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16
Jan
Future Harrogate funding at risk if £14.6 million Station Gateway fails, warns council
Future funding for Harrogate could be lost if the £14.6 million Station Gateway scheme fails, a senior North Yorkshire Council officer claimed this week.
The scheme, which faces a legal challenge, would see major changes to the Station Parade area, including the creation of short bus and cycle lanes, improvements to the One Arch pedestrian tunnel and refurbishment of Station Square.
Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director for environment, told Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting on Monday (January 12) the gateway had “broad support across the town”.
He added its success had wider implications:
It’s not only important in terms of the scheme, it’s also important for what it says about Harrogate and our ability to attract funding and deliver things on the ground so it’s more important for me than that individual scheme. It’s about setting the tone for what we can do in terms of investment going forward because if we don’t deliver the the scheme here the money will be lost in Harrogate.
The anti-gateway campaign group Get Away has launched a legal challenge, which has delayed the project.
Mr Battersby said the council had received another extension from West Yorkshire Combined Authority on the timeframe for the scheme to be delivered. He said he hoped work will commence this summer, subject to the outcome of the legal challenge.
He said: “We are trying to do a scheme that helps lift the central area of Harrogate, improves public transport access, encourages cycling, improves pedestrian facilities and at the same time is positive in terms of traffic flow around what is a busy town centre.”
Harrogate meeting planned
But many businesses and residents aren’t convinced the gateway will enhance the town centre and are concerned about the impact of long-term roadworks.
Tara Stagman, finance director at wine merchants Ake and Humphris, which opened a shop on Oxford Street just before Christmas, said she had spoken to dozens of businesses and not one supported the gateway.
Ms Stagman added she was struck by how little many people know about the scheme and planned to hold a meeting to explain what is involved and to further gauge opinion.
She said:
“I’m concerned because project costs tend to go up and that money would have to come from somewhere. I’m not convinced there would be a great return for Harrogate.”
A date for the meeting has yet to be set.
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