Harrogate Station Gateway: why are businesses so opposed?

Businesses and council representatives clashed in a heated two-hour debate about the £10.9 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme last night.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce hosted the largest face-to-face gathering to discuss the revised design plans.

The meeting revealed deep divisions between businesses and those championing the scheme, which aims to make the area around the train station more attractive and easier to navigate for cyclists and pedestrians.

Only four people out of about 75 in the room stood when asked to do so if they supported reducing traffic on Station Parade to single lane.

That is one of the most controversial aspects of the scheme, along with pedestrianising the section of James Street from Princes Square to Station Parade

The meeting ended with some businesses threatening to apply for a judicial review to halt the scheme. But why are businesses so opposed to a scheme that is supposed to make the town centre more attractive and increase visitors?

Below are some of the key talking points.

As consultation on the revised plans, which are supported by North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council, draws to a close on Friday, it remains to be seen whether the issues can be resolved.

1 Why is it necessary?

North Yorkshire County Councillor Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access who is leading on the scheme, said Harrogate was the most congested place in North Yorkshire besides York.

He said a Harrogate congestion study run by the council four years ago in response to the decision not to proceed with a bypass, provided a mandate for change because about 80% of respondents said they wanted the town centre to be friendlier to cyclists and pedestrians. The study generated 15,500 replies, which Cllr Mackenzie said was the council’s “largest ever public engagement”.

Harrogate businessman Terry Bramall said a lot had changed in the four years since the Harrogate Congestion Study. He said plans to pedestrianise part of James Street would “create havoc with traffic flows” and questioned why cycling groups had been consulted but “as a property owner on James Street I haven’t been approached”.

Cllr Mackenzie replied that he’d spoken to three businesses on James Street that were supportive of the scheme and that those proposing it had “made themselves available at all times”.

Don Mackenzie at chamber meeting

Don Mackenzie (left) speaking at last night’s meeting.

2 Loss of parking and disruption

Just 40 parking spaces would be lost, said Cllr Mackenzie, mainly on James Street. But some businesses were worried about the knock-on effects.

Sue Savill, director of Party Fever on Station Parade, said plans to reduce Station Parade to single lane traffic and build a cycle route on land currently used for parking outside shops on her side of the street would create major problems.

Matthew Roberts, economy and transport officer at Harrogate Borough Council, said there were plans to make it easier to cross Station Parade but added “you are one of the businesses we need to speak to about logistics”.

Ms Savill said this was all very well but carrying a pallet of stock into the shop from the other side would be problematic.

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3 Where is the evidence it will boost trade?

Nick Brown, a Conservative who represents Bishop Monkton and Newby on Harrogate Borough Council, asked whether a detailed economic assessment of the impact on businesses had been conducted and, if so, could it be made public before the consultation ends.

Dan Harper, executive officer economy and transport at Harrogate Borough Council, said the final economic impact assessment couldn’t be produced until the final designs for the scheme, which is currently at revised design stage, were available. Mr Harper said this was the standard ‘continual process’ approach recommended by the Treasury, adding:

“It’s not something we ignore or don’t do.”

Independent retailer William Woods also asked for evidence that the scheme wouldn’t have a negative impact on the town’s economy.

Cllr Mackenzie replied:

“I believe this investment will be a boost to the town centre.”

Hazel Barry, chief executive of toiletries firm H2k, said:

“I don’t see any evidence. There’s nothing in this report that says it will bring me more customers and bring more visitors to the town. If we are going to move forward on this project we need some answers otherwise it’s a lot of money for not much reward.”

Station Gateway design

Just four people in the meeting supported making Station Parade single lane.

4 Is the traffic modelling accurate?

Businesses were sceptical about claims that making Station Parade single lane would not cause congestion or clog up side roads, particularly those off Cheltenham Parade.

Sue Kramer, who owns Crown Jewellers, asked “are we going to let a computer programme decide the future of our roads?”.

Sarah Spencer, of tax consultancy Sarah Spencer Ltd, said such modelling tended to “start with the answer they want and work back”.

Matthew Roberts, economy and transport officer at Harrogate Borough Council, said there would be an extra two or three cars a minute on Cheltenham Mount.

