changes are still in the pipeline as part of a £807,000 scheme to improve active travel on Victoria Avenue.

They include:

• Reconfiguring the junction with Beech Grove to prevent motorists illegally travelling straight on onto Victoria Avenue


• Relocating the zebra crossing slightly closer to the West Park junction


• Creating a new bus stop outside the united Reformed Church to replace one on the busier West Park


• Creating covered cycling storage at the library


• Signalisation of the pedestrian crossing at the junction of Victoria Avenue and Station Parade to add a pedestrian phase and upgrading the existing uncontrolled crossing at the junction of Victoria Avenue and West Park to a signalised pedestrian crossing


• Addition of tactile paving across all side roads


• Removing some parking bays to facilitate access to the new bus stop


• Improvements to existing paving and benches


• Improved decorative street and footway lighting


• New ticket machines for kerb side parking bays

However, the plans do not include a cycle lane, which had been seen as a key part of wider ambitions to create an integrated off-road cycle route from the train and bus stations to Cardale Park.

Cyclists branded the decision "unbelievably disappointing".

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager at the council, told the Stray Ferret at this week's consultation event at the Civic Centre in Harrogate that the cost of the cycling proposals had spiralled to £1.5 million due to inflation and rising material costs.

The council was awarded funding from the second round of the government's active travel fund in 2020.

It planned to allocate this on creating cycle lanes but the rising costs, along with an unsuccessful bid to the fourth round of the active travel fund prompted it to propose cheaper alternative measures.

Ms Burnham said the council had written to about 1,500 nearby residents and businesses about the proposed changes and had received about 50 written responses as part of the consultation.

She said the scheme still promoted active travel because it would make Victoria Avenue better for pedestrians and wheelchair users and the council still aspired to create cycle lanes on Victoria Avenue when funding permitted. Ms Burnham said:

Consultation on the proposals ends on Sunday, May 12.

To comment, you can email Area6.Boroughbridge@northyorks.gov.uk using ‘Victoria Avenue ATF 2 Consultation’ in the title of your email or letter.

Or post comments to: NYC Highways, Area 6 Boroughbridge Office, Stump Cross, Boroughbridge YO51 9HU.

Read more:

• Cycle lanes scrapped and new traffic measures proposed for Harrogate's Victoria Avenue


• 'Unbelievably disappointing'; cyclists respond to Victoria Avenue plans