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09
Nov 2021
Harrogate Station Gateway: why are businesses so opposed?
Businesses and council representatives clashed in a heated two-hour debate about the £10.9 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme last night.
Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce hosted the largest face-to-face gathering to discuss the revised design plans.
The meeting revealed deep divisions between businesses and those championing the scheme, which aims to make the area around the train station more attractive and easier to navigate for cyclists and pedestrians.
Only four people out of about 75 in the room stood when asked to do so if they supported reducing traffic on Station Parade to single lane.
That is one of the most controversial aspects of the scheme, along with pedestrianising the section of James Street from Princes Square to Station Parade
The meeting ended with some businesses threatening to apply for a judicial review to halt the scheme. But why are businesses so opposed to a scheme that is supposed to make the town centre more attractive and increase visitors?
Below are some of the key talking points.
As consultation on the revised plans, which are supported by North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council, draws to a close on Friday, it remains to be seen whether the issues can be resolved.
1 Why is it necessary?
North Yorkshire County Councillor Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access who is leading on the scheme, said Harrogate was the most congested place in North Yorkshire besides York.
He said a Harrogate congestion study run by the council four years ago in response to the decision not to proceed with a bypass, provided a mandate for change because about 80% of respondents said they wanted the town centre to be friendlier to cyclists and pedestrians. The study generated 15,500 replies, which Cllr Mackenzie said was the council's "largest ever public engagement".
Harrogate businessman Terry Bramall said a lot had changed in the four years since the Harrogate Congestion Study. He said plans to pedestrianise part of James Street would "create havoc with traffic flows" and questioned why cycling groups had been consulted but "as a property owner on James Street I haven't been approached".
Cllr Mackenzie replied that he'd spoken to three businesses on James Street that were supportive of the scheme and that those proposing it had "made themselves available at all times".
2 Loss of parking and disruption
Just 40 parking spaces would be lost, said Cllr Mackenzie, mainly on James Street. But some businesses were worried about the knock-on effects.
Sue Savill, director of Party Fever on Station Parade, said plans to reduce Station Parade to single lane traffic and build a cycle route on land currently used for parking outside shops on her side of the street would create major problems.
Matthew Roberts, economy and transport officer at Harrogate Borough Council, said there were plans to make it easier to cross Station Parade but added "you are one of the businesses we need to speak to about logistics".
Ms Savill said this was all very well but carrying a pallet of stock into the shop from the other side would be problematic.
Read more:
- Harrogate businesses consider legal challenge to Station Gateway
- Station Gateway: the story so far of the £10.9m scheme
3 Where is the evidence it will boost trade?
Nick Brown, a Conservative who represents Bishop Monkton and Newby on Harrogate Borough Council, asked whether a detailed economic assessment of the impact on businesses had been conducted and, if so, could it be made public before the consultation ends.
Dan Harper, executive officer economy and transport at Harrogate Borough Council, said the final economic impact assessment couldn't be produced until the final designs for the scheme, which is currently at revised design stage, were available. Mr Harper said this was the standard 'continual process' approach recommended by the Treasury, adding:
Independent retailer William Woods also asked for evidence that the scheme wouldn't have a negative impact on the town's economy.
Cllr Mackenzie replied:
Hazel Barry, chief executive of toiletries firm H2k, said:
4 Is the traffic modelling accurate?
Businesses were sceptical about claims that making Station Parade single lane would not cause congestion or clog up side roads, particularly those off Cheltenham Parade.
Sue Kramer, who owns Crown Jewellers, asked "are we going to let a computer programme decide the future of our roads?".
Sarah Spencer, of tax consultancy Sarah Spencer Ltd, said such modelling tended to "start with the answer they want and work back".
Matthew Roberts, economy and transport officer at Harrogate Borough Council, said there would be an extra two or three cars a minute on Cheltenham Mount.
Responding to questions about why Harrogate Borough Council had not deemed an environmental impact assessment necessary, he said:
Aidan Rayner, Transforming Cities Fund delivery project manager at North Yorkshire County Council, denied claims that traffic data was based on lockdown levels. He said it was based on 2018 levels even though there was evidence that traffic had reduced by 6% since then.
Karl Battersby, corporate director for business and environmental services at the county council, said there had been "no meddling of the data" and said this scheme didn't go as far as others elsewhere in the country to encourage active travel, which had introduced measures such as low emission zones.
5 Will it make the town centre more attractive?
The gateway aims to improve people's first impressions of Harrogate when they arrive by train by opening up the space around the Queen Victoria monument. It also aims to increase footfall by encouraging more people to bring their bikes on the train to Harrogate, or make it easier and more pleasant for local people to cross the town centre on bike or foot.
Daniel d'Arcy Thompson, managing director of Fabric and Co, said the gateway epitomised "pocket planning" whereby funding was secured for individual projects that didn't take a joined-up approach to improving the town. He said:
Cllr Mackenzie said other schemes in the pipeline, such as the Otley Road cycle route, showed a joined-up approach to getting across town by bike.
Fortune Tofa, an accountant, told the meeting:
What is the Harrogate Station Gateway?
The Harrogate scheme is one of three projects worth a combined £42m in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby funded by the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which encourages cycling and walking.
They are being delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Craven District Council and Selby District Council.
A consultation on the revised designs ends on Friday. It is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by the middle of next year.
To take part in the online consultation, which ends on Friday, click here.
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