Responding to questions about why Harrogate Borough Council had not deemed an environmental impact assessment necessary, he said:

“The impact on air quality isn’t a massive one.”

Aidan Rayner, Transforming Cities Fund delivery project manager at North Yorkshire County Council, denied claims that traffic data was based on lockdown levels. He said it was based on 2018 levels even though there was evidence that traffic had reduced by 6% since then.

Karl Battersby, corporate director for business and environmental services at the county council, said there had been “no meddling of the data” and said this scheme didn’t go as far as others elsewhere in the country to encourage active travel, which had introduced measures such as low emission zones.

5 Will it make the town centre more attractive?

The gateway aims to improve people’s first impressions of Harrogate when they arrive by train by opening up the space around the Queen Victoria monument. It also aims to increase footfall by encouraging more people to bring their bikes on the train to Harrogate, or make it easier and more pleasant for local people to cross the town centre on bike or foot.

Daniel d’Arcy Thompson, managing director of Fabric and Co, said the gateway epitomised “pocket planning” whereby funding was secured for individual projects that didn’t take a joined-up approach to improving the town. He said:

“This is micro pocket planning at its worst. Until you give us a full scheme it’s just nonsense.”

Cllr Mackenzie said other schemes in the pipeline, such as the Otley Road cycle route, showed a joined-up approach to getting across town by bike.

Fortune Tofa, an accountant, told the meeting:

“The town is looking dated. We need to be bold and embrace this to continue to be relevant.”

What is the Harrogate Station Gateway?

The Harrogate scheme is one of three projects worth a combined £42m in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby funded by the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which encourages cycling and walking.

They are being delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Craven District Council and Selby District Council.

A consultation on the revised designs ends on Friday. It is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by the middle of next year.

To take part in the online consultation, which ends on Friday, click here.

 

Harrogate businesses consider legal challenge to Station Gateway

Harrogate businesses are considering mounting a legal challenge to halt the £10.9 million Station Gateway scheme.

About 80 people attended an at times bad tempered Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting last night, at which numerous businesses clashed with the five men leading the scheme.

Supporters insisted it would make Harrogate town centre more attractive and boost business but business owners were not convinced.

After almost two hours of debate, chamber chief executive David Simister said he had been asked to put forward a motion that said “if the scheme is not halted and thoroughly reviewed, substantially revised and / or scrapped we feel we will have no alternative but to seek a judicial review”.

Attendees overwhelmingly supported the motion, raising the prospect of the scheme heading to the courts.

It is not known which businesses put forward the motion or whether it will be acted on but a judicial review could either derail the scheme or delay it long enough to jeopardise funding.

Karl Battersby, corporate director for business and environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council, which is leading on the gateway scheme, told the Stray Ferret after the meeting:

“We would defend a judicial review robustly because we believe we have followed due process and there is no ground legally to challenge it.”

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North Yorkshire County Councillor Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access who is leading the gateway scheme, said he too did not think a judicial review would succeed but with the consultation on the revised plans due to end on Friday, he said “a decision would be taken on whether to go ahead”.

Cllr Mackenzie added he had been assured the meeting was purely for businesses and he was surprised to see some residents also attend,

What happens now?

Individuals can apply to the courts for a judicial review when they believe a public body has not followed the correct procedures. They can’t do so simply because they disagree with the outcome of a decision.

Mr Simister said the chamber hadn’t proposed the motion and it would be up to individual businesses to decide whether to pursue a judicial review.

The gateway scheme aims to transform the area around Harrogate train station. It would part pedestrianise James Street and reduce traffic on Station Parade to a single lane while encouraging cycling and walking.

Although it has widespread public support, it faces strong opposition from businesses, which feel it could damage trade. They also believe there is insufficient evidence to support claims it will enhance footfall and business.

Sue Kramer, who owns Crown Jewellers on Commercial Street and is vice-president of the chamber, was loudly cheered when she said the first consultation on the scheme, held during lockdown was “not fit for purpose” and did not show clear support for the scheme. Ms Kramer said those proposing the scheme “should consider re-holding the consultation”.

