The £10.9m secured for the Harrogate Station Gateway scheme must be spent on promoting cycling and walking, one of the councillors leading the initiative has said.

Yesterday a survey revealed most Harrogate businesses rejected the key proposals of reducing Station Parade to single lane traffic and pedestrianising James Street.

Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, said the project had been funded by the UK government’s Transforming Cities Fund, which was set up specifically to encourage sustainable travel.

Therefore, he added, cycling and walking “must be the focus of this scheme”.

He added:

“It would not be possible, for example, to focus solely on public realm improvements or parking.”

Polarised opinion

An online survey run by the councils supporting the scheme revealed 45% of 1,101 respondents were in favour of the full pedestrianisation of James Street and 49% favoured making Station Parade one lane.

It would therefore seem the scheme enjoys wider support among the general public than it does among businesses but the issue continues to polarise opinion as a second round of consultation looms.

Cllr Mackenzie said:

“I would like to reassure the businesses that a principal reason for our current gateway schemes in Harrogate, Selby and Skipton is to make town centres more attractive places to visit and to boost the local economy in each town.

“With our partners, we undertook an extensive public consultation earlier this year on the initial proposals, in which all residents and businesses were able to give their views. This included events specifically designed to enable business groups, including Harrogate Business Improvement District, to give their feedback.

“The BID expressed the views now presented in its survey at that time, and these were taken into account as we prepared the revised proposals, as was the wider feedback we received from the community.

“A further planned consultation will be launched next month, in which all residents and businesses will be able to comment on the revised proposals. Again, there will be specific opportunities for businesses to comment.

“This will enable us to have a proper dialogue and help us to understand the issues behind the headline figures of the BID’s survey.

“In the meantime, we will continue to engage with the BID.”

Read more:

• Harrogate businesses reject key proposals in £10.9m Station Gateway scheme
• Work on £10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway could start in February

Harrogate’s low traffic neighbourhood on Beech Grove will remain in place, despite a 770-signature petition calling for it to be removed being lodged.

Councillors on North Yorkshire County Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee heard the petition today, which was set up by Harrogate Residents’ Association.

It called for the planters, which the county council put in place to encourage walking and cycling, to be removed from both Beech Grove and Lancaster Road junction.

However, councillors voted to keep the scheme in place on the grounds that the council had committed to improving cycling and walking infrastructure in Harrogate town centre.

Read more:

• Council to debate petition to lift Harrogate’s Beech Grove closure
• ‘It’s working well’: Campaigner counts cyclists using Harrogate’s Beech Grove
• Transport leader expects Harrogate’s Beech Grove road closure to be made permanent

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, said that the measure was a small part of a wider scheme.

He said:

“The Beech Grove LTN is a very modest step to what this area constituency committee asked officers to do. 

“Namely, to introduce a better system of walking and cycling in Harrogate town centre and also to encourage people out of their cars onto their feet and public transport.”

He added that the scheme was “under constant review” and had a maximum term to be in place until August 2022.

‘Lack of consultation’

Anna McIntee and Lucy Gardner, of Harrogate Residents Association, told the committee that the county council had “failed to consult the community” on the scheme.

They added that the council was “reactive and not proactive” when engaging with people.

Mrs McIntee said:

“The priority [for consultation] should have been the residents on Lancaster Road and Beech Grove and the many residents who do not really use social media.”

But, Kevin Douglas, chair of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said that the scheme had “transformed the experience of cycling” in the town and had a benefit for pedestrians, such as dog walkers.

He added that the scheme would become part of a wider cycle network and help connect Otley Road to Victoria Avenue.

Councillors on the committee voted to note the petition, but continue with the experimental scheme until its conclusion next year.

Most Harrogate businesses oppose plans to reduce Station Parade to a single carriageway and pedestrianise James Street, a poll reveals.

The joint Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, Harrogate Business Improvement District and Independent Harrogate survey was sent to more than 900 businesses. A total of 180 replied.

