Harrogate Borough Council is to ask residents about a proposed cycle route on the Otley road as it will take up part of the Stray.
The council has to seek the public’s opinion as the proposed new cycle route needs to use land that is legally designated as Stray land. It also wants views on whether to amend a Stray Byelaw to allow cycling on the proposed Otley Road route.
Under the Stray Act any land taken from the Stray has to be given back elsewhere; be no more than 100 metres from the Stray and be ‘equally advantageous’ to residents.
The three options that have been proposed for the land swap are Wetherby Road (behind the hospital), St James Drive verges or Arthurs Avenue verges.
The council says it is working with North Yorkshire County Council to improve transport infrastructure in the west of Harrogate.
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The Stray Defence Association has previously expressed concern about the areas proposed for the land swap questioning the value to the public of verges along Arthurs Avenue and St James Drive becoming Stray land.
Councillor Phil Ireland, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for sustainability, said:
“In order for a new, safe, segregated cycleway to be implemented on the verges of Otley Road we need to hear people’s views on the exchange land options and byelaw amendments.
“We believe we have identified three suitable options to offer as exchange land and I’d urge residents to share their views.”
The council says comments on these proposals can be given online at: www.harrogate.gov.uk/haveyoursay by Monday 9 November.