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Call for inquiry into £11m traffic scheme rejected

North Yorkshire Council A digitally drawn image of a town centre, from the point of view of above. A road runs through the middle, from the bottom of the image into the distance. To its left is a large pavement and a white high building, the train station, with glass windows. It has a sign, on its side, reading "Harrogate" with the national railways symbol. To the right of the road is a taxi rank and a large pedestrianised town square, with no cars, just lots of people million around freely. There are flowerbeds and trees incorporated into the paved area. There are tall, old-looking buildings with new-looking shops at the ground level around the square. People are using the pavements, cycle lanes and seating areas.North Yorkshire Council
An artist's impression of Station Parade, Harrogate, after the Gateway scheme is completed

Proposed changes to a North Yorkshire town centre are to go ahead despite critics calling for a public inquiry into the £11m scheme.

Traffic regulation orders have been approved for Harrogate's Station Gateway project, with North Yorkshire Council bosses saying they would improve sustainable travel by promoting pedestrian access and bus travel.

However, critics have said the project was being overseen by people with "limited understanding" of how the town worked.

Solicitors for a member of the Get Away campaign group called the public consultation process for the scheme "unfair and unlawful", but the council defended the plans, saying it would "create improved infrastructure".

Amended proposal

The traffic regulation orders pave the way for a range of changes, including alterations to bus access into the bus station, with a new bus lane on Station Parade, new cycling infrastructure between Bower Road and Station Bridge and improved pedestrian accessibility.

Improved pedestrian and vehicle movements with linked signals and the improvement of public spaces at One Arch and Station Square were also planned, according to the proposals.

However, the Gateway plans were revised in July and objectors have said they were unhappy that a consultation took place only for the traffic orders and not for the amended proposal.

Google The same location as the digitally-drawn image. However, this is a photo of how it looks now. It looks almost the same, however the taxi rank area is much larger here, there is no cycle lane, the pavement on the left is about half as wide, and the pedestrian crossing appears less clear.Google
The Harrogate Station Gateway proposals have been criticised by some local traders

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a letter sent to the council by solicitors acting for one of the members of the Get Away group, which is made up of local businesses, has outlined campaigners' concerns.

"The proposals for Harrogate are fundamentally different from those which have previously been consulted upon," it stated.

"Without proper public consultation, these proposals are being ushered in through the back door."

The letter also claimed a reduction in parking due to the scheme would hurt local businesses, adding that congestion would increase during the construction phase.

Other concerns included the removal of trees, the impact on a conservation area and disruption due to building works.

'Not proportionate'

Calling for the council to hold a public inquiry before approving the traffic orders, the letter added: "In the opinion of our client and the members of Get Away, the proposals and the manner in which they have been disclosed to the public show a complete lack of knowledge from those with limited understanding of how Harrogate works and why the town has been so successful to date."

In a report, Barrie Mason, the council's assistant director for highways and transportation, defended the project and its aims, saying it would make better use of highway space and "re-balance" the needs of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

"Currently, the highway arrangements prioritise the private motor vehicle above other users," Mr Mason said.

All objections to the orders had been fully considered and it would not be "proportionate or appropriate" to hold a public inquiry, he added.

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