It was conducted shortly before the start of the next round of consultation on the £10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway scheme, which includes plans to pedestrianise some or all of James Street and reduce Station Parade to single lane traffic.

Of those who responded:

– 75% were against the full pedestrianisation of James Street
– 72% were against reducing the A61 from Cheltenham Mount to Station Bridge to a single lane
– 30% were in favour of making lower Station Parade one-way
– 42% in favour of two-way cycle lanes on Bower Road and along East Parade to the Odeon roundabout
– 74% were in favour of improving the area in front of Victoria Shopping Centre with the potential to host a range of events and activities

A total of 79% believed that reducing Station Parade to a single carriageway would be of no benefit to town centre businesses, and 68% felt likewise about pedestrianising James Street.

Read more:

• Harrogate business organisations launch Station Gateway survey
• Harrogate business organisations launch Station Gateway survey
• Full steam ahead on Harrogate’s £7.9 million Station Gateway project

The poll’s findings differ from those of a recent online consultation by the councils proposing the scheme, in which total of 45% of 1,101 respondents were in favour of the full pedestrianisation of James Street and 49% favoured an making Station Parade one lane.

In a joint statement, all three organisations said:

“Before the next phase of the Harrogate Station Gateway Project consultation begins, we canvassed the views of business owners and landlords.

“The questions we asked required either a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, and from conversations we have had with our members and levy payers over many months, the results come as no surprise, i.e. keeping the James Street and Station Parade status quo.

“Those who responded also strongly rejected the idea that pedestrianising James Street and reducing Station Parade to a single lane would bring business benefits.

“We would like to thank those who took the time to participate in this survey, the findings of which now be shared with North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council officers and members.

“Whilst we welcome investment in the town centre, we are keen to see it spent improving access for all, not just those arriving by foot or bicycle, whilst at the same time enhancing the existing public spaces with quality materials.

“We also appreciate the funding the authorities has received has to be used in specific ways which will constrain what they do, but we cannot ignore our businesses views regarding this project.

“Now covid restrictions are lifted, we ask that during the next round of consultation there are plenty of opportunities for the public to inspect the plans and speak to the project team, in person, and not just via online presentations.

“For our part, we will be looking to hold an event for businesses, in particular for those whose livelihoods are dependent on a vibrant town centre, so they can fully understand the benefits we are told this scheme will bring.”

The Station Gateway project, which aims to improve walking and cycling in town, is funded is funded by the government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

Both North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council support the initiative and hope to start work early next year.

North Yorkshire County Council has been criticised for delaying scrutiny of its loss-making Brierley Group.

The council set up the Brierley Group in 2017 to bring together council-owned companies and save money.

But the group, which includes housebuilding company Brierley Homes, reported a loss of £639,000 last year.

Brierley Homes’ developments include Woodfield Square in Bilton and Millwright Park in Pateley Bridge.

Council officials this week told a shareholder committee the group had bounced back with a “really positive” first three months of the financial year.

But a Conservative councillor questioned why the Tory-run authority had delayed its corporate scrutiny committee examining the performance of the Brierley Group by some nine months.

Cllr Richard Musgrave, who represents Escrick, said: 

“Our scrutiny is pretty much pointless if it is so out of date considering it.

“The Brierley Group made a whacking great loss for the year to March 2021.

“I certainly have some questions I would like to ask about the performance of the Brierley Group.”

Does council have business acumen?

Cllr Musgrave’s concerns follow other members of the authority questioning whether the council has the necessary business acumen to run the array of firms, in particular housebuilding.

However, senior county councillors said they were positive the losses could be recouped.

The committee was told the Brierley Group was seeing “promising shoots of recovery”, with a predicted profit by the end of the year of £51,000 as complications arising from the covid pandemic begin to wane.

Read more:

• County council’s trading company records £639,000 loss
• County council ‘optimistic’ over redeeming Brierley Group losses

Members heard the Brierley Group’s education service was adapting to meet changing demands and its internet access arm had seen a strong start to the year.

