Highways bosses should not ‘shy away’ from sustainable transport, says council leader

The conservative leader of Harrogate Borough Council leader has said highways officials should not “shy away” from transport measures which “make use of the private car more difficult”.

Speaking before a Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee today, Cllr Richard Cooper welcomed measures for more cycle lanes and sustainable transport plans for the town.

Cllr Cooper, who also represents Harrogate central on the county council, told the committee that any opposition to such measures was inevitable.

However, he said the county council, which is the highways authority, should not hide from the public what the measures are intended to do.

He said:

“I think it’s a big job to do in persuading the public that they actually need also to fully get behind the alternative to more roads and congestion.

“That alternative I’m afraid is, and we should not hide it from people, making the use of the private car more difficult. It’s taking away tarmac that is dedicated to private cars and giving it to cyclists, pedestrians and public transport.

“Let’s not shy away from that, that is what we are talking about.”

He added that “there will always be a level of protest” and that council bosses should take those views into account.

Read more:

But, Cllr Cooper said the council ultimately had a decision to make which should reflect the authority’s objectives to reduce carbon emissions.

His comments come as North Yorkshire County Council officers will go to detailed consultation on Monday on active travel plans in Harrogate.

The proposals include cycle lanes on Victoria Avenue and on the A59 Maple Close between Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Meanwhile, Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, announced that a controversial plan to make Oatlands Drive one-way would be scrapped.

Instead, the council will consult on proposals for a 20 mile per hour zone on the road.

The county council received £1,011,750 for cycling improvements and outlined three cycle route projects in Harrogate.

Residents welcome decision to drop Oatlands Drive one-way scheme

Residents and councillors have welcomed a move by North Yorkshire County Council to shelve plans for a one-way system on Oatlands Drive.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, confirmed today that the controversial proposal would be scrapped and not included in a detailed consultation from Monday.

It comes as the county council received “overwhelming” opposition after its initial consultation, with 57% of respondents opposed to the plan.

A leaflet campaign was also launched by residents against the scheme which encouraged people to send e-mails to local councillors, media and council officers objecting to the scheme.

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

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access at North Yorkshire County Council, announced today that the one-way plan would be dropped.

Cllr Mackenzie told the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee today that a decision was made to drop the plan after a meeting with officers yesterday. He said it became clear that in “most cases” residents were “vehemently opposed” to the proposal.

Anna McIntee, a local resident whose petition calling on the plans to be scrapped attracted more than 1,700 signatures, said she was delighted with the news.

She said:

“I was watching the meeting live and when I heard the news I jumped around and screamed, I am over the moon. It is the right decision.

“This was an absolutely ludicrous idea. However, the fight is not over. We still need to oppose the Station Gateway plans as that would impact a lot of people as well.”

Terry Bramall CBE, who lives on St James Drive, opposed the scheme and was concerned it would lead to extra traffic on his road. He joined a group locally who campaigned against it.
Mr Bramall said:
“I am delighted that it’s been shelved. It was a plan that had not been thought through, particularly with respect to the consequences there would have been on neighbouring estates.
“What we should be seeing is a strategic plan where we have principal thoroughfares that relieve smaller side roads.”

Meanwhile, Cllr John Ennis, who represents Oatlands on the county council, said he had received strong opposition to the plans from residents and that he was “grateful” for the decision to scrap the scheme.

Council bosses will now go to the next stage of consultation on the scheme – which the authority bid £215,000 in government funding for – from Monday. It will include proposals for a 20 mile per hour zone on the road.

Read more:

Other measures including improvements to the toucan crossing on York Place, raised speed platforms at crossings at Slingsby Walk and outside St Aidan’s school will also be included.

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

However, Kevin Douglas, chair of Harrogate and District Cycle Action, said he was disappointed that the one-way system had not been kept in the plans.

He said a series of measures were required for the road in order to meet carbon reduction targets.

Mr Douglas said:

“I’m very disappointed it’s not gone through. I don’t know if NYCC will now get the funding.

“I hoped they would consult again on the details for the scheme in a second phase.

“The 20 mph zone is positive, but it depends on how they do it. Will they just put a sign up? It would be really helpful if they would put in traffic calming measures.

“It should be a series of measures, not either/or.

“People have objected and I accept that people have different views from our own. But how are we going to meet our carbon reduction targets without making changes?”

