Harrogate Gateway: Public opinion will be taken into account on controversial plans to pedestrianise James Street

Having successfully bid for £7.9 million from the Government's Transforming Cities Fund to radically change the Station Parade area in a way which creates a more attractive town centre to support the local economy and cut carbon emissions, North Yorkshire County Council pledged today to involve Harrogate residents in the key choices.

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Speaking at a media briefing, the county council's executive member for transport, Coun Don Mckenzie said: "Such plans, as we have already learned in our work on cycle lanes, can attract polarised views.

"We want to make sure the majority of the public come with us.

"The Harrogate Gateway proposals will bring better connectivity and public transport, better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians and give an economic boost to the town centre.

"Town centres have suffered a great deal over the last year with Covid. We want to make a huge success of this project."

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In terms of the public's attitude to change, both the county council and Harrogate Borough Council want to achieve two fundamental aims:

1. Creating residents a sense of place and pride in their own town centre.

2. Bringing a modal shift from driving everywhere to walking, cycling and using public transport.

All of the lengthy list of measures for the Harrogate Gateway project will go to public consultation which is set to run for four weeks from next Wednesday, February 24.

The county council says the public will also get a say on the issues most likely to lead to concern in some quarters of the town's opinion.

There will be a real choice on how radical the changes to car use and vehicular access will be in the Station Parade area.

The two key decisions the public are being invited to contribute to are:

* James Street:

Question: Should the current regime for cars and parking continue?

Should part of the street be pedestrianised or should it be pedestrianised for part of the day?

Should it be fully pedestrianised?

* Station Parade:

Question: Should there be one lane for cars, vans, lorries and buses or two?

What will Gateway project mean for Harrogate and its drivers, walkers and cyclists

The local authorities want to encourage as many people, businesses and organisations as possible to give their views by completing an online survey.

From February 24, people can read more about the proposals at - and complete the surveys - at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/northyorkshire

Coun Mackenzie said: “This is the public's chance to have a say on major improvements to the town centre's environments.

"The proposals are at an early stage and your feedback will help to shape the next stage of the project plans, which are due to be completed in autumn this year.”

Coun Phil Ireland, Harrogate Borough Council's cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, said, among the many reasons to support radical changes in the town centre was the current set-up presented an inadequate picture to commuters and visitors of how good the town was.

He said: "People arriving in Harrogate once we come through the pandemic will be presently surprised how great the area has become once we have completed the work.

"At the moment Station Parade does not offer the right image of Harrogate to anyone coming here."

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The Harrogate Gateway project is the result of a partnership of local authorities succeeded in a bid to secure a total of £31m for three separate projects in Harrogate, Selby and Skipton town centres from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF).

The TCF aims to make it easier, safer and quicker for people to travel on foot, by bike and by public transport by funding improved transport connections. In each of the three towns, a major package of investment will improve opportunities for sustainable travel and link transport hubs with centres of education and employment.

These transformational projects will be delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Craven District Council, Harrogate Borough Council and Selby District Council and are scheduled to be completed by 2023.

The local authorities will also host a series of online events at which people can hear more and ask questions before completing the survey.

Events will be held about the Harrogate project on March 3 and 10, starting at 6pm.

To find more details, visit hwww.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/northyorkshire

The consultation will be open until March 24, 2021.