Harrogate campaign group says cycling is 'systematically excluded' from transport plans in the town

A Harrogate campaign group is set to object to North Yorkshire Council’s plans to upgrade the Sainsbury’s junction on Wetherby Road (A661), branding the proposals “unacceptable” and accusing the authority of making only “vague promises” about future cycle facilities.

The comments from Harrogate District Cycle Action come as the deadline nears for public consultation over the proposals, which are expected to be delivered within the next 12 months at a total cost that's been estimated at £237,000, including £150,000 of Government funding from its Active Travel Fund.

The Sainsbury’s junction upgrade scheme aims to introduce safe pedestrian crossing facilities and improve traffic flow at the busy junction, which leads to the giant superstore and serves as the main entrance to the Great Yorkshire Showground.

But action group members are particularly frustrated that, despite the junction cutting across two cycle routes – to the Yorkshire Showground and Stonefall Park – North Yorkshire Council’s plans make no provision for cyclists to cross safely.

Writing in its Autumn 2026 newsletter, Harrogate District Cycle Action said it was asking its members to respond to the consultation but it would be objecting to the plans.

“We would like to send a message to North Yorkshire Council (NYC) that systematically excluding cycling from their transport plans for Harrogate is not acceptable,” the campaign group said.

"While the junction clearly needs safe pedestrian crossings, it also needs cycle crossings.

“This is probably a once-in-20-years revamp of the junction, and it should be done properly rather than bodged.

"NYC say that there is an ‘aspiration’ to do a second phase with cycle crossing facilities, but we do not believe it would ever happen.

"NYC have a track record of making vague promises of future cycle facilities, then reneging on them."

Speaking to the Harrogate Advertiser, North Yorkshire Council said it would consider all feedback received through the consultation before a decision was made on the Sainsbury’s junction upgrade.

The authority added that, although, cycling infrastructure was excluded from the project, it would still be looking at new cycling facilities in the long run.

North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director for environment, Karl Battersby, said: “We recognise the concerns raised about cycling provision at the Wetherby Road and Railway Road junction and are committed to improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.

“The current scheme is funded specifically to improve pedestrian crossings and does not include dedicated cycle crossings.

"Adding these would require work on neighbouring land on The Stray, bringing extra costs and legal processes beyond the scope of the current project.

“Rather than delay much-needed pedestrian improvements, we are progressing the current scheme while looking at longer-term options for cycling facilities at the junction.

"We will consider all feedback received through the consultation before a decision is made.”

North Yorkshire Council’s proposed upgrade of the Sainsbury's junction would see the installation of Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation (MOVA), an intelligent traffic signal control system to increase capacity at the junction for vehicles.

In addition, there will be light-controlled pedestrian crossings at part of the junction.

But Harrogate District Cycle Action says the scheme contains ‘policy conflicts’ - concerns it says have also been raised by Active Travel England.

These, it argues, include multiple unresolved critical safety Issues and a Junction Assessment Tool score for North Yorkshire Council’s plans of just 17 per cent.

“There is no credible plan or timetable for future cycle facilities, “ said Harrogate District Cycle Action, “and the council’s track record strongly suggests they would never do it. “

Public consultation runs to November 19.

To respond to the consultation, email: [email protected]

More on Harrogate District Cycle Action here.