A revised start date for works on the next stage of Harrogate’s Otley Road cycle path is set to be revealed this week as parts of the existing route will also be rebuilt following safety concerns.

After securing funding five years ago, North Yorkshire County Council has come under sustained criticism for slow progress on the project which is seen as key to the town’s transport future.

Residents recently slammed the first stage of the cycle path as a “nightmare” and like “crazy golf construction” – and now more remedial works are planned for parts of the route which opened earlier this year.

The council said this will involve the resurfacing of some junctions, including one at Harlow Moor Road which will also be widened after being described as “unsafe” by campaigners.

This comes after a latest safety audit was carried out on the first stage, although a report with the full details has yet to be released by the council.

It said in a statement that proposals to address safety concerns will be revealed this week when it will also make an announcement on when stage two will begin.

However, this new start date could still be several months away as a consultation on the final designs is expected first.

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Previously, the council said the stage two works would start in May or June this year, and then after further setbacks it gave a more vague target of autumn.

On the stage one works, it has now said:

“A number of remedial works are already complete or programmed to be complete in the coming months.

“Therefore, we will carry out the remaining remedial work such as resurfacing at the junctions following this.

“Widening of the route at Harlow Moor Road junction will be complete as soon as necessary third land becomes available.”

A total of £1.6 million has so far been spent on design, construction and utility costs for the project.

This is made up of £1.04 million on stage one and £559,182 on stage two for which a start date will soon be revealed.

A social media video has highlighted the long-running issue of motorists parking on Oatlands Drive in Harrogate and blocking a cycle lane.

Frequent parking in the lane has become a major frustration for cyclists, many of whom lament what they consider to be inadequate cycling infrastructure in the district.

Advisory cycle lanes run down both sides of Oatlands Drive. One side of the road has double yellow lines, which makes it an offence to park there.

But the other side doesn’t have any yellow lines, which means there are no parking restrictions. Cars often park on this side of the road, particularly at weekends when football matches take place on the Stray.

The video was shared with the Stray Ferret by a person who asked to remain anonymous. You can watch it below:

‘It really upsets me’

Several Harrogate residents criticised motorists for parking in the cycle lane when asked by the Stray Ferret.

Ruth Ker said:

“I cycle down there regularly and it really upsets me that people park over the cycle lane and onto the Stray.”

Zoe Oxley said:

“There’s not enough cycle lanes in Harrogate as it is without drivers parking over the few we have.”

Cyclist Ian Hallett on Oatlands Drive.

Ian Hallett, a keen cyclist who lives in the nearby Saints area, said:

“When occasional cars are parked in the cycle lane, it is very dangerous as cyclists have to move out into the flow of traffic to avoid them. This is all very frustrating as the road could form a good cycling link from a popular residential area into the town centre.”

Read more:

• Residents welcome decision to drop Oatlands Drive one-way scheme
• Stray Views: one-way proposals spark safety concerns in the Saints

Active travel scheme

As part of four active travel schemes in the county, North Yorkshire County Council has proposed various measures for the Oatlands Drive area, including painting double yellow lines on both sides of the road to stop people parking there.

However, NYCC scrapped one element of the proposals, a one-way system for Oatlands Drive, after receiving “overwhelming” opposition in its initial consultation.

The scheme has now entered its second consultation phase, but a one-way system around the Saints has proved unpopular with residents, which could throw the whole scheme into doubt.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at NYCC, told the Stray Ferret a decision on whether the plans go ahead will be made next month.

He said:

“We have sought to resolve this problem through the development of the Active Travel Fund scheme for Oatlands Drive, first by proposing one-way traffic management which would create sufficient road width for fully compliant cycle paths, then by proposing double yellow lines along Oatlands Drive as part of a later package of measures for the scheme, which excluded the one-way option.

“In the meantime, it is regrettable that drivers are deciding to block the eastern cycle path by inconsiderate parking.”

Harrogate Borough Council enforces parking restrictions but said it has no power to stop people parking on the Oatlands Drive cycle lane.

A council spokesperson said:

“We can only enforce if there are parking restrictions when a cycle lane is advisory, like they are in Oatlands Drive.

“Unless NYCC puts a double yellow line down both sides of the road, we can only enforce the restrictions on the one side.”