Harrogate Gateway: Everything you need to know about the £7.9m regeneration of Station Parade... and other sustainable transport measures

Such is the depth of feeling across the town, that highways authority North Yorkshire County Council, has already accepted that the proposals could result in some 'controversy'.

An integral part of a much wider, grander, plan to cut carbon emissions and traffic congestion within the town, the Harrogate Gateway is a multifaceted project involving public transport improvements, highways enhancements and even the possibility of completely closing off one of the town's busiest shopping streets to cars.

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

The plans clearly reflect the general public opinion following the recent Harrogate Congestion Study in 2019 which called for more sustainable transport measures across the region and are designed to not only reduce pollution and traffic, but to also make the town look nicer and attract more people to come in and spend their money.

However, on the flip-side, there remain those who fear that by reducing the number of cars coming into the town, there will be a drastic and negative impact on business revenues.

Here, we expand on the key points to come out of Friday's media briefing and give you an in-depth look at what the future might hold for the Harrogate Gateway.

Harrogate Gateway: Key proposals...

* A better-linked public transport hub for trains and buses.

* Two new bus priority areas at Lower Station Parade and Cheltenham Parade.

* One and two lane options for vehicular traffic on Station Parade.

* Three different options for vehicular traffic on James Street ranging from no change or partial pedestrianisation to full pedestrianisation.

* Road junction upgrades.

* New cycle lanes and cycle storage facilities.

* A more welcoming town centre for visitors arriving by public transport.

* An increase in safe space for people on foot.

* A new flexible public events space.

* A spectacular water feature.

* New retail unit opportunities and town centre living.

Harrogate Gateway: Highways boss confident majority will support £7.9m regeneration project

Harrogate Gateway: Background and timetable...

* Harrogate Borough Council has pledged by “2038 Harrogate will have a net-zero carbon economy”.

* Harrogate Gateway project seeks to build on the foundations set by prior work on sustainable transport measures including: Harrogate Borough Council's Town Centre Masterplan of 2016 and North Yorkshire County Council's Harrogate Congestion Study of 2019.

* Both of the above found majority public support for non-car solutions to traffic congestion problems in their consultation processes.

* New entrances to railway stations, new public spaces linking stations to town centres and better access to education and employment sites are included in £31m proposals to transform the gateways to three North Yorkshire towns.

* 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 aim will be to finalise designs and for construction to begin by summer 2022 with completion in 2023.

* The public, businesses and organisations are to be invited to have their say on the proposals in an online survey during February and March, with more engagement work due to be held over the spring and summer.

Harrogate Gateway: 'Exhilarating' £7.9m plan to transform Station Parade are revealed

Harrogate Gateway: Public consultation...

* Public consultations on the proposals will begin on February 24 via an online survey.

* 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 www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/northyorkshire

* The consultation will be open until March 24, 2021.

Battle over car restrictions in Harrogate reveals underlying tensions on way to greener future

Harrogate Gateway: What Harrogate Borough Council says...

Coun Phil Ireland, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, said: “Through the Harrogate Congestion Study, it was clear the community wanted to see improvements to walking, cycling and public transport prioritised.

“The TCF project is the first step to delivering this and I’m pleased that the hard work and determination of council officers has paid off, and helped secure around £8million for the Harrogate bid.

“This funding will allow communities across the region to easily access a transport network which is hassle-free and offers realistic sustainable alternatives to the car.

"It will also deliver a 21st century travel network that is vital if we want to ensure economic growth around the region.”

Harrogate Gateway: What North Yorkshire County Council says...

North Yorkshire County Coun Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, said: “Improving the gateways to Skipton, Selby and Harrogate will not only make the towns more attractive, but will also provide infrastructure for sustainable travel.

"We have looked at barriers to people accessing public transport, cycling and walking and devised schemes to address these.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to work towards our sustainable transport goals and improve access to employment and education."

“This investment is now more important than ever to boost North Yorkshire’s economic recovery and to help get the county back on track after the Covid-19 pandemic.”

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

Other sustainable transport plans in Harrogate...

Active Travel Fund: Plans are currently in the pipeline for series of new cycle lanes in Harrogate with four roads identified to date with Government funding: Victoria Avenue, Oatlands Drive, the A59 between Starbeck and Knaresborough High Bridge and Otley Road.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods: Beech Grove and Lancaster Road in the West Park area of Harrogate are taking part in a six-month trial of a series of restrictions on vehicular access.

Parts of Bilton are set to follow. The Beech Grove closure has already caused controversy and confusion, with some drivers actually driving over a section of the Stray to get past the road blocks.

Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition: Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition was set up by Harrogate Borough Council in 2019 to promote and implement carbon reduction activities throughout the Harrogate district. It recently launched the HDCCC Residents Survey online to gauge public opinion on local measures to reduce carbon emissions.