They were also told First North Law, a council-controlled law firm, had been buoyed by improved performance, waste management company Yorwaste had performed well and its building design consultancy was forecasting a return to profitability.

However, Brierley Homes was forecast to generate a loss for the year of £712,000.

The meeting heard a primary concern for Brierley Homes was the availability of materials and labour to complete committed projects to time, cost and quality.

Brierley has a ‘perception problem’

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said the outlook for Brierley Homes was much more positive than the council had become accustomed to over the last year, and highlighted how the authority was forecast to receive £4.3 million in savings and benefits this year from its companies.

Cllr Gareth Dadd, the council’s finance executive member, said Brierley Homes was suffering from a “perception problem” due to upfront housebuilding costs and when its developments in Harrogate and Pateley Bridge were completed next year the figures would look different.

He said: 

“If you were a layman looking at that sort of balance loss or perceived loss you would be quite startled by it. We know that it is not a true reflection.

“We have a duty to shoot this loose rabbit dead that it is costing the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds or has even snowballed into millions.

“It is going to take some time before we realise the benefits of it. Politically we are going to have to live with the perception issue with the hope that those who are casting doubt on it listen to the full story and not just a headline figure.”

The number of councillors representing the Harrogate district as a whole could be reduced by nearly two-thirds after devolution, under proposals for a new super council in North Yorkshire.

A working group led by North Yorkshire County Council’s former leader Cllr John Weighell has concluded 89 councillors should be elected to serve communities stretching from Skipton to Whitby.

Under the current two-tier system, 57 councillors are elected to serve the Harrogate district on the district and county councils. Forty are elected to Harrogate Borough Council, which is the district authority, and 17 are elected to North Yorkshire County Council. Some people serve as councillors on both councils.

Under plans for the unitary council, just 20 councillors would be elected to serve the Harrogate district on the new super council — a drop of nearly two-thirds.

The proposals would see wards such as Harrogate Stray merged with Harrogate Hookstone to create larger new wards on the unitary council.

Some of the wards proposed by North Yorkshire County Council for the new unitary authority.

6,000 voters per councillor

The 89 councillors proposed for the whole of North Yorkshire on the super council would be 17 more than are currently elected to North Yorkshire County Council.

Each councillor would represent around 6,000 voters, which is almost double the number some currently represent.

There are concerns over councillors’ workloads under the new unitary authority because they will be responsible for matters currently covered by the county and seven district authorities.

Read more:

• What will one super council for North Yorkshire look like?
• County council to set aside £34 million for devolution transition
• Robert Jenrick: Two councils for North Yorkshire would have been risky

The number of elected members who will make decisions on the unitary authority and the composition of the wards they will represent is expected to be laid before parliament in January, ahead of polls in May to elect councillors to run the county council for a year and then sit on the unitary authority for a further four years.

Westminster to have final say

Proposed wards for the unitary council have been shaped by using parliamentary constituencies, district council wards or county council divisions.

Cllr Carl Les, the leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“We will make a proposal, but it will be a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government decision. 

“I’m pleased to see there has been proposed a very small number of two-member wards and no three-member wards.”

Cllr Les added that government guidance setting a maximum of 90 councillors for the unitary authority reflected the county council’s local government reorganisation proposal and would enable residents to be well represented.

The authority’s Labour group leader, Cllr Eric Broadbent, said while the proposal was following government-imposed rules, every political group appeared to be looking after their own interests.

He said: 

“I hope that there is fairness all round. I’m keeping my eye on everything and if I get complaints from Labour members, I will propose changes.”

Bewerley Park, the outdoor residential learning site used by generations of Harrogate district students, has been saved from the axe.

North Yorkshire County Council announced last year it would review the future of the site, which was built in the 1940s and consists mainly of wooden huts.

A consultation revealed overwhelming support to maintain the facility and next week the council’s executive will be recommended to approve funding for redevelopment.

However, there is a proviso that the service will be able to operate sustainably in the future and without any subsidy from council taxpayers.

