Harrogate Gateway: 'Exhilarating' £7.9m plan to transform Station Parade are revealed

An "exhilarating" vision of a new-look, tree-lined town centre no longer dominated by traffic has been unveiled this morning as part of the new Harrogate Gateway project.
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With public consultation beginning next week on the the £7.9 million project to transform the Station Parade area as part of the Transforming Cities Fund, a media briefing by local councils promised a better, greener future for residents, visitors and businesses.

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Coun Phil Ireland, Harrogate Borough Council's cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability said: "This is an extremely important and exhilarating scheme for Harrogate which will improve the town in so many ways.

Plans to re-design the bus and train stations in Harrogate have been announced this morning by North Yorkshire County Council.Plans to re-design the bus and train stations in Harrogate have been announced this morning by North Yorkshire County Council.
Plans to re-design the bus and train stations in Harrogate have been announced this morning by North Yorkshire County Council.

"Once work is completed, it will totally transform the Station Parade area."

Transport authority North Yorkshire County Council said the public would be given genuine choices in the four-week consultation starting next Wednesday.

Among the options presented in the briefing were:

This is how Harrogate's Station Parade could look after a £7.9m plan to regenerate the area was proposed by North Yorkshire County Council.This is how Harrogate's Station Parade could look after a £7.9m plan to regenerate the area was proposed by North Yorkshire County Council.
This is how Harrogate's Station Parade could look after a £7.9m plan to regenerate the area was proposed by North Yorkshire County Council.
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* One and two lane options for vehicular traffic on Station Parade;

* Three different options for vehicular traffic on James Street ranging from no change or partial pedestrianisation to full pedestrianisation;

* A better public transport hub;

* Two new bus priority areas at Lower Station Parade and Cheltenham Parade;

* New cycle lanes and cycle storage facilities;

* Junction upgrades;

* A more welcoming town centre for visitors arriving by public transport;

* A public events space on Station Parade;

* A spectacular water feature.

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Councillors believe the measures will support Harrogate's retail and hospitality sectors, attract visitors and local residents into the town centre and enable the towns' economy to bounce back better after lockdown ends.

The aim, Coun Ireland, said was a "modal shift" in public attitudes on car use.

Coun Ireland said: "We know from previous public consultations that there is a strong mandate from the Harrogate public for sustainable transport and for enhanced cycling and walking facilities.

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"But it will be difficult to persuade people to change their attitude on driving without changing the town centre and making sustainable transport easy and attractive to people."

Follow this story on the Harrogate Advertiser website throughout the day as we bring you more on the plans to regenerate Harrogate's Gateway.