Oatlands Drive one-way plans scrapped

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:

 

Census will provide an ‘everlasting picture of North Yorkshire during pandemic’

North Yorkshire residents are being urged to complete their census forms this weekend.

The census survey, which happens every 10 years, gives a snapshot of the population at that time and is used to inform local and national government policy.

Households across the county should have received an invitation to take part in the 2021 version, which includes a new question for armed forces veterans and two voluntary questions about gender identity and sexual orientation.

Data from the census will be available in 2022 but no personal data will be released for 100 years.

Sunday is census day and people are being urged to complete the survey, which takes about 20 minutes, as soon as possible after then although it can be done now.

County council leader Carl Les said:

“Everyone benefits from the census. It informs decisions nationally and locally on vital services and issues.

“Ultimately, it ensures millions of pounds are invested in emergency services, mental health care, school places, hospital beds, houses, roads, GPs’ and dentists’ services based on the information people give.

“That’s why it is important to complete the census – to ensure an accurate picture exists to help us to direct our funds and services to the right places.”

Read more:

Ruth Dyble, census engagement manager at the Office for National Statistics, said the census would provide “an everlasting picture of North Yorkshire during a pandemic”. She added:

“It’s a great thing to do as a family and quick and easy to complete. I would encourage everyone to make sure their voice is heard and leave a record for future generations.”

 

 

 

Major transport schemes for Harrogate up for debate on Thursday

Four major transport schemes aiming to get Harrogate walking and cycling towards a greener future are set to be debated this week.

North Yorkshire County Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee will meet on Thursday to discuss the next stages of the £7.9m Station Gateway project, Otley Road cycle path, Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood and schemes under the government’s Active Travel Fund.

The projects are funded from different sources and are at varying stages of development. But all have the same aim to cut carbon emissions by making the towns more accessible by bike or on foot.

Station Gateway

The Station Gateway project has the potential to be the biggest shake-up in the town centre for decades and a report to Thursday’s meeting says it is focusing on “investment in infrastructure to improve public and sustainable transport connectivity”.

What that means in simple terms is giving priority to pedestrians and cyclists, which could involve Station Parade being reduced to one lane of traffic and the full or partial pedestrianisation of James Street.

Under the plans still being drawn up are also two new bus priority areas at Lower Station Parade and Cheltenham Parade, junction upgrades, new cycle lanes and cycle storage facilities, as well as an increase in safe space for people on foot, new flexible public events spaces and water features.

A consultation on this scheme is underway and once it ends on March 24 the aim is to finalise designs for construction to begin by summer 2022 with completion in 2023.

Otley Road cycle path

The long-delayed Otley Road cycle path project was first unveiled in 2017 as part of a wider £4.6m package of sustainable transport measures for the west of Harrogate.

Four years on and North Yorkshire County Council has still not started construction because of delays with utility works and drawn out discussions over changing byelaws so parts of the Stray can be used for the two-way cycle path.

But the report to Thursday’s meeting says preliminary roadworks are now underway and that it is hoped construction of a first phase could finally start in autumn this year.

Read more:

Beech Grove 

The Low Traffic Neighbourhood on Beech Grove caused controversy when it was introduced earlier this year with planters placed on the road 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 drive down car use.

The report to councillors says it should be noted that the Low Traffic Neighbourhood is temporary for now but could become permanent subject to an ongoing consultation, which ends in August.

Active Travel Fund

The final scheme set for debate on Thursday is the Active Travel Fund from which North Yorkshire County Council has received more than £1.2m of government cash to get more people walking and cycling as the nation emerges from the pandemic.

The cash will be used for three projects in Harrogate, including segregated cycle lanes and improved crossings on the A59 between the town and Knaresborough, as well as the same upgrades plus bike storage in the Victoria Avenue area of Harrogate.

There are also plans for cycle lanes and a one-way system for vehicles on Oatlands Drive but this has been met with a hostile response from residents, with 50% of respondents to an online survey strongly opposing the plans.

North Yorkshire County Council previously said it acknowledged the concerns over traffic levels and how much existing cycle lanes are used and added all comments would be taken into account before a final decision is made.

The meeting will start at 10am and can be viewed on the county council’s YouTube channel.

‘Create low emission zone in Harrogate’

A bus company has called for Harrogate to introduce a low emission zone as part of the debate about the proposed £7.9 million Station Gateway project.

If adopted, only low polluting hybrid and electric vehicles would have access to Lower Station Parade, which runs alongside the town’s bus station.