The council is recommending an initial £400,000 be spent drawing up a business case to bring Bewerley Park up to modern-day standards and allow it to work in a more commercial manner.

Cllr Stanley Lumley, member for Pateley Bridge division, welcomed the news. He added:

“Bewerley Park is a much-loved facility. I was overwhelmed with the concern from the local community and beyond when it was announced the centre was under review.

“I strongly believe the outdoor learning service is essential for young people’s physical and mental wellbeing, especially after the crisis in wellbeing among young people during lockdown.

“It has been a rite of passage in North Yorkshire for many generations. The service has to go forward on a business-like, sustainable footing, but we are moving forward on a positive footing.”

Benefits to young people

The council review into the outdoor learning service began in February gathered feedback from hundreds of adults, children and schools.

It also included the East Barnaby site, near Whitby, which along with Bewerley Park was closed due to covid. They have since reopened.

The review concluded the outdoor learning service contributed to young people leading “lifelong healthy lifestyles with improved social, emotional and mental health and resilience and reduced health inequalities”.

Those taking part in the review said the service helped children and young people improve wellbeing and life skill. A total of 81 per cent said it helped participants learn to manage risk and 78 per cent said it helped with emotional skills.

Read more:

• Future of Bewerley Park to be decided in the autumn
• Harrogate council reveals new £18,000 street cleaning machine

The review also concluded the design and layout of the current buildings were found to not meet the demands of a modern outdoor education centre and the large dormitories limited the number of groups that can use the centre at any one time.

The review, which aims to increase bookings, recommended only minor improvements to facilities at the council’s other outdoor site in East Barnby.

Cllr Patrick Mulligan, executive member for education and skills said:

“If the proposals are approved later this month, then the service has been given the opportunity to thrive, but it must be commercially viable and be more financially independent if it secures the investment needed to bring facilities up to standard.

“Generations of people of all ages have fond memories of school trips where they took part in outdoor adventures and tried many activities for the first time, from caving to gorge-walking and canoeing.

“But its future is dependent on it being used.”

Cllr Mulligan urged schools, charities and other groups to use the sites, which are open year-round,

If the investment is agreed, then we still need to secure the future of the service by making sure it is well-used, year round, so that generations to come can continue to create memories of a lifetime in the North Yorkshire countryside.”

Further details are available here.

A 770-signature petition calling for Harrogate’s first low traffic neighbourhood to be removed is to be debated by councillors this week.

Members of North Yorkshire County Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee will meet on Thursday to discuss the traffic restrictions.

They were introduced in February and have proved popular with pedestrians and cyclists but caused complaints from some locals.

The trial restrictions have seen planters placed on Beech Grove to stop through traffic and create quieter streets where residents feel safer walking and cycling.

It has made getting around the area by car more difficult and that is the idea behind it – to decrease car use.

David Pickering is one of the 770 residents who have signed the petition against the restrictions, which he said have only made traffic worse on surrounding streets.

He said: 

“I continue to be surprised by the enthusiasm of North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council to spend taxpayers’ money on projects which are universally unpopular with local residents.

“It is all very well for public sector employees to sit around examining ways of maintaining budgets and tinkering with local roads to divert traffic when it has no material impact whatsoever on their personal lives.

“But on the ground it will concentrate traffic down certain roads.

“Anyone with a modicum of common sense would be able to work out that it will just concentrate traffic on Cold Bath Road and Queens Road.

“I just don’t see the point of the initiative.”

The low traffic neighbourhood was introduced by highways authority North Yorkshire County Council and received the strong backing of Harrogate Borough Council.

Read more:

• ‘It’s working well’: Campaigner counts cyclists using Harrogate’s Beech Grove
• Around three cyclists an hour using Harrogate’s new low traffic neighbourhood
• Beech Grove closure: County council receives 600-signature petition

Last month, the county council ended a public consultation on the restrictions ahead of a decision on whether to extend the 18-month trial, make the road changes permanent or scrap them altogether.

