Complaints as Harrogate road is hit by seven months closure

Resident Mike Newall says the work being created round this particular housing development in the semi-rural Whinney Lane area of Harrogate is just another example of the planning and building "carnage" going on in other areas of the district.

The resident claimed:

1. The road closure, which will be introduced next week, will be a "disaster" for the Squinting Cat pub and will also have a direct, negative impact on residents' lives.

2. Residents face months of no access, no easy way of accessing emergency services and according to NYCC, no compensation.

3. Residents have had no advice, communication or notice from the highways authority, North Yorkshire County Council.

Coun Don Mackenzie, the county council's executive member for access said he had sympathy for local residents living close to this area of housing construction.

Coun Mackenzie said: "There are similar situations in several other locations in Harrogate and elsewhere.

"There will be changes to travel arrangements and other inconveniences.

"But, for the safety of all, including construction workers, road closures are inevitable."

But the Whinney Lane resident said the road closure plans were a result of reasons that do not stand up.

The resident claimed:

1. There are no sewage services to the new development at Castle Hill. There will be a large tank at Clark Beck that will collect the effluent and pump it up to 5 Lane Ends roundabout.

2. They have to build a roundabout to access their site - strange that they are building a 4 leg roundabout giving access into H51 when no permission has yet been granted! The roundabout on Skipton Road took two weeks.

3. They have to widen and straighten the bend over Clark Beck because it doesn't meet road way width standards for the volume of traffic.

Answering the criticisms, Coun Mackenzie said: "As far as the roundabout is concerned, I believe that North Yorkshire County Council would come under criticism if, after building a new roundabout without access for a site in the Local Plan, within a few months a new permission would require the roundabout to be rebuilt."

Coun Mackenzie addressed the resident's detailed complaints.

He said: "The sewage will be pumped from the site via a new rising main (pipe) to the public sewer next to 5 Lane Ends roundabout.

"The construction of the arm pre-empts planning decision H51, which is an allocated site within Harrogate Borough Council's Local Plan.

"This approach is aimed at limiting long-term disruptions on the network, however should the planning application for H51 be unsuccessful, then the fourth arm will be removed and field reinstated.

"The widening of the bend was a condition introduced following planning committee decision for the Castle Hill Farm development."

Harrogate's public transport operators say they are ready to welcome passengers back but will people have confidence to return...

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