A long awaited survey on cycling and walking plans for the Oatlands Drive area of Harrogate has finally been launched more than a year-and-a-half after original proposals for one-way traffic were scrapped.
Residents are being asked to make suggestions via an online map ahead of plans being presented by North Yorkshire County Council later this year.
The consultation comes after the council was awarded government funding, but later binned its plans for a one-way traffic system in March 2021 following widespread opposition from residents who said the changes would be “disastrous” for the wider Saints area.
A 20mph limit and traffic filters were then proposed, however, residents were still unhappy.
The council then announced it would use the £200,000 it was awarded from the government’s Active Travel Fund to carry out a review which includes the survey launched today.
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But progress up until now has been slow and it could still be some time before any road changes are introduced as the council said it will have to wait for further funding opportunities.
Kevin Douglas, chairman of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said the delays for all active travel schemes in Harrogate have been “incredibly frustrating” and that he believes there has been some “muddled thinking” on the Oatlands Drive area.
He said:
“We have said all along that there needs to be a segregated cycleway on Oatlands Drive to encourage people to link with the Harrogate gateway project.
“But whatever they decide to do, they are going to have to get on and have the backbone to deliver.”
As well as the survey, the council is also gathering traffic data looking at parking and how people choose to travel in the Oatlands Drive area which includes St. John Fisher Catholic High School and St. Aidan’s Church of England High School.
The council said this will capture the volume and speed of traffic, as well as what type of vehicles are used.
Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways at the authority, added:
“We are looking at options for active travel and traffic calming improvements in the Oatlands area as part of our aim to encourage cycling and walking, easing congestion and improving air quality in Harrogate.
“Previous consultations about the Oatlands area have generated a lot of comments, so we have made a commitment to carry out a more detailed study to assess possible improvements there.
“The public engagement demonstrates our commitment to ensuring local people are involved in the design process from the outset.”
Under other active travel schemes, the council previously said final designs for Harrogate’s Victoria Avenue and the A59 near Knaresborough – which include cycle lanes, improved crossings and reduced speed limits – were “likely” to be revealed this summer.
However, this has been pushed back until at least the New Year.
To have your say on proposals for Oatlands Drive here.