Harrogate’s traffic is worst in North Yorkshire

Coun Don Mackenzie (Con, Saltergate), who has taken over responsibilities for the county’s roads told the Harrogate Advertiser: “Harrogate’s congestion is the most severe, that is without question.

“I want to sort out Harrogate’s traffic problems now and in the future.

“It just happens that I’m a Harrogate-based county councillor. I have to consider the highways needs for the whole county but without question the congestion and highways problems in Harrogate are worse than anywhere else in the county. Harrogate is the top of my list.”

This week the council admitted that technical issues at a new £100,000 junction on Station Parade and Cheltenham Parade led to tailbacks. However, the council insists this has now been fixed.

Coun Mackenzie said he is confident that new investment in the automatic traffic monitoring software in the town centre will put an end to the stop-start traffic which blights the town’s roads.

He said: “I am hoping that motorists with notice the changes imminently. It is a very good investment if it makes traffic flow better.”

Coun Mackenzie added that the council needs to take a long -term view on how to improve the basic infrastructure in the town.

“Just as we are eyeing up electrification and double tracking of the railway we have to look at road infrastructure, relief roads, or a bypass to stop traffic all going through the town centre.”

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