The Station Gateway project is a government-funded scheme to regenerate the town centre and promote sustainable travel.

Consultation is ongoing, and Alex Hornby, chief executive of the Harrogate Bus Company, a subsidiary of Transdev, said a low emission zone should be created covering the town’s bus station and Lower Station Parade alongside it.

Currently, Lower Station Parade is a one-way street with two lanes of traffic, both of which are open to all road users.

He said:

“While we see the Station Gateway proposals as a positive step towards our shared aim of a low emission town, we must go further for Harrogate’s future by making the most of this tremendous opportunity.

“The creation of a low emission zone, covering the current bus station, plus Lower Station Parade which currently divides the bus and rail stations from the main shopping area, is vital if we are serious about improving Harrogate’s air quality.”

Mr Hornby said the company’s electric buses had improved air quality but more needed to be done:

“The proposed bus priority measures at Lower Station Parade and Cheltenham Parade – the first such measures to be put forward in the town’s history – are a positive start, and are to be welcomed, but by themselves are unlikely to go far enough to achieve Harrogate Borough Council’s stated aim of creating a net-zero carbon economy by 2038.”

Read more:

Mr Hornby added previous consultations had shown a majority of the public supported non-car solutions to traffic problems and “now is the time for bold thinking”.

A partnership of North Yorkshire local authorities has secured £31 million from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities fund for three separate projects in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby.

The aim is to finalise designs and start construction work by summer 2022, with completion in 2023.

An online consultation into the Station Gateway proposals runs until Wednesday 24 March 2021. You can take part here:

Obituary: Geoff Webber’s life was dedicated to helping others

A long-serving councillor and community champion, Geoff Webber has died at the age of 75 after a short illness.

Tributes have come from across the political spectrum, as well as the community groups he worked with and supported over the years.

His family described him as a “loving husband, father and grandfather” who was dedicated to helping others.

Born in 1945, Cllr Webber had a 32-year career in the RAF before moving to Harrogate with his wife, Pat, and their three sons, Samuel, Simon and Matthew.

He spent the final years of his service at the St George’s base in the town, including a four-month tour of the Falkland Islands, followed by a spell as a civil servant back in Harrogate. Having left school with few qualifications, he gained a degree in the late 1980s through the Open University.

When St George’s was closed in 1994, Cllr Webber decided to open a music shop specialising in classical and jazz. Pomp and Circumstance began its life in Wetherby before moving to Commercial Street in the centre of Harrogate.

Cllr Webber became heavily involved in his community in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when plans were being put forward to build a supermarket around the Jennyfield area. He helped to establish a community group and fought the plans for the junction of Jenny Field Drive with Ripon Road, which instead became the site of the Hydro swimming pool with open green space for locals to enjoy.

Matthew said his desire to help people drove him to get involved in local politics, as well as community issues.

Supporting homeless people

One of his passions was access to affordable and social housing, so it was natural that he became a volunteer and supporter of Harrogate Homeless Project.

Its chairman, John Harris, told the Stray Ferret:

“It is so sad to hear of the death of Geoff: he was a great supporter of Harrogate Homeless Project. As well as being a trustee he was deputy chair and chair as well – and importantly he was a volunteer with Pat, preparing meals at the day centre each week for years.

“The day centre was a priority for him as HHP needed to focus on fundraising for it and it is the key place for the trust to be established, leading to encouraging homeless individuals to a life off the streets. As a member of the Wesley Chapel he was thrilled when HHP were able to transfer to the Lower Hall which will be transformational for what HHP can provide in the future, post Covid.

“We are so grateful to Geoff for his wonderful commitment over very many years to the homeless – and this included personal help. It was unstinting and committed support from someone who was determined to help others in desperate need.

“Our condolences to Pat and his family.”

Geoff Webber, pictured far left on the middle row, was a keen supporter of Bilton and Woodfield Library. Greta Knight received an award on behalf of the library from NYCC chairman Jim Clark last year.

Bilton and Woodfield Community Library also received extensive support from Cllr Webber over the years. Chairman Greta Knight said:

“Geoff Webber was a staunch supporter of Bilton & Woodfield Community Library from the very beginning, in fact it was he who identified our current premises on Woodfield Road as a suitable home for us when we moved out of the old vicarage.

“He always attended any events that we held, and along with his wife Pat was a regular at our Saturday coffee mornings. He voiced any concerns we had with NYCC on our behalf and was always prepared to help us whenever he could.

