Harrogate Civic Society has ‘many concerns’ about Station Gateway

Harrogate Civic Society has called for the £10.9 million Station Gateway scheme to be totally reconsidered as consultation on the latest designs draws to a close.

The organisation, which protects Harrogate’s heritage, said it had “many concerns” about the initiative, which aims to make the town more attractive and improve cycling and walking.

Its submission to the consultation questioned whether the scheme, in its current form, would achieve its main aims and called for a rethink, even if it risked jeopardising funding.

It said:

“We have many concerns, including the absence of wider strategic thinking to address traffic flow; the risk of increased congestion if part of Station Parade is one lane; potential conflicts between the flow of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles at crossing points; poor design proposals for Station Square, which do not reflect Harrogate’s distinctive character.

“We would prefer to see the whole proposal reconsidered, even though this may mean that Harrogate would lose the opportunity for improvement though this particular fund.

“Traffic and congestion is a problem in the town, the environment for pedestrians and cyclists must be improved, businesses in the town centre should be supported through infrastructure improvement, and the town centre should be a better place for those living in it but this scheme, in its present form, does not achieve this.”

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

To take part in the online consultation, click here.

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.

 

 

Crunch meeting tonight over Harrogate’s £10.9m Station Gateway

Businesses are set to hold crunch talks with council officials over Harrogate’s £10.9 million Station Gateway project.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce will hold the meeting at Cedar Court Hotel tonight.

Many business owners have expressed serious concern over the scheme, with some fearing the measures may affect footfall.

Council officials say the project aims to encourage more walking and cycling in the town centre.

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.

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Cllr Don 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.

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

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.”

Station Gateway: the story so far of the £10.9m scheme

The Harrogate Station Gateway project is set to reach a crucial stage as the final round of consultation draws to a close this week.

Residents have until Friday to give their say on the contentious proposals, which would change the look of the town centre.

Here is the story of the scheme so far and what happens next.

What is the Station Gateway project?

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

It is led by North Yorkshire County Council in partnership with Harrogate Borough Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Since it was launched back in February, the project has outlined measures such as the part-pedestrianisation of James Street, reducing Station Gateway to one-lane and improvements to One Arch.

Should it be approved, it is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by the middle of next year.

What does the council say?

Council officials say the purpose of the scheme is to improve walking and cycling in the town centre.

They also say that it will benefit businesses, despite concern over the project – in particular the pedestrianisation of James Street between Princes Square and Station Parade.

In October, Matthew Roberts, economy and transport officer at Harrogate Borough Council, told an online consultation event the scheme was a case of “short-term disruption for long-term gain”.

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

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He also pointed to a KPMG report, which outlined the impact of covid on town centres across the country and what can be done for high streets to survive the pandemic.

The authority has used the report, as well as a 2019 congestion study in Harrogate, to back up its proposals. However, it is unclear what further impact assessments it has taken.

The council is working against the clock as the Department for Transport has set a deadline of March 2023 for the scheme to be completed.

Recently, the authority revealed that one of the reasons it chose not to fully pedestrianise James Street was because of the threat of a public inquiry if it were objected to – which could delay the project.

The option to part-pedestrianise was the least supported during its first consultation, with most people backing a full pedestrianisation.

But officials said the move struck an “appropriate balance between the wishes of respondents and risks to delivery of the scheme”.

They added in the Gateway proposal document:

“This extension in delivery timescales would likely result in funding deadlines being missed, which would prevent implementation of the full scheme, and so full pedestrianisation is not considered viable at this time.”

What do the public say?

A number of consultation events have been held in an effort to offer people a chance to have their say on the project.

In the early stages, events were only online due to the covid pandemic and the national lockdown.

Following the first consultation, council officials released a 160 page report which summarised the 1,101 responses to their proposals.

Of 935 people who replied to a consultation question about traffic on Station Parade in the survey, 49% preferred the one-lane option, 27% preferred the two-lane option and 24% preferred neither.

Of the 934 who replied to a question about pedestrianising the northern section of James Street, between Princes Street and Station Parade, 54% said they were either positive or very positive about it while 38% were negative or very negative towards it.

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The publication of the report led to an agreement to move onto the detailed design stage and another round of consultation.

This time, the meetings have been held both in public and online. Three in-person consultation events have been held in Harrogate’s Victoria Shopping Centre.

Last month, the first physical event in Harrogate saw tensions flare as residents quizzed council officials over the proposals.

A further meeting raised concern over “no-go areas” amid fears for public safety at night. However, others did feel the scheme overall “was a good idea” despite potential traffic fears.

But concerns over the project has seen some local residents take action.

Some members from the Granville Road Area Residents Association have set up the Gateway Action Group to oppose the gateway scheme.

They said the consultation has been rushed and failed to take into account their views

What do businesses say?

