North Yorkshire County Council has today dropped controversial plans to make Oatlands Drive in Harrogate one-way.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, told a Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee that the authority will not pursue the proposal.

Instead, a 20 mile per hour zone will be included in plans from next week.

The one-way proposal proved controversial, with 57% of respondents to an initial county council consultation opposing the proposal.

Cllr Mackenzie told the committee today:

“We decided, and I hope this committee agrees with that decision, that in the overwhelming view of local residents and that of the local elected member, that we should drop that option.

“Therefore, with effect from next Monday when the detailed consultation starts, we will be presenting a detailed design which does not include one-way working.

“It will include, however, a proposal to make the whole area on Oatlands Drive from York Place to Hookstone Road and all the saints residential area a 20 mile per hour zone in order to slow traffic down and bring about an element of safety for walkers and cyclists.”

Cllr Mackenzie added that the council will also look to improve the toucan crossing on York Place, building platforms at crossings at Slingsby Walk and outside St Aidans school.

Traffic filters will also be proposed for St Hilda’s Road and St Winifred’s Road.

Read more:

• Half of responses ‘strongly oppose’ Oatlands Drive plan
• 1,000 sign petition calling for Oatlands cycling plans to be scrapped

Police have warned cyclists not to take their bikes on cars for rides in North Yorkshire — or they could be fined.

Superintendent Mike Walker, who leads the county’s police response to covid, told a press briefing this morning there had been an increase in the number of cyclists taking bikes on cars.

Speaking at North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which co-ordinates the county’s response to covid, he said cyclists doing this were undermining efforts to tackle the spread of the disease.

Government guidance says exercise should be limited to once a day, and you should stay within your local area.

Superintendent Walker urged people not to travel from their village, town or city. He added:

“We will take positive action against those who choose to breach regulations and put safety and lives at risk.”

Superintendent Walker revealed that 10 covid fixed penalty notices were issued in the past week in the Harrogate district.

Twenty were issued in the previous seven days.

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• ‘Use your conscience’ warning as sun brings visitors to Nidderdale

More than a thousand people have signed a petition in just four days calling for the cycling scheme for Oatlands Drive to be scrapped.

North Yorkshire County Council has proposed to make the road one-way southbound and 20mph to widen the footpath and create a segregated cycleway.

The public consultation for that £215,000 scheme closed at the end of February. But the petition organiser hopes that it will be considered if it gains more traction.

Anna McIntee started the petition.

Anna McIntee, who lives in the Saints area of Harrogate, started the online petition which has at the time of writing attracted 1,041 signatures.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“I started the petition on Monday and more than a thousand people have already signed it. That is amazing, I am so pleased with it.

“So many people have already signed it but I hope that we can reach 10,000 signatures by the end of the month, when I will send it to the county council.

“I do like cycling and I have my own bike which I use, I think we should encourage cycling but in a diffent way which does not have an adverse effect on the town.”

Read more:

• Cars could make way for cyclists on another Harrogate road
• Campaign against Oatlands one-way scheme ramps up

The Harrogate and District Cycle Action (HDCA) which consults with local councils believes that it is time for cars to start sharing the road with cyclists more.

Chair of the group, Kevin Douglas, when asked about demand for all these new cycling routes, pointed to North Yorkshire County Council’s congestion survey in 2019.

That survey, answered by 14,000 people, found that 77% would use improved cycling and walking infrastructure if it was built.

Harrogate Borough Council agreed this evening to designate a plot of land on Wetherby Road as Stray land in exchange for grass verges on Otley Road.

The verges are currently part of the Stray but will be removed for a new cycle route.

The Stray Act 1985 says that if Stray land is given up a suitable plot of alternative land must be offered in exchange.

The council carried out a 12-week consultation over three plots of land to replace the verges as Stray land.

The majority of respondents backed the council’s preferred option to designate the land on Wetherby Road next to the war memorial.

Read more

• The agony of getting a single cycle route built in Harrogate
• Council to recommend Wetherby Road land for Stray swap

Senior councillors on the authority’s cabinet voted today for the land to be submitted to the Duchy of Lancaster, which is responsible for managing the Stray, for approval to be exchanged.

The area of land outlined in Harrogate Borough Council documents earmarked to be exchanged as part of the Otley Road cycle route.

