Up to 16 parking spaces will be lost as part of changes to Harrogate’s Victoria Avenue.

North Yorkshire Council is preparing a package of measures to improve pedestrian and traffic safety on the street, as reported by the Stray Ferret in April.

Traffic regulation orders have been published detailing the changes, which include moving the zebra crossing a few metres along the road and relocating the bus stop on West Park to Victoria Avenue.

Parking bays will be lost to accommodate the changes. More bays in the middle of the road could be lost in future if funding is found for a second phase of work for cycling improvements.

Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director of environment, said: 

The council was awarded £1,011,750 from the second round of the government’s active travel fund in 2020 for four cycling schemes in the county, including one to create a cycleway on Victoria Avenue.

But the council said in spring the £1.57 million cost of a cycleway on Victoria Avenue was prohibitive and it had therefore dropped the scheme.

Nevertheless, it agreed to pay consultants £10,000 to conduct a feasibility study into creating a central bi-directional cycle lane, in which cyclists pass each other in opposite directions, in case funding is found for a second phase of work.

Mr Battersby said the local authority still intended to deliver future cycle improvements as on Victoria Avenue, “subject to funding opportunities”.

He also said the first phase would include measures to prevent motorists illegally going straight ahead from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue, when they should turn left on to West Park. 

Some motorists do this to avoid being funnelled on a loop through the centre of town on James Street and then along Station Parade when it is quicker to just drive down Victoria Avenue.

Mr Battersby said:

People have until October 4 to comment on the traffic regulation orders, which can be viewed here until that date.