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26
Sept 2021
Last Updated: 24/09/2021
Stray Views: Anti-cycling attitudes have turned Harrogate into a car park
A reader says councillors' anti-cycling sentiments have contributed to congestion in Harrogate. Another praises straight-talking local MP Nigel Adams and a third reader says paddling pools should stay open longer into September.
Letters
Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.
Anti-cycling attitudes have turned Harrogate into a car park
As a Byron Walk Mews resident, I had no problem at all with the small numbers of school pupils and town centre workers and visitors who used this path, which is wide enough to safely accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists.
Councillor Sam Gibbs presumably prefers them to take their chances in the traffic on the A61 or Victoria Road.
A similar anti-cycling attitude, plus complete ignorance of our taxation system, is shown by county councillor Stuart Parsons in the separate report about cyclists annoying motorists by using our roads. Apparently he believes they are "not road taxpayers while using it for their cycles".
Councillor:
1. There is no such thing as road tax. It was abolished in 1937.
2. Cyclists pay general taxation, which funds the roads, just like everyone else.
3. Motorists (who include most cyclists) pay vehicle excise duty, based on the level of pollution they generate, hence a zero rate for electric cars. It has nothing to do with road maintenance.
No doubt these councillors believe there are votes to be had in attacking cycling. Sadly, such attitudes have helped Harrogate town centre become a giant car park choked with traffic. They show no understanding of the town's potential for a healthier, safer and quieter future.
Marwood Smith, Harrogate
We need more straight-talking MPs like Nigel Adams
Brilliant to see Nigel Adams, the Selby with Ainsty MP, use a bit of Anglo-Saxon language to the attention seeking London Brexit madman. We need far more straight-talking from our MPs.
Tim Emmott, Harrogate
Paddling pool closed too soon
It is a shame that the paddling pool in the children's play area at Borrage Green in Ripon has been emptied of water.
Surely, the council could have maintained its use for a little longer, especially while the early evenings are still light and children can enjoy the outdoors.
Liz Jarvis, Low Grantley
Cycle count is a pointless publicity stunt
Mr Margolis is fooling no one with his publicity stunt on Beech Grove. He says his survey of a couple of hours of observation, picked by himself, 'proves' that Beech Grove low traffic neighbourhood is working well. The other day I observed Beech Grove low traffic neighbourhood and didn't see a single cyclist.
By his logic that "proves" nobody is using it and therefore a complete failure! Did he, by any chance, find out how many of those he did observe would have been going along Beech Grove anyway?
I walk along Beech Grove and don't see a 'transformation', other than many more U-turns.
There's no change for pedestrians as we walked on the pavement before and still do. Like North Yorkshire County Council, which uses the results of un-scientific, self-appointed surveys filled in by a minority of enthusiasts to 'prove' what people want, once again we have misleading information trying to prove a point. Is that the best they can do?
Chris Dicken, Harrogate
Read more:
- Harrogate councillor calls for new 'no cycling' signs on Stray
- Tesco launches plans for major Skipton Road supermarket
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