Many businesses have remained sceptical over the multi-million pound scheme amid fears of a drop in footfall as town centre traders recover from the covid pandemic.

Much of the concern is over the impact of reducing Station Parade to one-lane and the part-pedestrianisation of James Street.

Latest Station Gateway visuals which show Harrogate's James Street pedestrianised.

Latest Station Gateway visuals which show Harrogate’s James Street pedestrianised.

Back in August, local business organisations launched their own survey in an effort to canvass opinion on the scheme.

The survey was sent to more than 900 businesses and 180 replied.

Of those that responded, 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.

Ahead of the lifting of restrictions and public gatherings being permitted, businesses called for a public meeting with council bosses to have an “adult conversation” on the matter.

Those crunch talks will take place tonight at a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting.

What happens next?

People in the district have until November 12 to have their say on the detailed design stage of the project.

Following the closure, final proposals for the scheme will be drawn up ahead of a decision on whether or not to implement the scheme.

If approved, it is anticipated that construction will start in spring 2022 for approximately 12 months.

For more information and to have your say, visit the West Yorkshire Combined Authority website.

Stray Views: Station Gateway ‘a waste of money’

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. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Traffic concern over Beech Grove

Since the closure of through traffic along Beech Grove, the daily count of (mainly) cars using Victoria Road has increased by over 300%. The Project Engineer attributes most of this increase to cars driving southbound from A61 Ripon Road to A61 Leeds Road using Victoria Road as a cut-through thus avoiding the Cheltenham /Station Parade congestion.

There is now an experimental scheme, about to be installed, which will stop movements from Victoria Road to Otley Road. Hence the extra 300% of cars using Victoria Road will be pushed back on to Cold Bath Road and Cheltenham Parade which are already the subject of complaints about increased traffic.

Richard Wright, Harrogate

Station Gateway “a waste of money”

Having attended the consultation meeting on October 29, I left feeling that the general consensus of attendees was that the project was a gross waste of public money irrespective of the source of that money.

When asked the source and integrity of the data being used to support the scheme the project team spokesperson appeared more coy mentioning ‘social media’ and local surveys without being specific, although the council leader’s strong support of cycling was mentioned by an attendee. The council leader sees a vote of just over a thousand people (mainly cyclists) as being a significant majority vote in support of the planned cycle lane’s scheme incorporated in the Gateway project. The town’s population of over seventy five thousand seemingly being overlooked i.e. Less than 2% appear to support the introduction of many of the proposed changes.

It was indicated that forty thousand survey letters would be sent out shortly but the area of coverage was unknown.

Bearing in mind that the consultation was indicated to be the final opportunity for public comments to be made this seems a little late in the planning process.

In essence as a percentage of the total populace it seemed to highlight how few people were fully aware of the proposed project details or cost of it.

Comments expressed, as a generalisation, was the council do what they want anyway, appearing to endorse seeing the town as their ‘fiefdom’ without cognisance of the ‘silent majority’ Ie. those who are just too weary of the local politics and money wasting schemes over several years to further engage.

John Marsden, Harrogate

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Spofforth homes would be a “disaster”

The site of Yorkshire Housing Ltd’s new development is on a green field site. The field is in a conservation area, and to quote the local news website, The Stray Ferret,  “more than 300 people and organisations, including Natural England, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, have raised concerns about the scheme”.

As well as being in a beautiful setting (where my son and his family live), the roads and infrastructure are not suitable for the increased amount of traffic, not to mention the small bridge that spans the Crimple Beck, which is very narrow and cannot possibly take the strain of the extra HGVs vehicles that the construction would necessitate.

There does not appear to be any proper access/exit roads to the site? The increase of 72 cars plus, would turn this into an ecological disaster and a dystopian nightmare for the residents of the village.

Denis Ffoulkes Standing, Spofforth

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.

Harrogate residents form group to fight £10.9m Station Gateway

Harrogate town centre residents have formed a group to oppose the £10.9m Station Gateway project, which they say will increase traffic and pollution and reduce the value of their homes.

Granville Road Area Residents Association is a long established group representing about 250 homes in the streets close to Cheltenham Parade and Cheltenham Mount.

Members are now setting up a Gateway Action Group to oppose the gateway scheme. They say the consultation has been rushed and fails to take into account their views. They are also upset that a full environmental impact assessment wasn’t deemed necessary for such a major scheme.

Karl Battersby, corporate director, business and environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council, which is leading on the gateway, said it doesn’t think the project will have a significant impact on streets off Cheltenham Parade.

But residents aren’t convinced and formulated plans to act at two meetings at North Bar this week.

Jo Bagley, chair of Granville Road Area Residents Association, said the scheme would push traffic away from the largely commercial Cheltenham Parade into residential areas such as Granville Road, Back Granville Road, Mount Parade, Back Cheltenham Mount and Strawberry Dale Avenue. She said:

“The consultation questions were not relevant for people who live in the area affected. We don’t go into Harrogate — we are in Harrogate,

“A lot of us run businesses and we need to be able to get in and out and I forsee the area being gridlocked.”