Station Gateway designs

James Street would be partly pedestrianised.

What is the Harrogate Station Gateway?

The Harrogate scheme is one of three projects worth a combined £42m in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby funded by the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which encourages cycling and walking.

They are being delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Craven District Council and Selby District Council.

A consultation on the revised designs ends on Friday. It is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by the middle of next year.

 

 

Harrogate businesses set for crunch talks on £10.9m Station Gateway

Transport chief Don Mackenzie has agreed to meet sceptical Harrogate businesses for crunch talks about the £10.9 million Station Gateway project.

Many firms in Harrogate have deep reservations about the scheme, which aims to make the town centre more attractive and encourage cycling and walking.

Some fear a reduction in parking spaces, the part-pedestrianisation of James Street and potentially a year of major road works would damage businesses already struggling to recover from covid.

One recent survey of businesses, which received 180 responses, revealed 72% were against reducing the A61 from Cheltenham Mount to Station Bridge to a single lane, which is one of the most controversial aspects of the scheme,

Cllr Mackenzie, the executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, which is leading on the scheme, has agreed to take part in a question-and-answer session at Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce’s next monthly meeting at the Cedar Court Hotel on November 8,

Phil Ireland, cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability at Harrogate Borough Council, which also supports the gateway initiative, will also participate.

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Members of the project team will give a presentation before chamber members get the chance to quiz them on issues such as what assessments have been made of the likely impact on the town’s economy.

David Simister, chief executive of the chamber, said:

“Our meeting will hopefully put businesses fully in the picture about the Harrogate Station Gateway Project, and the implications for them and their customers.

“I must stress this is a business meeting and open to our members, those in the Harrogate BID area, as well as members of Independent Harrogate.

Those planning to attend the meeting must register their interest in advance on the chamber website.

What is the Harrogate Station Gateway?

The Harrogate scheme is one of three projects worth a combined £42m in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby funded by the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which encourages cycling and walking.

They are being delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Craven District Council and Selby District Council.

A consultation is currently taking place on the revised designs. It is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by the middle of next year.

£10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway will ‘boost business’

The £10.9 million Station Gateway will boost Harrogate businesses by enhancing the town centre, according to those leading the scheme.

An online consultation event last night gave people the first chance to ask questions about the scheme, which aims to transform the area around the bus and train stations and encourage more people to walk and cycle, since the latest designs were revealed this week.

The current proposals would see traffic on Station Parade reduced to single lane and James Street pedestrianised between Princes Square and Station Parade.

Work could begin next summer and last up to a year, causing major disruption to the town centre and reduced parking, which concerns some businesses still trying to recover from covid.

In response to a question about what assessment had been made about the impact of the scheme on businesses, Matthew Roberts, economy and transport officer at Harrogate Borough Council, said it was a case of “short-term disruption for long-term gain”.

He said case studies from similar schemes had shown they could boost trade by up to 40 per cent by making the town centre more attractive and making it easier to access for non-car users.  Mr Roberts said:

“Behaviours are changing and the town needs to evolve with it.

“The mixture of case study evidence and local evidence has led me to believe this will firmly benefit the town’s economy.”

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In a video message to the event, county councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, which is leading on the scheme, said the Station Gateway would provide a “great economic boost to the town centre but also boost sustainable travel”.

Chris Harris, who is leading the design team on the project, said changes to James Street would “significantly the feel of the street for people shopping and moving around on foot” and also enable more features such as trees and plants.

He said the scheme would also “make more of a feature” of the Victoria monument by making it more visible.

Mr Harris added the project had a “tight window” but there was “still an opportunity to update things as we move forward”.

What happens next?

A second online consultation event will be held from 6pm to 7pm on Thursday next week.

People can meet members of the project team face-to-face to discuss the plans at the Victoria Shopping Centre on October 27, October 29 and November 5. There is also a business-only event on November 1.

People can also fill in a form online giving feedback.

Details of the consultation, which runs until November 12, are available here.

Councillor Mackenzie will discuss the scheme with Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce on November 8.

Following the consultation, a final business case will be prepared before approval is sought to deliver the schemes.

What is the Harrogate Station Gateway?