Cllr Phil Ireland, cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, said at the cabinet meeting:

“Sustainable transport is a key priority for this council and this project does support the promotion of active travel on a main route joining up the town centre with the west of Harrogate.

“This scheme also supports our ambition to see a reduction in congestion, an improvement in air quality and a reduction in carbon emissions while also promoting a healthy lifestyle.”

It comes as North Yorkshire County Council looks to press ahead with plans to create a cycle route on the stretch of road between Harlow Moor Road and Beech Grove in Harrogate.

The project has already been delayed and the negotiations over the Stray land have been a further stumbling block for the second phase of the scheme.

A row appears to have broken out between businesses and the two local councils on the first day of the Harrogate Station Gateway consultation.

North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council secured £7.8 million for the project in ring-fenced funding.

Plans include pedestrianising James Street, building cycle lanes on Station Parade and improving cycling facilities in the town centre.

However, business owners on Prince Albert Row have questioned how their stretch on Station Parade comes into the proposals, which they say are vague.

Prince Albert Row is the name the businesses have given themselves along this short stretch of Station Parade.

Read more:

• Harrogate business groups want Station Gateway cash spent elsewhere
• James Street pedestrianisation back on the cards in major town centre scheme

A spokesman on behalf of Rigby & Peller, Helen James and Woods of Harrogate said:

“We are being asked for our views, but until we know what is actually being proposed for the entire length of Station Parade, including Prince Albert Row, we can’t make a reasoned judgement.

“The plans are incredibly vague. We’re not sure if the parking bays outside our businesses will stay or go, and we don’t know if this section of road will remain as two lanes or be reduced to a single carriageway.

“And to add insult to injury, the ‘Zone Two’ survey only covers Station Square and James Street. Those who designed this questionnaire need to go back to the drawing board and include this section.

“Our livelihoods are dependent on ease of access. Our businesses occupy Listed building in a Conservation Area, and we have regular need for deliveries, from flowers to furniture and heavy linens to kitchen appliances, fittings, televisions and hi-fis. Loading and unloading takes places throughout the day.

“Our customers also rely on the parking spaces outside our shops, and if they disappear, I’m afraid our customers may well go the same way.”

“A vibrant town centre is what we all want, one that is welcoming and accessible for all. And as more than 70 per cent of visitors to Harrogate arrive by car, we mustn’t turn our back on them.”

It comes after Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, Harrogate BID and Independent Harrogate questioned if the money could be better spent elsewhere.

The groups suggested East Parade and Cambridge Street as places they feel the money would be better spent.

However, Harrogate Borough Council has said the funding can only be spent improving the bus and train station area only and has to be focussed on transport-related activity.

A move to make Oatlands Drive one-way would have a “devastating effect” on students and make surrounding roads congested.

Residents and a student at St Aidan’s and St John Fisher’s Associated Sixth Form got in touch with the Stray Ferret to express their concerns about the scheme ahead of a consultation closing today.

It comes as a leaflet campaign was launched in the area which encouraged residents to send e-mails to local councillors, media and council officers objecting to the plan.

North Yorkshire County Council received £1,011,750 for cycling improvements and outlined three cycle route projects in Harrogate.

Highways bosses have launched a consultation into the plan which would make the street one-way southbound, limit the speed limit to 20mph and create a new segregated cycleway.

Read more:

• Cars could make way for cyclists on another Harrogate road
• ‘Time to share the roads,’ says Harrogate cycling group

In an e-mail to the Stray Ferret and his headteacher, Thomas Adamson, a year 12 student at St Aidan’s and St John FIsher’s Associated Sixth Form, said the move would have a “negative effect” on his learning and his journey to school.

Thomas, who travels to school from Wetherby, said it would add a further 20 minutes onto his bus journey as Wetherby Road was already “notoriously busy”.

He said:

“While I understand the motivation behind the one-way system, there are already usable bike lanes on Oatlands Drive and two wide pavements for pedestrians and I must think about my own future and the futures of those who must use public transport

“In conclusion, If you allow the building of this new one-way system, it will not only be a waste of public funds that could be used elsewhere to improve Wetherby Road or to provide technology for online learning to those less fortunate than I am, it also have an actively negative affect on my learning in a year that has already had so much disruption and yet is still pivotal for my future.”