Computer data

Colin Anderson, who lives on Granville Road, said his main concern was the volume of traffic that would be diverted on to the narrow Mount Parade if plans to make a section of Cheltenham Mount one way are approved.

He added:

“Traffic will be sitting here with their engines running. Those in charge of the scheme haven’t stood here watching the traffic — they use computer data.”

Mount Parade traffic gateway

Traffic on Mount Parade today.

Resident Nick Karpik said those leading the scheme had “manipulated” numbers from the previous consultation to falsely claim the scheme had public support.

Rachel Melvin, who has lived on Granville Road for 28 years, said:

“They are not solving the problem. They are moving it to a residential area and it will increase noise and pollution.”

Ms Melvin added that even if claims traffic would only increase in each street by two cars a minute were correct, that could still amount to more than 2,000 cars per day in the area.

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Residents also face the loss of four parking spaces on Cheltenham Parade, for which they have permits. They say this will make parking more difficult, and the knock-on effects of reduced parking throughout Harrogate would encourage more motorists to use the disc zone area in streets outside their homes.

Rachael Inchboard, who is a member of Harrogate Civic Society as well as a local resident, said the gateway scheme would have a profound impact on Harrogate conservation area yet most residents weren’t aware of it until they received letters from the council on October 22 giving them notice of the intention to develop. They now have just nine days until the consultation ends.

The council’s response

Karl Battersby, corporate director, business and environmental services, said:

“We don’t envisage significant impacts on the streets off Cheltenham Parade. Traffic modelling has assessed the potential impact of the proposed changes. In the worst-case scenario, which is the afternoon peak hour, we do not anticipate a significant increase in vehicles on these streets.

“The streets where the greatest increases are predicted in this hour are Bower Road, with an average increase of two or three vehicles per minute, and Cheltenham Mount, with an average increase of one or two vehicles per minute.

“We are in the middle of a public consultation in which we encourage as many people as possible to make their views known. All views will be taken into account before final decisions are made on how we will take the proposals forward.

“In addition to the online consultation – which I encourage people to complete at yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/harrogate – project officers have seen many residents face to face at drop-ins in the Victoria shopping centre. If people have not yet given us their views, I urge them to do so before the consultation ends on 12 November.”

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.

Stray Views: Older people in Harrogate are being ignored

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. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Older people’s needs in Harrogate are being ignored

It’s all very well trying to encourage cycles and walking, but what about the aged population in Harrogate? Does no-one care any more about the largest population in Harrogate, who cannot walk everywhere or who are in wheelchairs and need to be as near as they can to what they have struggled to get out to do? And how many use the cycle lanes anyway, bad weather puts everyone under cover in a car?

It all started to go wrong when they made West Park a one way thoroughfare. When Ripon traffic could drive straight through it saved all that mess of having to do a loop through and round the town to get out to Leeds.

Harrogate planning has a lot to answer to, both in this and in housing and the plans they pass.

Lesley Dalton, Harrogate

Pollution on Cold Bath Road

Regarding your story about pollution and Western Primary School, closure of the road during school drop up and pick up times would reduce car pollution at these times which would be beneficial for the children

Richard Blackshaw, Harrogate

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Sheep killed at Pinewoods

Regarding the recent report of sheep being killed on land adjacent to the Pinewoods. Perhaps the temporary signs being put up could also remind dog owners that farmers can legally shoot any dog caught attacking sheep.

Richard Stobbs, Harrogate

A lovely gesture by a bakery

I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Avenue Bakery in Harrogate for making stottie cakes for my elderly father who has dementia.

Dad had been reminiscing about stottie cakes and I popped into Avenue Bakery and asked them if it was something they could make for him. They made him two and gifted them to him .

Such a lovely gesture for an old man and he enjoyed them so much.

Joanne Bolton, Knox

Avenue Bakery stottie

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.

Station Gateway: Too much money and creates no-go zones, say residents

Local residents said Harrogate’s £10.9 million Station Gateway scheme could mean unsafe “no-go zones” in the town centre and bottleneck traffic on Station Parade.

The second face-to-face consultation into the project was held today in Victoria Shopping Centre.

The scheme, which could lead to a reduction in parking spaces, the part-pedestrianisation of James Street and potentially up to a year of major road works, received a mixed response.

The main comments from people were about whether the total cost was balanced by the impact on the town and if pedestrianisation will create unsafe areas.

Chris and Maria Littlefair, from Killinghall, questioned whether it was enough to reduce the number of cars on the road. They said:

“Why isn’t there more money being spent on updating the bus station? If they want more people on it they need to make it look more attractive.