Barriers on Victoria Road

Last month the county council also announced plans to introduce a one-way traffic filter on nearby Victoria Road in another trial to improve road safety and encourage cycling and walking.

These restrictions will be trialled from this month and involve erecting a barrier to prevent vehicles from leaving to join Otley Road.

Mr Pickering said many residents were also against these plans, which he fears will make traffic “unbearable” on nearby Queens Road and Cold Bath Road.

The county council was contacted for comment but did not respond by the time of publication.

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. See below for details on how to contribute.

It’s wrong to say pedestrians welcome the Otley Road cycle path

Tewit Well and Sun Colonnade are just two examples of gross disrepair

Malcolm Neesam is in the news again regarding ‘the slovenly attitude of the authorities towards maintaining Harrogate’s attractions’.

I, and I’m sure a very great many others, absolutely agree. But it’s not just the Tewit Well and the Sun Colonnade that have fallen into gross disrepair — what about the similarly iconic bandstand at the rear of the Mercer Gallery, adjacent to the public toilets? Its dilapidated and abused state makes it a health and safety accident waiting to happen.

Why do the authorities not appreciate the role that these buildings play in attracting visitors to Harrogate and do something about restoring and/or maintaining them?

Agreed, the floral displays are exquisite and rewilding of parts of the Stray is a good idea. But our pavements are strewn with litter and we have to manoeuvre our way over damaged paving and around waste/recycling bins; changes to our road systems are thrust upon us even though they are having and will have serious repercussions; and there is irresponsible and intimidating behaviour in our public spaces and on our roads.

Would it be too much to ask the authorities, who we elected to represent us and whose wages we pay, to take into consideration our wants, needs and expectations in the way they manage Harrogate?

Isn’t a councillor’s primary role to represent those who live in their ward and provide a bridge between the community and the council? But maybe I expect too much and will just have to get on my bike…

Val Michie, Harrogate

The amount of litter in Harrogate is a disgrace

I agree entirely with David Pickering’s comments published in Stray Views on September 5. I would further add that not only the amount of litter is a disgrace in the town centre but also the filthy state of the pavements. Our town should be in pristine condition for visitor and residence alike.

Also, David’s commented on the state of the roads in Harrogate. Again I wish to add a request to North Yorkshire County Council that monies are allocated to improve the roads and allocate a patching gang to fill in the potholes. When potholes are marked in white, why does it take up to 90 days (many go over this time span) to repair them?

Also I would like to ask Harrogate Borough Council why there are weeds and plants growing in kerbs and gutters? What has happened to the mechanical road sweepers?

David James, St. Georges ward, Harrogate

Do you have 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.

Acute staff shortages in the care sector are forcing a disabled Ripon man to miss meals and stay in bed for up to 12 hours a day.

Daniel Abel, 37, has cerebral palsy and requires full-time care to live independently.

Mr Abel was discharged by a private sector care provider recently due to staff shortages, which brought him under the care of North Yorkshire County Council‘s emergency reablement service.

Mr Abel said the county council told him he would be under its care for up to three weeks but almost four weeks have passed and there is still no sign of being moved to a new provider.

Under his current care plan, he has a carer for one hour in the morning, 45 minutes at lunch time and another hour at bed time. By contrast, he received four hours of care in the morning and four hours at night with his previous provider.

Because Mr Abel no longer receives care at teatime he goes without an evening meal because he is too scared he may hurt himself.

Can’t eat, drink or go to toilet

His final carer arrives at 8pm to put him to bed, where he remains for almost 12 hours unable to eat, drink or go to the toilet.

He said being in bed for this much time also contributed to skin problems. Mr Abel added:

“I am someone who wishes I didn’t need care but unfortunately I do. I feel like with my current care I can’t have a life.

“The bigger care crisis is not my problem. I have to rely on my dad, who is 60-odd, to come and change the bed at night. When I’m having to get friends and dad to come over to me it’s uncomfortable for them and for me.