The Harrogate scheme is one of three projects worth a combined £42m in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby funded by the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which encourages cycling and walking.

They are being delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Craven District Council and Selby District Council.

It is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by the middle of next year.

No driver shortage for winter gritting in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire County Council reassured people today that it has enough drivers to operate a full complement of gritters this winter.

The council, which spends between £6m and £10m each winter on gritting, has spent £2.2m on 18 new vehicles to replace some of the 80 in its gritting fleet.

The fleet, which is on call 24 hours a day, is complemented by more than 100 farm contractors.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said:

“People may recently have seen media reports suggesting the risk of a shortage of drivers in parts of the country. We can reassure people that in North Yorkshire we have sufficient drivers and robust systems in place to ensure we can operate our full complement of gritters.

“Our salt stores are well stocked, with 55,000 tonnes of salt – enough to fill 21 Olympic-size swimming pools – plus about 8,000 grit heaps and bins, and we have a strong relationship with a local supplier.”

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The council recently announced it would save up to £120,000 by improving the efficiency of its gritting operation, which led to concerns that the service would be cut back. But Cllr Mackenzie said:

“This change is in no way a reduction in our services and will not compromise the safety of our roads. It enables us to use our resources to maximum effect.

“We remain committed to maintaining the level of service that sees us routinely treat a greater proportion of our network than any other council in England.”

NY Highways formed

The new vehicles join NY Highways, which is one of numerous new companies formed by the council to bring back services in house. NY Highways took over the council’s £40 million a year contract with Ringway to maintain North Yorkshire’s roads.

Ross Bullerwell, managing director of NY Highways, said it was “well prepared” to “ensure we deliver a successful winter programme to keep the roads safe and clear for users”.

The council is also providing travel information to road users from 10 new weather stations on some of the highest and most exposed roads in the county.

Further information about when and where gritting takes place, grit bins and access to live road cameras images can be found here.

Improving county bus services an ‘enormous challenge’, says transport boss

Improving bus services with more regular and reliable journeys across Harrogate and North Yorkshire will be an “enormous challenge”, the county’s transport boss has said.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, made the statement on Tuesday when the authority approved its £116 million Bus Service Improvement Plan, which aims to boost passenger numbers and cut car use.

The plan asks for £116 million of government cash over the next eight years to fund support for existing and new services, a simpler ticketing system, better information on journeys and other measures.

The aim is for services to cover the whole of England’s largest county – something Cllr Mackenzie said will be an “enormous challenge”.

He said: 

“Bus services are very important to us – we as a council spend over £24 million on buses to get our pupils to schools.

“We spend £1.5 million every year subsidising rural bus services, which are not commercially viable and would not run without us.

“We also spend over £7 million a year on providing 127,000 bus passes for free travel for people because of age or disability, or because they are carers.

“But the challenge we have today to provide regular and sustainable bus services throughout the vast geography that North Yorkshire County Council covers with its sparse population is enormous.

“That is why I welcome the national bus strategy.”

Under the government’s bus strategy, £3 billion is to be made available to make buses across the country cheaper and easier to use.

It is hoped these targets will be also met through so-called enhanced partnerships where councils agree to infrastructure improvements in return for better services from bus companies.

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Other proposals in North Yorkshire County Council’s improvement plan include half-price fares for job seekers and apprentices, a new website with information on services and more zero-emission buses.

Pannal park and ride

There is also talk of a park and ride scheme in Harrogate, which officials are looking into but have yet to bring forward any detailed proposals for.

There are two potential sites for this: land near Pannal Golf Club and another site near Buttersyke Bar roundabout, south of the village.

The Harrogate district has more zero tail-pipe emission buses than most places in North Yorkshire and it is hoped more will be provided through a £20m bid for government cash.

If approved, the cash will be used to make all of Harrogate Bus Company’s fleet zero-emissions, with 39 new buses coming to the district.

Alex Hornby, chief executive of Transdev in the north of England, which owns Harrogate Bus Company, has expressed his support for the bid, saying it comes at a time when he believes Harrogate is “ready to embrace more sustainable forms of travel”.

