Harrogate Station Gateway Plan to Increase Traffic Instead of Sustainable Transport
Harrogate Station Gateway project appears to be changing from a sustainable transport project to a high-traffic neighbourhood scheme.
North Yorkshire Council (NYC) have suggested that the £11 million funding should be spent on increasing motor vehicle traffic in the heart of Harrogate.
The information comes from a report by Karl Battersby, Corporate Director, in advance of an Executive meeting on 19th September 2023.
The report notes that NYC decided to go ahead with Station Gateway on 30th May 2023, but then quashed that decision on 22nd August 2023 after receiving a legal challenge.
Options
Option 1
In his report Mr Battersby sets out the options.
The first option involves aiming for more traffic to go along Station Parade faster. The report describes this as ‘better traffic flow through co-ordinated signal timings’.
Option 1 also includes ‘a high-quality pedestrian focussed public realm scheme, with improved access into the bus station’. It is not possible to have a pedestrian focussed public realm around a dual carriageway. Motor vehicles will continue to dominate and make Station Parade unpleasant.
Besides, there are already wide areas of dedicated footway on Station Parade. Presumably there might be new paving stones and the odd bench, but none of this will make a meaningful difference to active travel.
Cycle tracks that have been a key part of the Station Gateway designs since 2020 would be scrapped under option 1, and all the road space kept for motor vehicles.
Options 2 and 3
The second option would be ‘to progress with the scheme originally conceived…but having objections considered at a public inquiry or alternatively revisiting some of the TRO proposals, such as not restricting loading hours’.
Does NYC have the backbone to go through with the original scheme?
The third option is to cancel the scheme in its entirety.
WYCA and the DfT
The funding came from the DfT’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), through West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).
The report says that WYCA have expressed willingness in principle to see a modified scheme built in Harrogate.
The DfT also indicated initial support for a modified scheme but have not responded formally. The money is supposed to be spent by March 2025, and if the scheme was revised the DfT would have to agree to a new timetable.
TCF Was to Prioritise Sustainable Transport
The original TCF bid letter, signed by NYC Leader Carl Les, said that the purpose of the Transforming Cities Fund was to prioritise those using public transport, walking and cycling.
Among the objectives of the TCF was reducing car trips and increasing cycling.
Under Option 1 – and it is a risk that Option 1 will be preferred by NYC given what we know about their track record of lack of commitment to active travel, and to cycling in particular – none of these objectives would be met.
Option 1 would mean moto-centric business as usual, but with different paving stones.