“I just want care to get me up, washed and dressed and then left to get on with my life.”

Read more:

• Ripon mayor’s charity event proves a hit
• Display focuses on Ripon’s Spa Quarter regeneration

He said he has spoken with another Harrogate care provider, which said it can offer him care but it may take three more weeks because of recruitment problems.

1,000 job vacancies

Richard Webb, corporate director for health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Adult social care is vitally important and we are pulling out all the stops to support the sector in every way possible during current challenges.

“On any given day across the county there are at least 1,000 jobs available. Never has the need for people to work in care been so great yet we are receiving 70% less applications for care jobs now then we were only a few months ago.

“These acute staffing shortages mean providers are handing back packages of care to us and our staff are going above and beyond to meet people’s needs.

“Reablement is a service we provide which is free of charge at the point of need and can last for up to six weeks and is aimed at supporting people to maximise their independence.

“In some circumstances our reablement service can continue to provide care at home until a new provider can be found and new care arrangements are put in place – where this happens, it becomes a charged-for service.”

Harrogate parents have spoken of “chaos” and “shambles” on a school bus to Rossett School following changes to the service for the new term.

Students on the S3 bus have been subject to overcrowding and reportedly told to leave the bus for an alternative service.

North Yorkshire County Council, which contracts school buses to private bus companies, announced last week that Harrogate Bus Company‘s 780H, 781H, 782H, 783H, 784H services had been cancelled.

The old routes began in the Jennyfields, Bilton and Woodlands areas of Harrogate. Children were instead advised to take the 6, 52, S3, 8A, 620H and 620H services.

However, parents have told the Stray Ferret that since the changes the number S3 service through Jennyfields has been overcrowded and chaotic.

Read more:

• Otley Road cycle route work confirmed to start in 12 days
• Around three cyclists an hour using Harrogate’s new low traffic neighbourhood
• Five school bus routes to Rossett replaced as autumn term begins

Ann Lambert, a grandparent of a child who attends Rossett, described the service as chaotic and raised concern that children on free bus passes were affected.

She said:

“There was chaos this morning on the bus from Jennyfields.

“The bus was full and children were told to get off by the time they reached the Co-op, so all other stops were driven past.

“Children were told they can also get a service bus, which not only adds time, but does not account for the children who get a free bus pass provided by North Yorkshire County Council, which is for a specified service only.”

‘Shambles this morning’

Harrogate parent Chris Wingate:

“It was a shambles this morning on the Jennyfields to Rossett bus with mass overcrowding and students turned away after only about half the route complete.

“On the way home the bus was also overcrowded with many students concerned and getting off early as they felt too cramped and unsafe.:

In response to the concerns over the S3 service, Michael Leah, assistant director for travel and the environment at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Service S3 is one of a number of commercial local bus services run by The Harrogate Bus Company and we do not financially support it. 

“However, we do buy passes from the company for pupils entitled to free home-to-school transport so they can use the service. The bus company also sell seats to non-entitled pupils where they are available.

“We are aware that the service had an issue with overloading yesterday and we are talking to the bus company about passenger numbers in an effort to resolve the issue quickly. 

“We are not aware that any of our children entitled to free home-to-school passes on the S3 were refused travel today, but we are investigating.”

The Stray Ferret has approached Transdev, which owns the Harrogate Bus Company, for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Council apologises over short notice

Concerns about overcrowding come after parents in Harrogate raised concerns on social media about the lack of notice about the change in service.

Some parents described the changes as confusing and said they should have been announced sooner.

An email seen by the Stray Ferret from the council’s Passenger Transport Department said the authority had experienced delays in the renewal of the contract for the service due to covid and additional work in the procurement process.

It said this left little time to publicise the changes. However, the council added that it had told schools to expect changes to services in September.

The authority said:

“Obviously we apologise for the short notice of these changes and for any inconvenience that it has caused parents and pupils but we are confident that the new service network is efficient and that pupils will soon get used to the changes.”

Has your child been affected by the changes to the school bus service? Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk