Is Harrogate headed for a cycle lane future and, if so, will it happen soon

This week saw the group which has long championed the cause of cycling in the Harrogate district support plans for what it describes as the crucial first link in the “segregated cycle route into the town centre”.
Cycle future? Harrogate District Cycle Action argues the implementation of plans for alternatives to cars is simply too slow in the light of the sheer volume of new house building across the district.Cycle future? Harrogate District Cycle Action argues the implementation of plans for alternatives to cars is simply too slow in the light of the sheer volume of new house building across the district.
Cycle future? Harrogate District Cycle Action argues the implementation of plans for alternatives to cars is simply too slow in the light of the sheer volume of new house building across the district.

Making things easier and safer for cyclists may be just one part of transport authority, North Yorkshire County Council’s, new Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) initative at Beech Grove but it matters a lot to Harrogate District Cycle Action Group.

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Although only a small step in terms of the town’s overall transport infrastructure, the principle it represents is something this group has been calling for over the last 20 years or so.

Originally called Harrogate Cycle Group when it was formed in 2003, HDCA this week welcomed the county council’s announcement.

A spokesperson said: “Cutting back on car traffic on Beech Grove will not just make it a more pleasant route for cyclists, it will allow the road to act as a key link for bikes travelling between Otley Road and Victoria Avenue when the town’s new segregated cycle link into the town centre is finally built.

“While this is an experimental scheme for a six- month period, it is hoped that there will be a positive response to the proposals which means it can become a permanent part of the town’s cycle infrastructure.

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“We look forward to working with both North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council on the other cycling and pedestrian schemes for which Government funding has been secured and which will hopefully be implemented in 2021.”

What Harrogate District Cycle Action says

While pleased at the new inititative, the cycling group is determined to keep up the pressure on the local authorities to do more to encourage cycle use and discourage the car, saying Harrogate is still far from being a ‘green town’.

The HDCA says, until last week’s announcement by the county council, there had been no new cycle infrastructure built in Harrogate since 2015.

It points to persistent delays to the plans agreed in 2017 for a segregated cycle path from the Prince of Wales roundabout along Otley Road - with no work yet carried out.

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It argues that the implementation of plans for alternatives to cars is simply too slow in the light of the sheer volume of new house building across the district.

It questions why North Yorkshire County Council is able to allocate £4.9million from its reserves towards the £60m Kex Gill road scheme on the A59, as well as funding towards the A1 junction improvements which, it claims, will only increase the amount of traffic.

And it warns that the absence of non-car infrastructure in the majority of new housing developments in the Harrogate district threatens to increase traffic congestion despite local authorities’ hopes of achieving reductions.

Kevin Douglas, the HDCA’s chair, said: “A negative outcome of recent planning decisions is all the new developments which are now becoming populated in the Harrogate district and which have zero sustainable transport links to town - and more developments in the pipeline to add to the problem.

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“An example of this is in Killinghall, which has been highlighted as the “fastest growing village in the county” and yet there has not been one cycle path developed, not even the most obvious one, of a link to the Nidderdale Greenway which provides traffic-free access to Harrogate.”

What North Yorkshire County Council says

If frustration is felt regarding the pace of change from the cyclists, there is almost as much on the side of the authorities too as they find themselves caught in the middle of those who want swifter, ‘greener’, transport solutions, and those who still feel there is a need, and a place, for the car.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for transport says a lot of work has taken place to make progress on sustainable transport issues and more cycle paths for Harrogate are currently in the pipeline.

Coun Don Mackenzie said: “I strongly reject the criticism that the county council, as highways authority, should not continue to invest in major road schemes which are designed to reduce congestion and support the local economy.

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“A great deal is happening to improve sustainable travel. The county council is is fully committed to improving active travel facilities in the Harrogate area.

“I agree that the Otley Road cycle path has taken longer than I would have hoped - but, as is well known, the Stray Act has stood in the way of rapid progress. We now expect construction to begin soon. The Beech Avenue cycle path construction funded by the county council is due to start on February 15. Local householders have been receiving letters this week.

He continued: “Consultation is also taking place on the three new local cycle paths funded by the county council’s £1m bid to the Department of Transport’s Active Travel Fund - Victoria Avenue, Oatlands Drive and the A59 out of Knaresborough towards Starbeck.”

“Proposals and options relating to the £7.8m Transforming Cities Fund scheme to create a pedestrian and cycle-friendly transport gateway on Station Parade will go out to public consultation on February 22.

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"Options include taking road space from Station Parade and James Street and handing it over to walkers and cyclists.”

Factfile: Is Harrogate headed for a cycle lane future? What's coming soon...

The Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes announced for Harrogate last week by North Yorkshire County Council is designed to encourage more walking and cycling.

It will cost just under £10,000 and remain in place for an initial six months but could become permanent if it proves to be a success in public consultation.

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The partial traffic ban at Beech Grove will also affect Lancaster Road although the streets will still be accessible to residents, their visitors, deliveries, emergency vehicles, refuse collections and taxis.

Despite surface appearances, this is a key moment for cycling’s future in Harrogate.

Cyclists hoping to use the long-awaited new segregated cycle path along Otley Road to Harlow which had been intended to stretch to Prince of Wales roundabout will now be able to travel along Beech Grove instead to cross West Park and into Victoria Avenue, which is also set to get a cycle path.

The end goal for the local authorities - should the full funding be secured - is a new cycle path from Knaresborough’s Bond End to Victoria Avenue.

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Further cycle-friendly schemes are also set to emerge as part of the Bilton Low Traffic Neighbourhood, though the county council has said the details are far off at the moment.

In the meantime, work to install the signage, bollards and planters at Beech Grove could begin as early as next Monday, February 15.

County Coun Don Mackenzie said: “We look forward to receiving the views of residents on the Beech Grove measures during the course of this experimental order. Those views will be taken into account as part of an ongoing review of the scheme.”

But this week’s moves to introduce ‘Low Traffic Neighbourhoods’ in Harrogate also need to be seen in context of what is coming next: The Harrogate Gateway project.

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As a result of securing a total of £7.9 million of national money for the scheme last year in liaison with Harrogate Borough Council, the town’s Station Parade area is set to become an oasis of walking, cycling and public transport with better links to other parts of the town.

An announcement in what this all means in practice is likely next week from North Yorkshire County Council.

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