“We will miss his support and enthusiasm for what we have achieved in the library.”

Cllr Webber supported the Richard Taylor Foundation, which helps families struggling to meet the costs of education, including school trips and uniforms. He was also a governor at Woodfield Community Primary School, which paid tribute to him:

“We were incredibly saddened to hear of Geoff’s passing; he served our school as a Governor for a number of years and will be truly missed in the community. Our thoughts are with his family.”

Local politics

Cllr Webber was first elected to North Yorkshire County Council in 1993, representing the Bilton and Nidd Gorge division for the next eight years. He was re-elected in 2009 for four years, after which he said he would not stand again – but he was re-elected in 2017.

Tributes have already been paid by Cllr Webber’s colleagues at NYCC, who praised his dedication to the role and his willingness to engage in productive debate.

Cllr Webber also sat on Harrogate Borough Council for 17 years, first representing the Duchy ward from 1994 to 2002 and then the Saltergate ward from 2002 to 2011.

During that time, he was Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate for a year in 2006. He also served as council leader and chaired the planning committee.

Royal Hall

It was a time of significant change for the district in many ways, and one of his proudest achievements was helping to save the Royal Hall.

By 2000, the building had fallen into disrepair and faced being mothballed because of the huge repair bill for major structural problems. However, Cllr Webber called for a meeting of the council to find a way forward.

As a result, £8m of funding was found from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Harrogate Borough Council to save the building, along with a massive community effort to raise £2.7m. The Royal Hall was reopened in 2008 and returned to active use.

Cllr Webber was made an honorary alderman of Harrogate in 2011, in recognition of his long service. A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“It is with great sadness to hear that Honorary Alderman Webber has passed away. Our thoughts and condolences go his family and friends.”

Read more:

Cllr Webber was still active in local politics until the beginning of this year. He spoke passionately about devolution at a meeting of NYCC in November, and put forward the motion that led to the council writing to local hospital bosses to call for free parking for NHS staff.

After being diagnosed with cancer six weeks ago, Cllr Webber spent time on the Littondale Ward at Harrogate District Hospital before moving to St Michael’s Hospice, where he died on Thursday morning.

His family said they were grateful to all those who provided outstanding care for him in his final weeks, and that they were able to be with him throughout his illness at both the hospital and the hospice.

He leaves wife Pat and sons Simon and Matthew, who still live locally, and Samuel, who lives in Florida, along with four grandchildren to whom he was devoted. Matthew said:

“He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. For me, he was also a wise counsel in my role in local politics, for advice and support.”

A small family funeral will be held in line with covid restrictions, and led by Lord Willis, according to Cllr Webber’s wishes. Later in the year, the family hope to be able to hold a more formal service at the Wesley Chapel to celebrate his life.

Could Harrogate’s Queen Victoria monument be moved?

Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam has raised concerns the £7.8 million Station Gateway project could lead to the town’s Queen Victoria monument being moved.

The white marble monument on Station Parade was given to the town in 1887 and has looked down on many generations since.

But a consultation on the proposed gateway project, which would radically alter Station Parade, asks people for their views on moving the monument.

The consultation says:

“We have proposed changes to the way the space around the monument is used.

“These changes do not require the monument be moved but we would welcome people’s thoughts on whether this is the best location for the monument.

“We appreciate this monument is very important to the community and any plans to move it would require extensive and meaningful engagement with the public and key stakeholders.”

Read more:

Mr Neesam said he understood that in 1887, when Richard Ellis presented the statue, he inserted several covenants into the deed of gift, requiring that if any attempt were made to move the statue, the land should be offered back to the Ellis family.

It is not known whether the Ellis family still has any links with Harrogate but any attempt to move it could be problematic.

Karl Battersby, director of business and environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council, which is one of the councils behind the gateway project, said:

“The proposals put forward for consultation do not require the Queen Victoria monument to be moved.

“It is not our intention to move the monument, nor is it necessary to the scheme.”

Asked whether he was satisfied with the statement, Mr Neesam said:

“I am not re-assured by this statement. If they have no intention of moving the statue, why invite public opinion?”

 

Half of responses ‘strongly oppose’ Oatlands Drive plan

Half of the responses to a consultation over plans to make Oatlands Drive in Harrogate one-way were strongly against the proposal, according to a new report.

