Lib Dem leader describes £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway as ‘vanity project’

The £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway has been branded a “piecemeal vanity project” by the chair of the committee that voted to approve it.

The Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee, which advises North Yorkshire Council, backed the scheme by 10 votes to three at a meeting on Friday.

The decision paves the way for North Yorkshire Council’s ruling Conservative executive to give the project the go-ahead on May 30.

It means Station Parade will be reduced to one lane of traffic so a bus lane and cycle route can be built and James Street partly pedestrianised.

Committee chair Pat Marsh was one of three Lib Dems to oppose the gateway but support by five of her colleagues and five Conservatives enabled it to go through despite vociferous public opposition.

In a press release issued last night, Cllr Pat Marsh — who is leader of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Lib Dems — called for businesses and residents to be consulted as the scheme progressed. She said:

“Of particular concern was the level of poor consultation and lack of any business impact assessment for the project. The council needs to acknowledge their mistakes and learn from them.

“Many residents and businesses put forward positive suggestions for improving the scheme. There is little evidence that any of this was listened to and actioned.”

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Cllr Marsh, who represents Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone, added:

“The lack of long-term investment in the town centre and any meaningful strategic active travel plan for the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency means that projects like the gateway are seen as isolated piecemeal vanity projects by the council’s administration rather than a solution that links improvements in traffic flow throughout the town, leading to significant carbon emission reductions.”

“There is nothing in this scheme that will reduce traffic volumes in the town centre to any meaningful degree.”

Cllr Marsh claimed North Yorkshire Council’s “unwillingness” to consider a Harrogate park and ride scheme “further highlights the lack of strategic thinking”.

She also claimed recent failures to secure levelling-up and active travel funding from the UK government “questioned the ability of North Yorkshire Council to deliver this project on time and to budget”.

Friday’s meeting saw councillors agree to support the gateway on condition that further engagement with local businesses and residents took place.

The committee also requested an active role in the project as it progresses.