Parliament Street and Kings Road could be partly pedestrianised

Parliament Street and Kings Road in Harrogate could be partly pedestrianised to encourage social distancing when bars and restaurants reopen.

However, The Stray Ferret understands this is unlikely to be put in place this weekend.

North Yorkshire County Council said it is working with Harrogate BID, Harrogate Borough Council and local businesses to allocate pavement space to bars and restaurants, which would make part of the roads off-limits to cars.

David Bowe, corporate director for business and environmental services at NYCC, said they will only close roads “if there is a clear demand”.

He said:

“We are prepared to close roads in order to support economic recovery but it has to be on the basis of demand and need. If there is a road that we can practically close, even for part of a day, without adversely affecting access, we will be happy to work to achieve that, provided a business definitely wants to use the space.

James Street, Albert Street and parts of Royal Parade currently have cones placed in the road to widen pavements. However, they have been controversial and North Yorkshire County Council has taken them down on West Park after pressure from businesses.

Two streets that could be partly pedestrianised are Parliament Street and Kings Road.

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Jim Mossman, co-founder of the Cold Bath Brewing Co on Kings Road, told The Stray Ferret he had been in discussions with North Yorkshire County Council about road space being re-allocated.

He said:

“If we can create an al fresco type experience in Harrogate then it will help save jobs and businesses in the town.”

Michael Baravelli, general manager at Gino D’Acampo on Parliament Street also said pedestrianisation would help trade at the restaurant.

He said:

“We are working alongside North Yorkshire County Council with the idea and suggestion of putting extra seating outside to give us more street presence. In these summer days, it will help us immensely.”

Cyclists groups must “remain realistic”, says NYCC

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways Don Mackenzie says cycling groups must “remain realistic” around improvements to cycling routes in Harrogate.

His words come as the council received just half of the £266,000 that was allocated to them by government to spend on temporary cycling and walking measures. These include coning off some on-street parking bays to widen footpaths.

NYCC will be able to bid for a further £1.1m for larger cycling schemes later this summer but they have been criticised by cycling groups in Harrogate for showing a “lack of ambition” with its initial bid. They also said North Yorkshire did not consult them about the bid.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Cllr Mackenzie said the council is taking a long-term approach to cycle lanes.

He said:

“I’m sure we’ll get more cycle schemes in there. People will have to remain realistic. It costs a million pounds to build 1km of off-road cycle path. We’re only bidding £1.1m for the whole of the county.”

He also said that more road space in Harrogate could be allocated to cycling and walking through the positioning of bollards, which has proved controversial for businesses operating on James Street and West Park.

Whilst Cllr Mackenzie suggested that North Yorkshire received less funding for cycling because of its largely rural geography, other councils such as Suffolk, which also has a large rural population, received 100%. However, Cllr Mackenzie said this type of comparison is unfair.

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He said:

“The nearest county to us is Lincolnshire and they got 50%. Suffolk got 100% but I don’t know what their bid was like.

“We’ve made many bids for cycling. We’re building an off-road cycle path on Otley Road, we’ve applied for the Transforming Cities Funding which involves a lot of improvements for cycling. Sometimes you get 100% and sometimes you don’t.

Yesterday, the Stray Ferret reported that 26 cyclists are injured in collisions in Harrogate a year.

Cllr Mackenzie added:

“Harrogate is very, very safe for cyclists but if you saw some of the comments on social media you’d think it was an absolute deathtrap.

26 cyclists a year injured in collisions in Harrogate

On average 26 cyclists a year are injured in collisions in Harrogate, analysis by the Stray Ferret has found.

As bicycle shops report record sales and commuters return to work after lockdown, the numbers give an indication of how safe it is to cycle in the town.

The UK-wide data goes back to 2005 and was published by not-for-profit organisation Cycle Streets. It includes details of every collision involving a cyclist where a police report was filed.

From 2014 to 2018, there were 128 reports of cyclists being injured with the majority involving a car. No cyclists were killed during the time period.

Skipton Road was the worst road in Harrogate for collisions involving cyclists, with 13 injuries over five years.

Cycling map

All the incidents in Harrogate from 2014-2018.

Caroline Linford from green group Sustainably Harrogate called the figures “alarming”.

She told the Stray Ferret that cycling in the town can feel dangerous.

She said:

“It’s easy to see why people are reluctant to cycle on Harrogate roads. Safety is a key concern.”

“Personally since Lockdown my whole family have been using bicycles as a form of exercise and to do doorstop visits with family across Harrogate. It’s become clear to me that there are some good pathways to cycle on and some very dangerous roads.

“When I’m on my bicycle I feel that pedestrians get irritated with cyclists on pavements as we travel faster than walkers and equally, car drivers often become irritated behind cyclists while on shared roads, particularly as we go a little slower as we have children with us.”

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North Yorkshire County Council has responsibility for transport in Harrogate and Ms Linford called on the council to introduce so-called “Low Traffic Neighbourhoods” in Harrogate to protect cyclists from cars.

The concept is currently being trialled in Lambeth, London where cars are discouraged from entering certain roads with bollards.

North Yorkshire County Council said they have recently won a £31m bid for the government’s Transforming Cities Fund, which will be partly spent upgrading cycling and walking facilities in Harrogate.

Don Mackenzie, executive member for road safety at North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret that the safety of cyclists is one of the council’s top road safety priorities.

He said:

“Contrary to some recent sensationalist contributions on social media, there have been no fatalities involving cyclists in Harrogate town in the last 14 years. Furthermore, in spite of substantial increases in the numbers of residents choosing to cycle, the overall number of accidents involving cyclists in the county has been reducing steadily.”

Extinction Rebellion plans cycling protest in Harrogate town centre

Extinction Rebellion’s Harrogate branch is planning a bike ride in the town centre to highlight the need for change as the coronavirus lockdown eases.

The group, which only formed in Harrogate in January, says its aim is to highlight the issues facing the town, under the title No Going Back.

The bike ride will set off from Library Gardens on Station Parade at 10.30am on Sunday and complete two laps of the town centre, finishing at the war memorial. Organisers have asked participants to ride in groups of no more than six from the same household, and keep their distance from others who are not in their family group.

Anyone not able to cycle is encouraged to show their support with banners, bells and whistles, and to take photographs of the event. Organiser Vicky Wild said:

“During lockdown, an awful lot more people are cycling and walking. We don’t want to go back to the way it was.

“I’m someone who goes to work and the ships on a bike. I’ve lost count of the number of people who say, ‘I would love to do that, but I don’t feel safe’.

“It’s just trying to change the conversation a bit around public transport in Harrogate. Personally, I have certain routes I go on that I know are fairly safe. For some people, there are certain roads you just don’t want to go on.

“When I was cycling round during the lockdown at the beginning, it was heaven – it was lovely. I went twice round the Prince of Wales roundabout just because I could, because there were no cars on it. I don’t think I’ve ever been round it before.”

With traffic already heading back towards pre-lockdown levels, the group is keen to draw people’s attention to how different things have been and urge them to consider what can be done to make long-term changes.

It is also holding an online meeting tonight to discuss setting up a citizens’ assembly for Harrogate. That body would be made up of members of the public, rather than political party representatives, to look at facts and make decisions about the future of the town.

The group had held one event – a stall on Cambridge Street highlighting climate change, pictured above – before the coronavirus lockdown put paid to its plans for the year. Now, members are looking at action they can take safely in the coming months. Vicky added:

“The idea of Extinction Rebellion is things should be fun and inclusive and family-friendly. We’re trying to do things that won’t alienate people but will get people on board and asking questions.”

Full details about the citizen’s assembly meeting and the bike ride can be found on the Extinction Rebellion Harrogate Facebook page.

County council reveals £1.3m plans to encourage walking and cycling

North Yorkshire County Council has revealed some of the plans it is considering to encourage more cycling and walking.

The government has allocated the council £1.3 million from its £225 million emergency active travel fund. The council can then bid for the full amount in two stages.

Initially, the council is bidding for £266,000 to spend on temporary measures such as coning off some on-street parking bays to widen footpaths.

Any projects funded in the first stage must be started within four weeks of the money being made available and completed within eight. It means that the council cannot tackle any major projects with that first pot of money.

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The authority will learn shortly how it will be able to bid for the remaining £1.1 million, but it is already drawing up plans of what to do with the rest of the money.

The council is considering:

The Department for Transport is keen for local authorities to bring forward schemes that are already planned and that can be constructed relatively quickly. Cllr Don Mackenzie, NYCC’s executive member for access, said:

“We intend to take full advantage of this funding. The amount on offer and the requirement to spend it quickly mean that we will be looking to make small but effective improvements that offer the maximum benefit.

“It will not be practical to fund major projects. To give some context, if the £1.3m were to be spent solely on new permanent segregated cycle routes it would be sufficient to pay for about three kilometres, less than two miles, of cycle path.”

The county council is keen to hear suggestions for how it can spend the money. Click or tap here for more details.

Highways chief defends Harrogate cycling progress

Over the last four days we have looked at issues surrounding cycling in Harrogate. We put the questions raised from those reports to North Yorkshire’s highways chief, Don Mackenzie. 

As North Yorkshire County Council struggles to make a dent in its Otley Road project, campaigners have accused the council of having a lack of ambition on cycling. 

When asked whether the authority had a lack of ambition, Councillor Mackenzie said:

“We do have aspirations, but we need funding and we also need to take everyone with us.” 

He added that he was hopeful of starting the first phase of Otley Road next month and that funding was still in place for the project.

Councillor Mackenzie said the council had to speak to a range of people about its highways schemes and could not focus solely on one group. 

“People need to remember that North Yorkshire is a very big county and there are many demands on it. 

“Harrogate cyclists want to get things done, but we have to take everyone with us. We have to work with many other groups, not just cyclists.” 

His answer will be seen as less than emphatic for people who will feel there is no better time to get started while the roads are clear.

Will recent events make a difference?

Earlier this month the Department of Transport announced millions of pounds of extra cash to develop the region’s permanent cycling infrastructure. On Saturday it announced the Yorkshire and Humber region would be allocated a £24.5m emergency active travel grant for new cycling and walking lanes.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said laws had been amended to “reduce red tape and halve the time” it takes for councils to get schemes up and running  – “helping local authorities accommodate for the step-change in behaviour as more people turn to cycling and walking”

Cycling Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said:

“We’re living in a time where many people are cycling and walking more than they did before, and we must build on this opportunity to bring about longer-term change – where active travel is viewed as the default for shorter journeys, long after this crisis has finished.

“This funding for Yorkshire and the Humber will help councils provide more space for walking and cycling and make it easier for people to get out and about and reduce the pressure on public transport.”

Where the extra money will be spent will now be decided. Will the amended laws make a difference? Councillor Mackenzie, who faces the challenge of delivering such projects, will no doubt be hoping so.  

 

Growing frustration in Harrogate’s cycling community

Today we report on the growing frustration and noise among the cycle lobby which has campaigned in Harrogate for better cycling routes.

The pandemic has led to fewer cars on the road, cleaner air and a boom in bike sales. These factors have strengthened campaigner’s resolve who see now as the time to push for transformational change.

Around half a dozen cycling and environmental groups exist in the district. All pushing for improvements for cyclists  and pressurising council leaders to deliver.

A lack of ambition, a need for more infrastructure and a sense of frustration were among the complaints from the groups the Stray Ferret spoke to, as promised schemes have yet to come to fruition.

Kevin Douglas, who chairs the Harrogate District Cycle Action group, said a lack of movement on any infrastructure has left cyclists disappointed.

He said: “It is frustrating. They did an excellent job in getting the funding but the delivery is the key.

“During the past five weeks, families and young people have been riding because the roads are quiet and they are doing it because it is safe.”

For others, lockdown has offered an extra boost to the message that more people want to cycle- a view which is backed up by research undertaken before the crisis.

In a survey by Andrew Jones MP last year, nearly half of residents who responded said the town’s cycling facilities were poor and needed to be improved.

Caroline Linford, founder of Sustainably Harrogate, said the town could improve its infrastructure after lockdown and called for more ambition from the county council.

She said that the lack of progress on Otley Road was indicative of the will of those in charge to deliver for the town.

She said: “I think for me what I would like to have seen is using it to make the town move again.”

“There is a lack of action and what I would like to see is some ambition from the county council.”

Tomorrow in our Focus on Cycling series we put the concerns of cycling campaigners to Don Mackenzie, the senior county councillor in charge of highways.

The agony of getting a single cycle route built in Harrogate

Over the past few years, Harrogate has positioned itself as a cycling destination. It hosted the Tour De France, Tour De Yorkshire and UCI Cycling championships – yet the reality is, it hasn’t completed one of its major cycling routes into town. 

At a time when the voices of cycling groups and environmental campaigners are growing louder, less than a mile of cycle route down the Otley Road has yet to be built and the larger Station Parade “Gateway” project also looks set to be problematic.  

Otley Road: Stage One

£3.2 million was secured in 2018 for a scheme as part of a wider project called the West Harrogate Sustainable Improvement Package.  The money was for a cycle lane from Cardale Park to the Prince of Wales roundabout. 

The first stage from Harlow Moor Road to Harrogate Grammar School had begun but the project was then halted due to coronavirus.

Council bosses have said that the project could re-start next month, the money will be held over.  All this, after two years of waiting. 

 

This part of the Otley Road cycle lane is Stage Two

Otley Road Stage Two

But Stage Two has run into more serious problems.

It required removing verges from The Stray. The Stray Defence Association urged any removal must be consulted on and, as a result, council bosses have been in lengthy negotiations with the Duchy of Lancaster. 

It means the second phase of the scheme is unlikely to go ahead anytime soon much to campaigners’ frustration. 

But the route is not the only proposal to have been tabled to help boost cycling rates and cut traffic. 

Impression of how Station Parade would look under pedestrianisation plans.

Station Parade

In March, the council secured £7.8 million for a “gateway” project on Station Parade which has to be spent within three years. This scheme aims to create a transport hub – connecting the bus and rail stations to the town centre.  The plan means fewer cars and more space for cyclists and walkers.

After the difficulty of negotiating with different parties to deliver Otley Road though, the gateway scheme faces possibly tougher negotiations. 

Much furore was caused after the gateway plans were unveiled a few years ago and recent bollards put up for social distancing have reignited this fierce debate among traders over the best way to survive the serious economic crisis Harrogate faces.  Any reduction of on-street parking to create space for cycle lanes will face opposition from many retailers. 

So council bosses will have to negotiate through this and, although a large amount of money has been secured, it’s not enough and extra funding is needed from both the district and borough councils. This might prove very hard to find in an age post coronavirus. 

What do those in the cycle lobby think about the progress made on infrastructure projects? Tomorrow we will hear from those pushing for more cycle routes in Harrogate.

Boom in sales at district bike shops since lockdown

Retailers in the district are reporting an increase in the number of bikes sold since the coronavirus crisis began.

Some bike store owners in the district said they’ve seen more people opt for two wheels, with one reporting as selling as many as seven bikes a day.

It comes as the government urged more people to cycle to work as the lockdown eases.

In Harrogate, Prologue Cycling, which deals with performance model bikes, said it had seen good sales during the lockdown period from people who felt they had more time to upgrade their bikes.

Meanwhile, Damian Brooks, manager at Motor World in Ripon, said he had also seen an increase in sales at his store during lockdown.

He said: “I have never known it so busy. Since the coronavirus, people have become very fitness conscious and we are selling six to seven bikes a day. That’s as many as we were selling in a month before the crisis.”

National outlet, Halfords, reported a “better than expected” month in April where shares in the company jumped by 11%.

Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, said people should consider taking up two wheels as the commute to work changes  and announced a £2 billion funding package to increase cycling and walking capacity across the UK.

 

Stray Ferret Focuses on Cycling

Over the next three days, The Stray Ferret will explore the debate surrounding the future of cycling in Harrogate in a Focus On Cycling series.

Each morning we will publish a story which will cover how the debate is shaping and what is being done as the call for more cycling lanes grows louder.

Tomorrow we will look at the projects planned in Harrogate and what progress has been made on them.

Make sure you sign up to notifications from The Stray Ferret so you don’t miss a story.

Calls for temporary cycles lanes and lower speed limits in Harrogate district

Cycling campaigners and environmental groups in the district have called for “pop up”  temporary cycle lanes and lower speed limits to encourage people to continue cycling and help walkers with social distancing.

Jemima Parker of Zero Carbon Harrogate said the group has written to Andrew Jones MP and David Bowe, the county council Corporate Director Business and Environmental Services, asking for temporary changes.

Zero carbon Harrogate would like to see a 20mph speed limit in urban areas, more street space allocated for “active travel” (pedestrians, mobility scooters and cyclists) and encouragement for cars to be parked on the road rather than the pavement.

Harrogate District Cycle Action has published a list of “post-lockdown travel improvements” that, amongst others, include:

In Knaresborough, town councillor Hannah Gostlow has urged the County Council which is in charge of highways to reduce the speed limit to 20mph between King James School and High Bridge in Knaresborough and around the towns schools, as well as increasing cycle lanes in the town.

“Our High Street is usually a fast and busy road that discourages cyclists, narrows our footpaths for pedestrians, and disconnects shops from the town centre, this scheme aims to let our town recover and breathe again. As well as a 20mph scheme I would also like to see cycle lanes where possible, and local businesses encouraged to take a lead on green transport initiatives”

The calls for parking bays to be made into cycle lanes in Harrogate are at odds with Independent Harrogate, the body which represents the town’s independent retailers. It’s called for free parking to be kept indefinitely to encourage more people to come into Harrogate by car when the shops finally open.

The Stray Ferret has asked North Yorkshire County Council for a comment. It said it was working to give a response as soon as possible.