Mr Hornby is also one of several business leaders who will speak at a net-zero conference at Harrogate Convention Centre on Friday when the vision of a greener transport future will be high on the agenda.

Another aim of the improvement plan is to expand the rollout of the council’s on-demand bus service, YorBus, which allows app users to book and track services in Ripon, Bedale and Masham.

There have, however, been questions over why the service has been hailed a “success” after it emerged it has only attracted about three passengers per hour.

In response to this, Cllr Mackenzie said the council would listen to all feedback, but added the number of those praising the service exceeded the number of critics.

He said:

“We may or may not introduce it elsewhere, but so far the signs are very good.”

Highways boss: No ‘exact date’ for completion of Otley Road cycle path

The transport boss for Harrogate has said there is still no completion date for the Otley Road cycle path, despite construction finally starting after nearly three years of delays.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, said he was unable to give any “exact dates” for the completion of the project, which started last month with work on a first phase between Harlow Moor Road and Arthur’s Avenue.

This phase will be completed in late November but covers only a small section of the entire route, which is designed to connect the town centre with Cardale Park.

Cllr Mackenzie said the uncertainties over the end date were due to negotiations with the government and the Duchy of Lancaster – the landowners of the Stray – over the use of grass verges protected by law.

There are also ongoing talks with housebuilders that have promised to contribute cash – and the outcomes will depend on the publication of the West Harrogate Parameters Plan, a major planning document that has also been long delayed.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Mackenzie said: 

“The bylaws required to complete phase one and two have been submitted to the Secretary of State for confirmation, who has agreed the new bylaws in principle.

“Phase three – from Harlow Moor Road to Cardale Park – relies on developer funding from the west of Harrogate urban extension. Plans are currently being worked on which will then lead to more detailed planning, including a feasibility study.

“Since the timescale for the construction of the western end of the cycle path between Harlow Moor Road and Cardale Park depends on developer funding and further work on the parameters plan for the west of Harrogate, we cannot yet provide exact dates.”

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Frustration among cyclists

The cycle path is part of a package of sustainable transport measures for the west of Harrogate, which were first announced in 2018 and will cost £4.6m once completed.

But three years on – and after the delays caused by consultations and utility works – campaigners who have supported the project have now expressed frustration at still not knowing any kind of target completion date.

Kevin Douglas, chairman of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said it was “great news” that the works were finally underway, but added he was “disappointed” that the public could not be told when they will be finished.

He said: 

“The worry is that only a small part of the project will be completed and people will look at it and think it is not doing the job we wanted.

“The idea was that the cycle path will link Cardale Park with the town centre.

“That is the council’s ambition, but it needs to be done in one go to make it effective and so people can use it, rather than it looking like it is not going to be of any benefit.

“I am pleased it has started and hopefully it is going to run smoothly, but not being able to say when it is all going to be finished is disappointing.

“There is going to be a huge number of houses on Otley Road and having a complete cycle lane when these new residents move in would be a big plus.

“Whereas now, it may be that the cycle lane comes sometime later.”

Highways boss confident Kex Gill reroute will avoid inquiry

North Yorkshire’s highways boss has said he is confident that a major £60 million reroute of the A59 at Kex Gill will avoid a public inquiry.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire County Council, said he was not “aware of any risk” that the scheme could be delayed by objections.

The council is currently consulting on compulsory purchase orders to buy 90 acres of land for the project.

If an objection is lodged against any of the orders, it could lead to a public inquiry which would delay the scheme further.

However, Cllr Mackenzie said he felt the risk of the scheme going to an inquiry was low and he was confident it will pass this stage of the project.

He said:

“I’m not aware of any risk. It would be the Secretary of State who would take that decision.

“It would have to be a substantial objection. There is a risk [that it could be called in], but personally I do not see it as a severe risk.”

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In a statement given to a full council meeting in July, Cllr Mackenzie warned that if a public inquiry was required then work could be delayed by up to 15 months.

Council officials said they wanted to come to an agreement with landowners over the price of land, rather than acquire it by a compulsory purchase order.

The council needs to acquire the land before it can begin construction on the scheme.

The project will see a diversion built west of Blubberhouses on the A59 at Kex Gill, which has been blighted by a history of landslides.