Oatlands Drive, Harrogate.

Meanwhile, Philip and Julia Clarke, who live on Park Edge, told the Stray Ferret that they strongly object to the proposal as it would affect their journey to the town centre.

They said:

“In order to drive northwards from our home into Harrogate and beyond, we would have to turn right (southwards) at the end of our street and then find a route to travel north.

“To access businesses and facilities in the town centre or in the northerly part of the town and beyond, which we regularly do, would involve a more circuitous and longer journey.

“That would mean using Wetherby Road or Leeds Road, which would add to the congestion on those roads.”

However, cyclist groups have welcomed the scheme and said it was time that roads were shared with drivers.

Kevin Douglas, chair of Harrogate and District Cycle Action, told the Stray Ferret previously that the measures fit into a wider vision for the town.

He said:

“The main aim is to get people cycling for short journeys into the town centre. We hope to have segregate cycle lanes on all the arterial routes.

“Some think that we want the roads to be car free but we just want to be able to share the roads safely.

“Even the most experienced cyclists feel unsafe with big lorries passing them close by and would feel much safer with a segregated lane.”

Other schemes under consideration include:

• A59, Maple Close, Harrogate to Knaresborough: segregated cycle lanes along an existing cycle route and improved crossing facilities at either end;
• Victoria Avenue, Harrogate, Princes Square to Station Parade: pedestrian crossing improvements, segregated cycling infrastructure and bike storage facilities.

People can give their views on the projects here.

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. 

Oatlands one-way system will cause havoc

Thoughtless Implementation

I live on Beech Grove and feel the need to redress the apparent balance of opinion on the new traffic scheme. It is not yet clear whether it will be an eventual benefit as it awaits the link to the cycleways on Otley Road, which are later this year. So patience is required for now.

However, it has been the most thoughtless implementation imaginable. The signs are completely inadequate to inform the motorists of the change so it is almost inevitable that drivers will come up against the barriers. It would have been so easy to display reasonable size signs in good time, but no, it has been implemented as a motorist trap. It would also have helped if there was a partial barrier at the town end of Beech Grove, outside Wentworth Court, being a clear indicator that entry was for residents and parking only.

Whoever has done this should show a little respect for road users.

Chris Graville, Harrogate

Bewerley Park changes lives – we must preserve it

Harrogate schools have shone during covid crisis

As we possibly move closer to a phased reopening of schools, a word of praise and gratitude for our local schools and their excellent staff: the state primary and secondary schools attended by my daughters in years 3 and 7 have done a truly marvellous job of providing user-friendly, well structured online education to pupils during lockdown, honing their provision during this latest period of restriction to a fine art.

They even set up a laptop and tablet donation scheme when the government’s promise to provide these where needed fell short of the mark.

The schools’ exemplary efforts in such testing times show up Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s premature encouragement to parents to report inadequate online provision for what it is: an act of petty, ideologically driven malice.

Glyn Hambrook, 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.

A Harrogate cycling group which consults with local councils believes that it is time for cars to start sharing the road with cyclists more.

The Harrogate and District Cycle Action (HDCA) comments come ahead of another proposed shakeup of the town centre to encourage cycling and walking.

North Yorkshire County Council will launch a consultation on Monday into its “gateway” project, which includes James Street and Station Parade.

The comments also come in the week that debate raged on about the closure of Beech Grove and proposals to make Oatlands Drive one way.

The Stray Ferret has seen record numbers of comments about these stories on our social media posts this week, in which people seem to be increasingly polarised.

Some local residents came out against the schemes because, they said, it would reduce access and choice for them. But others welcomed the news.

Read more:

• Cars could make way for cyclists on another Harrogate road
• Cars drive over Stray to avoid Harrogate road closure

Contrary to claims that the road closures appear random, the Harrogate and District Cycle Action (HDCA) group said that they all play into a wider vision for the town.

Kevin Douglas, chair of the HDCA, told the Stray Ferret:

“The main aim is to get people cycling for short journeys into the town centre. We hope to have segregate cycle lanes on all the arterial routes.

“Some think that we want the roads to be car free but we just want to be able to share the roads safely.

“Even the most experienced cyclists feel unsafe with big lorries passing them close by and would feel much safer with a segregated lane.

