Diluted Harrogate Station Gateway Plans to Include One-Way Cycle Track

Revised and diluted plans for Harrogate Station Gateway are to include a one-way cycle track on Station Parade.

This is the result of a cross-party effort, reports the Harrogate Advertiser.

A full business case for the scheme has now been submitted. If approved by funders West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the DfT, it will enable North Yorkshire Council to draw down the funding and start construction.

Transport Executive Keane Duncan is quoted by the local papers as follows.

‘The revised plan differs from the original, but delivers key benefits to all road users – motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users’.

cllr duncan

The money for the scheme comes from the Transforming Cities Fund. Its objectives were to improve public transport and active travel options, and take car trips off our roads.

The objectives of TCF did not include providing benefits for motorists by increasing capacity for private cars. If that is now a main objective of Harrogate Station Gateway, it appears to be a misuse of the money.

Duncan said the revised and diluted scheme includes the following elements:

• coordinating traffic signals [to maximise throughput of private cars]
• safe, accessible footways and crossings. [What does this actually mean?]
• revitalised public realm [i.e. new paving stones]
• transformation of One Arch [new paving and better lighting?]
• a dedicated bus lane
• a southbound cycleway

The following elements which were included in the original designs have now been scrapped:

• making Station Parade one lane only for private motor vehicles
• pedestrianisation of part of James Street

This is largely due to the negative influence of some members of the Harrogate Chamber of Commerce, and to the legal action for judicial review launched by Hornbeam Park Developments Limited.

Decarbonisation of transport in the region requires a very significant reduction in vehicle miles travelled.

Those Harrogate businesses in favour of ‘cars, cars, cars’ are in effect in favour of runaway global heating with all the negative consequences entailed, such as heatwaves and flooding.

Next Steps

The next step is further public engagement and consultation.

North Yorkshire Council hope to start construction of Harrogate Station Gateway later in 2024.