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. See below for details on how to contribute.
Why my friends won’t be returning to Harrogate
Friends from Ilkley and Harpenden in Hertfordshire visited Harrogate today. They were totally horrified by the anti-social behaviour of the drunks by the war memorial on their way to Bettys and the art galleries in Montpellier and beyond.
They will not be back in a hurry and will undoubtedly tell all their friends that Harrogate is incapable of keeping the down-and-outs away from our major tourist attractions and that Harrogate is no longer the “nice” town of its historic reputation.
Should Harrogate care? These friends are wealthy retired folk with money to spend who were intending to visit the Sutcliffe Galleries, the Walker Galleries and the lovely new Watermark Gallery.Can I ask in total desperation, what will it take for our increasingly woke and insular council and its placid police force to understand the damage that is being done to the image, attractiveness and financial well-being of our town from their inability to deal with this very simple-to-solve problem and urge them to prevent a potentially irreversible reputation decline for our lovely town?
Station Gateway: economic concerns need addressing
Independent Harrogate, which represents more than 180 businesses. supports the proposed ‘Station Gateway‘ in general but we do have some serious concerns that it might have a negative impact on the local economy.
The scheme fails to address the need for park and ride schemes, a large number of electric car charging points and extensive safe cycling routes away from traffic that link with low-traffic neighbourhoods, therefore reducing congestion and in turn reducing carbon emissions.
And, to prevent congestion and an increase in carbon emissions, Station Parade must retain its two lanes, with enhanced cycling facilities reserved for East Parade.
We support James Street remaining fully open whilst supporting the narrowing at its junction with Station Parade to aid pedestrians crossing the road.
We urge North Yorkshire County Council to meet groups to discuss the finer details of the proposals.
William Woods, Independent Harrogate
Why is Kex Gill work taking so long?
Given that it is now more than two years since the Kex Gill route was finalised and finance was put in place, it is staggering that North Yorkshire County Council is now warning the scheme could be delayed because it hasn’t bothered to secure the land, in precisely the same way no one thought to consult the Duchy of Lancaster regarding the much-delayed Otley Road cycle path. Do they never learn?
David Howarth, Harrogate
Read more:
- £10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway scheme moves to design stage
- Public inquiry could delay £60m Kex Gill scheme by 15 months
Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at [email protected]. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.
