Drivers have already defied the new “no parking” signs on the Stray despite warnings from Harrogate Borough Council that they risk a £100 fine or being towed away.
Within days of the council erecting the signs on Oatlands Drive at a cost of £63, pictures of vehicles parked right next to them have emerged.
The lack of compliance will add to the frustration of cyclists who are blocked from using the cycle lane when vehicles park on the Stray. This usually happens when activities, such as football matches, take place.
One side of Oatlands Drive has double yellow lines but the other side — where cars park — does not.
Read more:
- Cycle group welcomes new ‘no parking’ signs on Harrogate’s Oatlands Drive
- New signs will ‘make people think twice’ about parking on Stray, says council
We asked the council whether it has fined or towed any vehicles away since putting up the signs but we have not yet received a response.
A council spokeswoman said previously it was working with North Yorkshire County Council to find a “more permanent solution” to the parking problem.
She added that parking on the Stray breached the Stray Act 1985:
New signs will ‘make people think twice’ about parking on Stray, says council“A breach of the act allows the borough council — as custodians of the Stray — to issue a £100 fine to anyone caught parking on the Stray, or to have their vehicle towed away.
“We hope that the signage will make people think twice about parking on Oatlands Drive and allow cyclists to use the cycle path as intended.”
New signs on Oatlands Drive in Harrogate will “make people think twice about parking” on the Stray, according to Harrogate Borough Council.
Cyclists have long been frustrated by vehicles parking on the Stray and blocking the cycle lane along the busy road.
It often happens when activities, such as football, take place on the Stray at weekends.
The signs that appeared this week warn that parking on Stray land is an offence and could lead to a £100 fine or the vehicle being removed.
Cars parked on Oatlands Drive.
A council spokeswoman said:
“We continue to work with the county council to try and find a more permanent solution to the parking situation on Oatlands Drive in Harrogate.
“Until this time we have installed signage to advice people, that by parking on the Stray, they are breaching the Stray Act.
“A breach of the act allows the borough council — as custodians of the Stray — to issue a £100 fine to anyone caught parking on the Stray, or to have their vehicle towed away.
“We hope that the signage will make people think twice about parking on Oatlands Drive and allow cyclists to use the cycle path as intended.”
Read more:
- Cycle group welcomes new ‘no parking’ signs on Harrogate’s Oatlands Drive
- Controversial Oatlands Drive active travel scheme scrapped
Harrogate bars call on council to allow tables on Stray land
The owners of three Harrogate bars have teamed up to call on Harrogate Borough Council to approve their request to put tables and chairs on the Stray.
Outdoor dining will restart under the government’s roadmap on April 12 but three Harrogate bars are still unsure if they can use much of their space outside.
Harrogate Borough Council approved the use of tables and chairs on Stray land last summer but is yet to decide whether to give the bars the green light this time around.
Simon Colgan, who runs the Blues Bar and The Empress with his wife Sharon Colgan, told the Stray Ferret:
“It makes a massive difference for our capacity, when we have the tables on the Stray it more than doubles for both of our bars
“We will still open if we can just have the six tables on the pavement. We will fight it because we have got customers who are desperate to come back.
“Without a doubt I would say this is critical for our business. It really is important, especially after another of three months of lockdown.”
David Dresser, who owns Fashion House Bistro, also told the Stray Ferret:
“It would be disappointing for us if we were not able to have outdoor dining back on the Stray land.
“That is on the basis that if we have some bad weather days then those days are right offs. This would help us on good days to make sure that business is stable.
“So it would affect our turnover but if we got those tables and chairs on the grass it would give us a boost.”
Read more:
Both Simon Colgan and David Dresser approached Harrogate Borough Council with their request when Boris Johnson set out his roadmap last month.
However, a spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council told the Stray Ferret:
“We are currently awaiting feedback from the Duchy on the proposed approach, prior to a consultation starting.”
The Duchy of Lancaster owns the Stray and Harrogate Borough Council are its custodians.
We asked the council about its timeline for a consultation but did not receive a reply by the time of publication.