More road changes around Beech Grove and Otley Road
by
Aug 13, 2021
Victoria Road
Victoria Road will soon become one way to traffic

Vehicles will be stopped from entering Otley Road from Victoria Road from September in an 18-month trial to boost active travel.

North Yorkshire County Council, which is behind the proposal, hopes the intervention will encourage walking and cycling and improve safety for cyclists using the Otley Road cycle route, which could be completed by early 2022.

A barrier will be placed at the junction, and one-way only and no entry signs will be installed.

The council wants the Victoria Road scheme to join up with other active travel schemes in the town, including the Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood, the new cycle path on Victoria Avenue, and the Harrogate Station Gateway project.

A consultation on the Beech Grove LTR closes tomorrow. The move to give car space to pedestrians and cyclists was welcomed by green groups in Harrogate but some residents have argued it pushed traffic to other roads in the town, including Victoria Road.


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Conservative county councillor Don Mackenzie and NYCC’s executive member for access said:

“This addition to the existing active travel schemes in Harrogate demonstrates our commitment encouraging sustainable transport to ease congestion and to improve air quality.

“Like the trial on Beech Grove, we look forward to receiving the views of residents during the course of this experimental order. Those views will be taken into account as part of an ongoing review of the scheme.”

Harrogate Borough Council leader, Conservative councillor Richard Cooper, added:

“Residents’ feedback must be listened to, alongside that from Beech Grove, and I look forward to seeing the effect of the proposals on traffic levels in conjunction with the new cycleway on Otley Road. That feedback needs to be taken over a sensible period once motorists have had chance to get used to the new road priorities.”

Victoria Road will continue to be accessible to residents, their visitors, deliveries, emergency vehicles, refuse collections and taxi / private hire vehicles.

A consultation with residents has started today (August 13), with a view to the trial beginning in September.