Harrogate residents to be asked for views on Stray land swap as part of delayed cycle route project

Residents are to be asked for their views on the next stage of a long-delayed project to create a £4.6million cycle route in Harrogate.
A 12-weekpublic consultation will be held on theOtley Road cycle route project which has been delayed byahistoric law that protects the Stray.A 12-weekpublic consultation will be held on theOtley Road cycle route project which has been delayed byahistoric law that protects the Stray.
A 12-weekpublic consultation will be held on theOtley Road cycle route project which has been delayed byahistoric law that protects the Stray.

Harrogate Borough Council will launch a 12-week public consultation on the Otley Road cycle route project which has been delayed by a historic law that protects the town's prized parkland, the Stray.

Officials have chosen three areas of land which they hope can be used as part of a land exchange with the Duchy of Lancaster - the ancient body responsible for managing the Stray.

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This is because some Stray land on the main road must be removed to make way for the cycle route - and as part of the Stray Act, a suitable plot must be offered in exchange.

The three options would see verges near St James Drive, Arthurs Avenue or Wetherby Road become designated as Stray land.

The long-awaited progress on the project comes amid mounting pressure on councils from sustainable travel campaigners who are calling for more cycling and walking routes to be built.

Council leader Richard Cooper this week told a meeting the authority had to show it was in favour of town centres where the car is no longer king.

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"We have seen over the past 12 weeks - and regrettably it's falling away now - the benefits of not having cars choking up the streets", he said.

"I think we need to harness that and enhance it going forward, and not just return to the bad old motor car-fuelled economy of the past.

"This is a small part that we can play as a borough in that vision."

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The Otley Road cycle route project is being jointly led by North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council.

It will connect Harlow Moor Road and Beech Grove, also linking Carldale Park.

The county council's executive member for access, Coun Don Mackenzie, previously said designs for the majority of the cycle route have been completed and added he was hopeful a large part of the project would be finished by the end of the year.

It comes as the county council last week confirmed plans for a temporary cycle lane on Beech Grove when the authority revealed it had only secured half of the £266,000 it was being offered in the first round of a government fund to boost cycling and walking.

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The authority is now preparing a second bid for more than £1million for long-term improvements under the Department for Transport's (DfT) emergency active travel fund.

This could include cycle routes along Oatlands Drive, Victoria Avenue and a dedicated cycle lane along the A59 between Mother Shipton’s Cave and Harrogate Golf Club.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter

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