Of the 2,298 people who responded to North Yorkshire County Council’s consultation, 50% indicated they ‘strongly oppose’ the scheme, while 38% said they supported or strongly supported it.

The scheme proposes making the road one-way southbound, towards Hookstone Drive, to create more space for cycle paths and widened footpaths.

It has already proved controversial, with more than 1,600 people having signed a petition set up by resident Anna McIntee opposing the plans. Opponents have cited the impact on school buses and the increasing creation of a ‘rat run’ on surrounding residential streets at peak times.

However, Harrogate and District Cycling Action said roads including Oatlands Drive need to be made safer for cyclists in order to reduce traffic around Harrogate.

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.”

Read more:

In a report due to be considered by NYCC’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee next week, network strategy officer Louise Neale said:

“In total, we assessed over three hundred potential schemes to put forward as part of our bid for tranche two [funding from the Department for Transport] in August 2020.

“The criteria of the funding was particularly stringent and with a relatively small amount of funding available only a handful of schemes were deemed suitable for this round of funding. Three of the five schemes included in the bid were in Harrogate and Knaresborough.”

As well as the Oatlands Drive scheme, the consultation asked for people’s views on plans to introduce cycle lanes and crossings on the A59 near Harrogate Golf Club, and to improve cycling and pedestrian infrastructure on Victoria Avenue near Harrogate Library.

Both of those schemes proved more popular in the consultation, with 44% and 43% respectively supporting or strongly supporting them.

Full details of the responses to the consultation have not yet been released, but NYCC said it will take the feedback into account. In her report for the area committee, Ms Neale added:

“The first round of consultation focussed on the corridors for the routes rather than detailed design. The feedback from the first round of consultation will be collated to inform more detailed consultation plans.

“The second round of consultation is planned to take place in late March.”

Extra cash for Harrogate district families struggling in pandemic

Families across the Harrogate district struggling to pay their bills could receive one-off support of £20 thanks to North Yorkshire County Council.

The money is in addition to the £15 per week food vouchers the authority will give to families entitled to free school meals.

It was revealed at a meeting of NYCC’s executive today that the government has provided additional funding to help families, and the authority agreed to let headteachers use their discretion about which families should receive the money.

NYCC’s deputy leader, Cllr Gareth Dadd, told the meeting:

“With the best will in the world, nine or ten of us sat round this virtual table do not know where those families are that are in real need.

“I would suggest that schools, headteachers, touch those families every day and would be better placed to help identify where it’s going to make the biggest difference: so just about managing, those who have perhaps have just lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic or whatever, that might need that bit more support…

“Quite often there are those that fall through the cracks – hard-working people that perhaps are just having a little bit of a bad time of it.”

The executive was originally going to vote on distribution of the food vouchers to families through the Covid Winter Grant Scheme, funded by the government. However, an amendment was made when additional funding was released to local authorities, enabling NYCC to add the £20 vouchers to support families struggling as a result of the pandemic.

The nine members of the executive voted unanimously in favour of the measure. They also agreed to allow the corporate director for children and young people’s services, Stuart Carlton, to use his discretion to allocate future funding through the scheme in consultation with the relevant executive member, without having to bring each decision to the executive for approval.

Read more:

Meanwhile, a new Holiday Activities and Food scheme is set to be brought into effect to support families on benefits from the Easter holidays onwards.

The county council is working to develop a scheme of holiday clubs and activities, including providing healthy meals, for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Pilot schemes have been running elsewhere in the UK since 2018, but are only now being introduced in North Yorkshire. A report to the executive said:

“The rationale behind the scheme is that families may experience increased pressure points in holiday periods because of increased costs – such as food or childcare – and reduced incomes.

“This potentially leads to holiday experience gaps with children from disadvantaged families less likely to access organised out-of-school activities, more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health, and more likely to experience social isolation.”

The scheme proposes offering four weeks of activities in the summer and a week each at Easter and Christmas. However, the current situation with covid guidelines means the programme will be delivered virtually this Easter, using online resources as well as activity packs including sports equipment and healthy recipes.

NYCC has been awarded almost £1.2m of funding for the project for the coming financial year and will work with other organisations to deliver it, including North Yorkshire Police and community groups. Existing council resources, such as libraries and the early help service, will also be used.

The council could add to its funding through contributions from “philanthropists, businesses, supermarkets or other organisations”.

Any family in receipt of free school meals would be eligible for the holiday programme, though NYCC said it did not expect every family to apply.