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14
Mar 2021
Last Updated: 12/03/2021
Stray Views: could Station Gateway plans cause traffic bottleneck?
Fears the Station Gateway project could cause a traffic bottleneck, concerns about common sense in planning and the impact of making Oatlands Drive one-way are all this week's topics.
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.
Station Gateway plans could cause traffic bottleneck
I wonder if the proposed Station Gateway plans have considered the possible bottleneck on Cheltenham Parade that might be caused by throttling back traffic coming from Ripon Road by restricting the flow on Station Parade. It is, after all, an A road taking much through traffic.
Has any consideration been given to restricting it even more by banning all but cycle, pedestrian, taxi, bus and maybe delivery vehicles and reinstating the two-way Parliament Street, thus encouraging a straight through flow to the Prince of Wales roundabout?
Chris Shovelton, Harrogate
Where is common sense in house building?
Once again as a resident of Green Hammerton village I have listened to the chairmanship of the Harrogate Borough Council planning committee about the approval of site matters on a piece of land adjoining our village but outside the natural development limits.
I do not feel the chairman should put forward their reasons why something should be approved and influence the meeting outcome. A neutral chair person should be appointed who does not have a vote when a topic of this importance is discussed.
The residents of Green Hammerton have overwhelmingly made their feelings known about yet another development on their doorstep. This particular outline development was only passed due to the council not having a five-year supply of housing planned in 2016/2017 and therefore would have been challenged legally before the Local Plan was eventually approved with, of course, a new settlement of 3,000 homes in, yes you have guessed it, the Green Hammerton area.
The 'village' will gradually be overrun by vehicles with few areas left for pedestrians or dog walkers to enjoy. There is hardly any public transport of note and not enough local primary school places.
Where has common sense disappeared when it comes to house building in the Harrogate district?
Alan Smith, Green Hammerton
Traffic chaos on Oatlands Drive
We live in the Saints, which is already chaos with hospital staff and St Aidan's staff and pupils parking.
If the Oatlands Drive project goes ahead it will be even worse. I know people like to cycle but most are fair weather cyclists round here. How many do you see in the snow or when we have heavy rain? Very few.
Has anyone thought of doing a survey on Oatlands Drive to see just how many cyclists use it? It just seems like a plan thought up by someone behind a desk to spend money.
Mary Day, Harrogate
Cycling infrastructure
All very good with the cycle lanes but where will the bike parking be and will it have CCTV to stop bike theft?
Julie Wiggins, Harrogate
Got an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.
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