“If there’s no alternative to it or a way of getting cars out the centre completely then they need to do something, but I don’t know if this is the solution.”

Gordon Pearson, who will be directly affected on Mount Parade, said:

“Overall I think it’s a good idea but I live on Mount Parade and there will be traffic regulations on the street. The turning from Cheltenham Parade to Mount Parade seems ridiculous to me.

“I think they’re spending a lot of money making the town look pretty but I don’t think it will make much difference.I’d like to see some improvements but I don’t think the amount of spending is acceptable.”

James Street could become a “no-go zone”

Local resident Emma Knight said:

“I think it’s a lot of money to spend on one small thing when it’s a bigger problem we have. Harrogate had a bit of a disadvantage as it’s on a hill and I’m a keen cyclist but its geography is against it. There needs to be infrastructure around the town not just one spot.

“All these streets that might be pedestrianised won’t be safe, when they shut the town down like that it becomes a no-go zone.”

Louise echoed Ms Knight’s concerns:

“My other major concern is pedestrianising the top of James Street. At night if you have to get to the train station, which they’re promoting, you have to work through yet another pedestrianised area which isn’t something I would be happy doing.

“Compared to Cambridge Street and near the theatre, James Street is the safe route in the town because there are cars through the night. So my compromise would be to allow cars to use it at night so people feel safe.

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Concern was raised over an increase of traffic on King’s Road and Station Parade when it becomes one lane.

John said the emissions created by waiting cars could put people and cyclists off visiting:

“At the moment I think it’s a vanity project, there’s money available and this is how it’s being used. They are talking about gentrifying Victoria Gardens but it will still be a main through-fare so the emissions fromt he vehicles will still be present, will people still sit there?”

For more information and to have your say on the project visit the consultation page here.

How would Harrogate’s ‘Dutch-style’ roundabout work?

Harrogate could get the county’s first ‘Dutch-style’ roundabout as part of the £10.9 million Station Gateway project.

But why is it being proposed and how would it work?

The junction changes have been put forward for the existing East Parade, Station Bridge, Station Avenue and North Park Road roundabout in front of the Odeon cinema.

Inspired by road layouts in the Netherlands, the roundabout would give priority to pedestrians and cyclists with improved crossings and an outer ring for cycling, which in parts would be segregated from traffic.

The aim is to encourage sustainable travel and improve safety for those travelling on foot or by bike. But it would also demand greater awareness from motorists who would give way as they both enter and exit the new roundabout.

‘A big step forward’

North Yorkshire County Council – which is leading on the gateway project – said the proposed layout “balances the need for increased protection and priority for pedestrians and cyclists with maintaining capacity for vehicles”.

The council has also won the support of Harrogate District Cycle Action, whose chairman Kevin Douglas described the proposals as a “big step forward” in the town’s sustainable transport future.

But these roundabouts have not always gone down smoothly elsewhere, with the UK’s first in Cambridge drawing some criticisms.

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While Cambridgeshire County Council says the roundabout has improved safety overall, a safety audit team reported several problems, including a risk of exiting drivers finding it difficult to observe multiple cyclists approaching from behind.

Planners up and down the country are keeping a keen eye on the roundabout, and other areas have already shown an interest in replicating it, including Barnsley and North Tyneside.

Mr Douglas said he was confident the plans for Harrogate would improve safety for all road users and that he would like to see more of these roundabouts introduced.

He said: 

“The roundabout will hopefully show people what can be done in terms of improving safety and will only encourage more people to cycle into the town centre.

“At the moment, going into and coming out of a roundabout can be a risk if people don’t see and give cyclists priority, whereas with this you are going to get that.”

He added: 

“If we are going to take action on climate change then we do have to reduce the number of vehicles in the town centre and give people that confidence to go out on their bikes.

“That is what we should be aiming for here – people being able to get into town safely without using their cars.”

A CYLCOPS junction for Harrogate?

These plans are not the only new roundabout proposals for Harrogate, with transport officials currently considering a CYCLOPS (Cycle Optimised Protected Signals) roundabout for the Station Parade junction of Victoria Avenue.

This is part of a separate active travel scheme and would work similar to a ‘Dutch-style’ roundabout but with traffic lights.

Cyclops active travel scheme

An example of a cyclops junction.

North Yorkshire County Council said the CYCLOPS roundabout was put forward as an “aspiration of what might be achieved” at the junction and that it is now being considered at the detailed design stage of the scheme.

Under the gateway project, there are also plans for a part-time pedestrianisation of James Street and a reduction of Station Parade to a single lane of traffic to create room for a cycle lane, as well improvements to Station Square and the One Arch underpass.

The latest consultation on the project is currently underway with residents and businesses having until November 12 to have their say before more detailed proposals are drawn up and a final decision is made.

If approved, it is anticipated that construction will start in spring 2022 for approximately 12 months.

For more information and to have your say visit the consultation page here.