New plans to tackle traffic congestion at St James Retail Park in Knaresborough

Launch of Harrogate office for radio station as it links up with local business

The submission of a new planning application from St James Retail Park to reconfiguring the car park is likely to prick the interest of shoppers and businesses fed up with long queues of cars at the site.

The application would increase the total number of car parking spaces to 399.

Tory town councillor Phil Ireland, who represents Aspin and Calcutt Ward, said: ‘’I am delighted to note a new planning application from St James Retail Park on this week’s list which involves re-configuring the car park to provide 20 additional bays and eight new electric vehicle charging points.”

Lib Dem Coun David Goode, who represents Aspin and Calcutt Ward, said: "Traffic queuing to enter and exit the retail park has been a problem for some time, particularly at peak times when traffic from people leaving work on the retail park is added to the mix on an evening.

"At times the queues on the roundabout almost bring vehicle movement in the area to a halt.

"I would welcome improvement in the area as long as the changes can clearly demonstrate that they are reducing traffic queuing and not just attracting more cars that further compound the existing queuing problems.”

There have been complaints for several years over the congestion caused by the popularity of the retail park, combined with customers queuing for fast food chain McDonald’s ‘Drive-Thru’.

Such are the log-jams at times, visitors can find themselves unable to access the retail park, progress down Wetherby Road or travel onto the bypass.

The new plans also involve changes to entrances and exits for cars on the site, including action to improve the situation at McDonald’s.

Coun Ireland said: “Residents and shoppers will probably be pleased to note that this application also includes a new vehicle exit next to Argos and the previously approved McDonalds Drive-Thru extension designed to alleviate congestion at the roundabout.’’

Flood risks: This is today's weather forecast for Harrogate district during Storm Christoph

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.