Construction of the scheme is expected to take 18 months.

Overnight road closures on A1(M) near Harrogate

Overnight road closures are set to take place at junction 46 of the A1(M), which connects traffic to Kirk Deighton in the Harrogate district.

North Yorkshire County Council will resurface the roundabout above the A1(M) at junction 46. The junction gives access to Wetherby and surrounding villages.

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

“This is a major access point for many people, from residents to visitors arriving in the area to HGV drivers, who use the lorry park within the service facilities.

“This volume of traffic has taken its toll on the carriageway and we appreciate that the quality of the surface at this key location has been a cause of concern locally.

“Our highways officers have always worked to maintain the safety of the carriageway, but I am pleased that funding now enables us to fully resurface the roundabout.”

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Work will be carried out in two phases, from October 4 to 8 for surveys and drainage investigations, then from October 16 to 24 for resurfacing.

Overnight closures of the junction, including the slip roads from the A1(M), will occur between 8pm and 6am during those dates. A diversion will be in place.

Andy Paraskos, member for Ainsty division at the council, said:

“This is a major junction, it’s particularly important to any villagers wanting to travel towards York. The surface is poor, so I am delighted that it is now going to be resurfaced.”

Calls to stem escalating cyclist vs motorist conflict in North Yorkshire

A local authority that has seen surging numbers of cyclists on rural roads since it staged the Tour de France Grand Depart has defended its record in safeguarding riders.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive heard yesterday the upward trend in cyclists on the county’s 9,000km road network since the 2014 race had increased sharply since covid.

Opposition members questioned whether more could be done to resolve an escalating conflict between cyclists and motorists in rural areas.

It comes at a time when the council is under sustained pressure to reconsider its policy of focusing on cycling road improvements in urban areas, particularly Harrogate.

Officers told the meeting statistics showed while cyclists and drivers were equally to blame for cycle collisions in urban areas of the county, cyclists were at fault for about 70 per cent and drivers 30 per cent of cycle collisions on rural roads.

Councillor Stuart Parsons, leader of the authority’s Independent group, called for twin educational campaigns to teach motorists what they need to do when encountering a large group of cyclists in places like Wensleydale and to teach cyclists how they should be riding on the lanes.

He said cyclists were “making themselves a great number of potential enemies and therefore dangerous situations by their approach to using the roads, especially when they are not road taxpayers when using it for their cycles”.

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Coun Parsons added:

“Cyclists do drive motorists somewhat insane, especially when they are travelling two or three abreast, which they seem to be doing more and more. On these winding roads it makes it difficult for anybody to pass safely.”

Councillor Don Mackenzie, the authority’s executive member for access, replied that while some cyclists needed to learn not to “create obstructions on the highway”, his sympathies were with cyclists as their equipment weighed a few kilograms as opposed to cars that weighed one or two tonnes.

Highway Code changes

Government changes to the Highway Code this autumn will require drivers to give greater space to cyclists and require cyclists to ride single file to help vehicles overtake.

The council’s Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Bryn Griffiths said the council’s highways department appeared to be “reactive rather than proactive” over dealing with risks on the roads.

He said despite some roads being riddled with potholes and being popular cycling routes they never appeared to reach the council’s criteria for road repairs.

Coun Griffiths said:

“In industry it is considered good practice to look at near misses and be proactive and engineer or manage out issues that they have.

“Because of the state of the road cyclists are having to meander all across the road to avoid bumps, lumps and hollows and you get near-misses. But these near-misses aren’t recorded and used to help manage the highway.”

Record spending on road repair

The meeting heard the council had higher maintenance standards for popular cycle routes.

Coun Mackenzie said the authority was aware sides of roads tended to get potholes, which forced cyclists to swerve, but added the council had spent a record amount on road repairs this year.

He said near-misses were difficult to measure and because the council had limited funding for road safety it focused on locations which accident data showed were the most hazardous.

Coun Mackenzie said:

“I hear every day ‘this road is an accident waiting to happen’. I’ve heard that about certain roads since I took on this portfolio in 2015 and we’re still waiting for the accident to happen.”