Zero Carbon Harrogate's walkabout 'shows how we can make transport better in the town'

Speaking on the wide, tree-lined expanse of Victoria Avenue, which has recently seen the completion of a North Yorkshire Council scheme to improve the street for pedestrians, though earlier ideas of a new cycle lane were dropped, David Skaith said Harrogate was making progress but it was being led by schools, parents and campaigners.

And, he hoped that the town would get involved in his new community fund which was intended to encourage ways of making it safer and easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle.

"The efforts of residents and groups like Zero Carbon Harrogate to create things like the Walk to School campaign and Bike Bus at Oatlands have been really impressive,” said Mr Skaith, who is from Harrogate himself.

"North Yorkshire is clearly interested in sustainable transport policies but its record on delivering change on the ground hasn’t been nearly as good.

"For example, the council has a substantial budget for pot holes.

"I will be pushing them to carry out road architecture measures to improve pedestrian safety at the same time they are fixing the roads.”

The visit by David Skaith, Labour’s Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, came at the invitation of Zero Carbon Harrogate, a non-political, registered charity dedicated to encouraging Harrogate district to become a net zero carbon community.

It followed the recent launch of the Mayor’s £1 million Active Travel Fund which took place at Oatlands Junior School, where a range of innovative measures has led to more than 90 per cent of children walking, wheeling or cycling to school.

During the walkabout, the Mayor was accompanied by Jemima Parker, Zero Carbon Harrogate’s Chair of Trustees; Tim Larner, Vice Chair, Planning & Advocacy, and Sunita Soundur, Climate Action Coordinator.

The party stopped off at Harrogate railway station where they were met by Richard Isaac, Northern rails' Community Manager East Region, and Henri Rohard, Managing Director of Transdev, which has introduced an all-electric bus fleet in Harrogate.

Talking on the concourse, all sides agreed that progress was being made but the future lay in the sort of collaborative effort by the community and different branches of public transport which was being seen in Harrogate.

Zero Carbon Harrogate’s Jemima Parker said: “Harrogate and Knaresborough are in a unique position to take a truly collaborative approach.

"By coming together, we have an opportunity to show how coordinated efforts across our communities can work together strategically to amplify impact and lead to better transport planning for all.”

Northern’s Richard Isaac said the rail operator was committed to improving the passenger experience, giving the public more input and working in tandem with bus services.

He said Northern had been delighted to support the launch of a new Friends of Harrogate Railway Station group by students at Harrogate High School.

Climate Action Coordinator Sunita Soundur said: “So much positive work is already happening in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

"The walkabout gave us the chance to bring those voices together, share ideas directly with the Mayor, and show how community-led action can help shape a healthier, cleaner transport future for our town.”