Diluted Harrogate Station Gateway Set to Proceed
A diluted version of Harrogate Station Gateway appears set to proceed, after West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) approved the Full Business Case (FBC) submitted by North Yorkshire Council (NYC) earlier this year.
Most of the ambitious sustainable travel aspects have been stripped out of the plans, with just a solitary bus lane and a one-way cycle track remaining.
Ambitious Active Travel Plans Stripped out of Harrogate Station Gateway
The FBC explains (p6) that the project is aimed at ‘driving modal shift from private car to more sustainable modes of transport’.
Unfortunately, NYC’s original preferred option was revised after a legal challenge from Hornbeam Park Developments Limited. The company used the courts to prevent reallocation of space and priority from motor vehicles to sustainable modes.
NYC Council Executive did not contest the legal challenge, so the Station Gateway team was obliged to redesign the scheme in a way ‘that would not be likely to risk legal challenge’ – in other words, to the specific requirements of Hornbeam Park Developments.
A table (p12 of the FBC) details the reduction in level of ambition on active travel.
Originally, the scheme was to deliver transformational change in the standards of active travel.
Now ‘modal shift is likely to be reduced due to the loss of a continuous cycle link that connects the town centre to the wider network’.
Diluted Plans
Station Parade North
A bus lane is proposed on Station Parade north. The width of 4.5m is said to make it suitable for cycling.
Unfortunately, the bus lane doesn’t start at the junction with Bower Road. Instead, there is a loading bay outside the balloon shop at Bower House – one of the businesses that complained bitterly about the ambitious Station Gateway scheme.
Apparently they must have a loading bay right outside their shop rather than on the other side of the road. This reduces the value of the bus lane very significantly.
They appear to be moving out anyway. The public interest of an uninterrupted bus lane should be prioritised over the private interest of a very slightly more convenient loading bay.
Junction of Station Parade and Cheltenham Parade
There don’t appear to be any significant changes at the junction of Cheltenham Parade and Station Parade.
An early release green signal for cycles would help make this junction work better for cycling.
Station Parade Proper
Station Parade proper is to get a one-way cycle track with kerb protection.
Junction with Station Bridge
At the junction with Station Bridge, it’s not quite clear what people on bikes are supposed to do – stay on the road and use the advanced stop box, or use the light-controlled crossings with pedestrians.
An early release for cyclists who stay on the road would be helpful here.
South of Junction with Station Bridge
It’s south of the junction with Station Bridge that the plans are most disappointing. On-street parking is retained, which means there’s no kerb-protected cycle track. Instead, a painted cycle lane is proposed on the outside of parked vehicles.
The plan states, ‘PARKING AND SOUTHBOUND CYCLE LANE WITH A LTN 1/20 COMPLIANT BUFFER ZONE’.
That misses the point. The buffer zone (to stop people being ‘doored’) may be LTN 1/20-compliant, but a painted cycle lane on a very busy main road isn’t.
Thus when the FBC says (p59) that ‘the proposed TCF scheme will deliver cycling and walking infrastructure which is compliant with the LTN 1/20 guidance’, that is not true.
The cycle facilities then stop completely, and abandon anyone who wants to continue via Victoria Avenue. They will be on the wrong side of the road, and have to cross both lanes often in busy traffic.
Cycle Parking
The FBC says (p9) that there is to be secure cycle parking ‘around pillar in station car park’ but there are few details.
The plans show cycle parking in Station Square.
Because the cycle track on Station Parade is now only one way, southbound, if you’re coming from the south to the station it’s hard to see how you would actually access the cycle parking.
Linking Traffic Lights
Part of the plan is to link all the traffic signals from Ripon Road to Victoria Avenue, so as to prioritise motor vehicles.
The traffic lights on the A61 West Park are already linked, and this is very bad for people who want to cross the road, as they always have long waits.
No Further Consultation
Even though the new plans are radically different from those consulted on, NYC does not intend to hold a further consultation.
The FBC says (p74) that the council has engaged with a limited number of stakeholders. That does not include Harrogate Cycle Action.
Summary of Problems with Diluted Scheme
The main problems with the diluted scheme are:
- Station Parade north bus lane is compromised by a loading bay outside balloon shop
- no early release for cyclists at junction of Station Parade and Cheltenham Parade
- no early release for cyclists at junction of Station Parade and Station Bridge
- painted cycle lane only from Station Bridge junction onwards
- failure to link the cycle infrastructure to Victoria Avenue
- cycle parking inaccessible to cyclists arriving at the station from the south
- linked traffic lights will prioritise motor vehicles at the expense of those using crossings
Next Steps
According to a Project Execution Plan, the next steps are:
- May 2024 – Traffic Regulation Order approval
- July 2024 – WYCA approval to proceed
- September 2024 – start of construction
- February 2026 – construction ends