{"id":5249,"date":"2023-12-20T10:31:03","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T10:31:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/?p=5249"},"modified":"2024-02-19T04:40:08","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T04:40:08","slug":"north-yorkshire-to-waste-10000-on-unwanted-cycle-signage-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/2023\/12\/20\/north-yorkshire-to-waste-10000-on-unwanted-cycle-signage-review\/","title":{"rendered":"North Yorkshire to Waste \u00a310,000 on Unwanted Cycle Signage Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color:#D06060\">North Yorkshire to Waste \u00a310,000 on Unwanted Cycle Signage Review<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2023-12-20T10:31:03+00:00\">20 December 2023<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"355\" src=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/cycle-signage-twitter-poll.png\" alt=\"Twitter poll on cycle signage review\" class=\"wp-image-5250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/cycle-signage-twitter-poll.png 600w, https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/cycle-signage-twitter-poll-300x178.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Twitter poll on cycle signage review<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>North Yorkshire Council (NYC) intends to waste \u00a310,000 of public money on an unwanted cycle signage review in Harrogate &amp; Knaresborough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The proposed cycle signage review is <a href=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/2023\/12\/16\/north-yorkshire-council-planning-a-broken-link-in-otley-road-cycle-facilities\/\">part of a package of &#8216;sustainable transport&#8217; measures announced as a replacement for construction of the Otley Road Cycleway<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Screen-Shot-2023-12-16-at-11.59.27.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"865\" height=\"65\" src=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Screen-Shot-2023-12-16-at-11.59.27.png\" alt=\"Unnecessary cycle signage review for \u00a310,000\" class=\"wp-image-5241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Screen-Shot-2023-12-16-at-11.59.27.png 865w, https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Screen-Shot-2023-12-16-at-11.59.27-300x23.png 300w, https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Screen-Shot-2023-12-16-at-11.59.27-768x58.png 768w, https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Screen-Shot-2023-12-16-at-11.59.27-600x45.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Unnecessary cycle signage review for \u00a310,000<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The money will almost certainly be paid to consultants WSP to review the current signposts and write a report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HedgehogCycling\/status\/1736429304387416485\">a Hedgehog Cycling poll on Twitter<\/a>, 96% of 116 respondents said that Harrogate &amp; Knaresborough needs new cycle routes not more signposts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local Sustainable Transport Fund<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"337\" src=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/harrogate-slingsby-walk-signage-2-500.jpg\" alt=\"Cycle signage on Slingsby Walk\" class=\"wp-image-3044\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/harrogate-slingsby-walk-signage-2-500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/harrogate-slingsby-walk-signage-2-500-300x202.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cycle signage on Slingsby Walk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Harrogate&#8217;s cycle network, such as it is, was comprehensively signposted in 2014 using money from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/LSTF-NYCC-bid.pdf\">the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Signposts only get you so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the quality of the routes isn&#8217;t there, you end up signing sub-standard itineraries or dangerous roads, such as Otley Road which carries 9,000 vehicles a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"397\" src=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/otley-road-signs-600.jpg\" alt=\"Signs directing cyclists along a section of Otley Road with no cycle infrastructure\" class=\"wp-image-5278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/otley-road-signs-600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/otley-road-signs-600-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Signs directing cyclists along a section of Otley Road with no cycle infrastructure<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At some point, the council needs to <em>actually improve the existing cycle routes and build new ones<\/em>. That point has been reached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no need for a review of the signing work that was done 9 years ago. The cycle network has not changed since then. No new routes have been added since the Yorkshire Showground Greenway in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Harrogate Cycle Action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"336\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/cricket-ground-quietway-500h.jpg\" alt=\"Harrogate Cycle Action's proposed Cricket Ground Quietway\" class=\"wp-image-5252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/cricket-ground-quietway-500h.jpg 336w, https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/cricket-ground-quietway-500h-202x300.jpg 202w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Harrogate Cycle Action&#8217;s proposed Cricket Ground Quietway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few errors in the current signage which Harrogate Cycle Action have pointed out to NYC. NYC has failed to act to correct these errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harrogate Cycle Action have also suggested improving the route from south Harrogate via the cricket ground to the town centre, and branding it <a href=\"https:\/\/harrogatecycleaction.org.uk\/cricket-ground-quietway\/\">the Cricket Ground Quietway<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As well as signing, hard infrastructure measures would be needed to create a high-quality Cricket Ground Quietway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NYC has so far failed to act on the suggestion for a Cricket Ground Quietway. Developing it would be a far better use of the \u00a310,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use of Consultants by NYC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>NYC often defaults to using consultants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That would be ok if they were taking advantage of skills that the council itself does not have in order to make on-the-ground improvements to Harrogate&#8217;s cycle network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead this is what happens time and again:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NYC pays consultants a large sum of money to write a report or do a design, often out of funding intended for on-the-ground improvements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NYC receives the report and shelves it. It gathers dust<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NYC explains that any on-the-ground improvements are &#8220;subject to funding&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NYC does nothing indefinitely<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>That is how funding is used up in North Yorkshire without producing any results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Three examples follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Harrogate Cycle Infrastructure Plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"699\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lcwip-4-routes-overview.png\" alt=\"WSP's four routes in the Harrogate Cycle Infrastructure Plan\" class=\"wp-image-5255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lcwip-4-routes-overview.png 699w, https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lcwip-4-routes-overview-300x210.png 300w, https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lcwip-4-routes-overview-600x420.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 699px) 100vw, 699px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">WSP&#8217;s four routes in the Harrogate Cycle Infrastructure Plan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One example is the <a href=\"https:\/\/harrogatecycleaction.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/harrogate-cycling-infrastructure-plan.pdf\">Harrogate Cycle Infrastructure Plan<\/a>, which identified four corridors where cycle infrastructure should be built. Consultants WSP did detailed designs for the four routes; all their work was finished by 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since then, NYC have made no progress at all on any of the four routes. They haven&#8217;t even made any funding bids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The money spent on consultants has resulted in zero on-the-ground improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Walking Infrastructure Plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>NYC commissioned WSP to write a Walking Infrastructure Plan, which was completed in 2020 at a cost of \u00a312,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since then, no progress has been made on any of the recommendations in the report. NYC haven&#8217;t even made any funding bids. The walking plan isn&#8217;t even published on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.northyorks.gov.uk\/roads-parking-and-travel\/major-transport-schemes-and-plans\/local-cycling-and-walking-infrastructure-plans-lcwips\">NYC&#8217;s LCWIP page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Walking Infrastructure Plan exists in a twilight zone where one council officer says it is &#8216;not yet in the public domain&#8217;, but another claims it has been in the public domain since 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In any event they don&#8217;t seem keen to tell people about it, and they certainly haven&#8217;t done anything about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That is \u00a312,000 of public money down the drain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sustainable Transport in the Oatlands Area<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/oatlands-wsp-11-500.jpg\" alt=\"One-way design for Oatlands Drive\" class=\"wp-image-5154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/oatlands-wsp-11-500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/oatlands-wsp-11-500-300x231.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">One-way design for Oatlands Drive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2020, <a href=\"https:\/\/harrogatecycleaction.org.uk\/2020\/11\/13\/eatf-t2-announcement\/\">NYC won Active Travel Fund 2 money for cycling projects<\/a> including protected cycle infrastructure on Oatlands Drive. The Oatlands scheme was worth \u00a3215,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is now 2023, and NYC have built precisely nothing on Oatlands Drive, but they have spent all the money on consultants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WSP <a href=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/2023\/12\/09\/oatlands-consultation-shows-most-respondents-unhappy-and-want-change\/\">did a report on a consultation<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/2023\/12\/10\/design-options-for-the-oatlands-area\/\">presented design options<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is now no money left to actually build anything, which appears to suit NYC just fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cycle Signage Review<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>What can we expect from the cycle signage review?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A report from WSP which NYC officers will read then shelve. &#8216;We haven&#8217;t got any funding to make any on-the-ground changes&#8217;, they will say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a310,000 down the drain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>North Yorkshire to Waste \u00a310,000 on Unwanted Cycle Signage Review North Yorkshire Council (NYC) intends to waste \u00a310,000 of public money on an unwanted cycle signage review in Harrogate &amp; Knaresborough. The proposed cycle signage review is part of a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5257,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[129,123,67,92],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-active-travel","category-cycling","category-harrogate","category-north-yorkshire-council"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5249"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5279,"href":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5249\/revisions\/5279"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hedgehogcycling.co.uk\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}