“There has not been any new cycling infrastructure built here since 2015 so it’s not like we have been dominating.

“Housing developers should also think about cycling routes. They build roads for cars but don’t seem to consider bikes, it’s nonsense.

“There are lots of new homes going up in Killinghall and there’s the greenway nearby. It would make sense to connect the village to that existing route.”

Mr Douglas, when asked about demand for all these new cycling routes, pointed to North Yorkshire County Council’s congestion survey in 2019.

That survey, answered by 14,000 people, found that 77% would use improved cycling and walking infrastructure if it was built.

Cars could soon make way for cyclists on another major route in Harrogate under proposals to make Oatlands Drive one-way.

Road closures have become a hot topic in Harrogate lately.

Beech Grove was due to close to through traffic today as part of plans to encourage more cyclists and pedestrians by creating a low traffic neighbourhood.

North Yorkshire County Council wants to create another low traffic neighbourhood in a yet-to-be specified part of Bilton, which could see further restrictions on vehicles.

Now the council is consulting on plans to make Oatlands Drive one-way southbound.

It also wants to limit the speed to 20mph, widen the existing footpath and create a new segregated cycleway.

Four parallel crossings, which combine pedestrian and cycle crossings,  are planned, along with one-way filters that would affect the junctions with St Winifred’s Drive and St Hilda’s Road.

The £215,000 Oatlands project is one of three cycling schemes the council opened consultation on last week.

The two other schemes would see cycle tracks created on Knaresborough Road between High Bridge in Knaresborough and Harrogate Golf Club, as well as on Victoria Avenue between Princes Square and Station Parade.

Read more:

• Controversial Harrogate road closure starts today
• Consultation launched for three Harrogate cycling schemes

The Department for Transport awarded £1,011,750 for the schemes after a successful funding bid by the council.

Of the three schemes, vehicle movements would only be restricted on Oatlands Drive.

‘Ridiculous idea’

One local resident, Mr Brown, told the Stray Ferret some local people were “fuming”.

He said he cycled as well as drove and questioned how forcing vehicles to make longer journeys into town along Wetherby Road would ease congestion and improve the environment.

Mr Brown said many of the roads named after saints were already clogged up by cars parked by Harrogate District Hospital staff. He added:

“To me this seems ridiculous. There are not that many cyclists and the ones I have seen are the Saturday morning groups who respect other road users and are competent cyclists.

“This is just going to cause havoc for the saints area. The real problem is lack of parking at the hospital and parents dropping their children off.

“I personally agree there should be a crossing by the Stray on Oatlands Drive so walkers can continue along the path but to make it one way for a few cyclists seems ridiculous and a waste of taxpayers money!”

Beech Grove is due to close for six months and, depending on the results of a public consultation, could become permanent.

Work to install the signage, bollards and planters will take three days from today, weather permitting.

You can take part in the Oatlands Drive consultation by clicking or tapping here.

North Yorkshire County Council has launched a public consultation for three schemes to improve cycling infrastructure in Harrogate.

In December, NYCC accepted £1,011,750 as part of a five-year, £2 billion programme by the Department for Transport to improve walking and cycling infrastructure.

The money will be spent on three projects in Harrogate plus one in Whitby.

The public can have their say on the proposals here. The consultation will close on February 23.

The schemes under consideration in Harrogate are:

• Oatlands Drive, Harrogate: segregated cycle lanes along an existing cycle route, improved crossing facilities at four locations and other improvements;
• A59, Maple Close, Harrogate to Knaresborough: segregated cycle lanes along an existing cycle route and improved crossing facilities at either end;
• Victoria Avenue, Harrogate, Princes Square to Station Parade: pedestrian crossing improvements, segregated cycling infrastructure and bike storage facilities.

Read more:

• Government awards North Yorkshire £1 million for walking and cycling

• Highfield pupils earn ‘eco-points’ for walking and cycling to school

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at the county council, said:

“To help us to develop our proposals, we are inviting local people to give us their views on the proposed corridors and potential improvements. Detailed designs will follow, taking account of the feedback we receive, and we will consult further on those later in March.

“The grant comes with strict conditions. Schemes must be delivered quickly, should reallocate road space from vehicles in favour of cyclists and pedestrians, and offer alternatives to existing, well-used bus routes.”