Two rival Facebook groups with starkly contrasting opinions on cycling are locked in a dispute over the use of the name Harrogate Residents Association.

The original Harrogate Residents Association is a private Facebook group with 326 members and a website.

It was set up in February by Anna McIntee and Lucy Gardiner, who feel there has been a lack of consultation about the recent spate of transport schemes promoting cycling and walking, such as changes to Oatlands Drive and the £7.9 million Station Gateway project.

They are sceptical about the merits of the schemes and fear they could damage the town.

Last week a new Harrogate Residents Association group was formed by Mark Smith.

Its members are more favourable towards the pro-walking and cycling schemes, which also include the closure of Beech Grove to through traffic and the pedestrianisation of James Street.

The "clone" group

The duo behind the original page told the Stray Ferret the new "clone" group was an "obvious attempt" to discredit their opinions, and should be shut down by Facebook.

Ms McIntee said posts in her group questioning the merits of walking and cycling proposals had attracted "relentless" comments from pro-cycling accounts demanding that it "provides the facts".

Ms Gardiner was even accused of being Tara Gunne, the now infamous 'fake' profile that used the image of Liverpool adult entertainer Hazel May to discredit the Station Gateway proposals.

Ms Mcintee said those behind the new group wanted to "confuse and undermine" the original group.

She added:

She also accused the pro-cycling voices in Harrogate of being aggressive and confrontational.

Ms Gardiner added:

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Bagsied the name

Mr Smith told the Stray Ferret he set up the new page because he was unhappy the original Harrogate Residents Association Facebook group had been set to private, with new members having to be approved before joining.

He said the group's selective nature made it an untrue representation of the residents of Harrogate.

His group has flourished and has now overtaken the original group with 371 members. Discussion topics include which streets in Harrogate could become one-way and cycling in the snow.

Mr Smith said he wouldn't be changing the name of the group:

He said he did not set up the new group to confuse people and wasn't aware of any aggressive comments made by members. He said "polite discussion is the difference between the two groups".

Mr Smith added:

Entrenched views