James Street pedestrianisation looms amid ’empty shops’ warning

Businesses debated pedestrianising a key Harrogate street with North Yorkshire County Council for the first time last night.

The plans to stop traffic from entering James Street could still come into force as early as October. It is expected to last up to six months but there is still no set date for the start.

Some raised concerns at the meeting about the look of traffic cones at the meeting last night. However, the council has mooted tree planters as a replacement.

The County Council met virtually with business managers, landlords, Harrogate BID and the Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

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Bob Kennedy, of Porters and G23, told the Stray Ferret that the meeting was “courteous” but still has reservations:

“There is a debate to be had about pedestrianisation in the long term. But I do not think it is the right time to hold a trial run. Christmas will be a crucial time for many businesses and this plan to temporarily pedestrianise James Street may be detrimental.”

David Steca, of Steca Barbering, posted a picture of James Street with barely a shopper in sight:

“The reputed busiest shopping street in the affluent up market town of Harrogate at 10am on Wednesday.  Please now take the cones away they help nothing. People are not stupid they can distance. See the full picture or more vacant shops.”

The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire County Council for a comment. We received no reply by the time of publication.

Conservative councillor speaks out against James Street pedestrianisation

A Conservative Harrogate borough councillor has spoken out against plans to temporarily pedestrianise James Street.

Cllr Nick Brown, who represents the Bishop Munkton and Newby ward, said it was “not the time to deliver a further body blow” to retail in the town.

While Cllr Brown has positioned himself as a “lone voice” in opposition to the plans, it is not the first time he has spoken out against the issue.

At an Overview and Scrutiny meeting last month, he told Conservative council leader, Cllr Richard Cooper, that the coronavirus pandemic was not a reason to start the trial run for pedestrianisation.

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North Yorkshire County Council, which is the highways authority, is expected to implement a temporary pedestrianisation of James Street at the request of the borough council.

The measure has already been met with fierce criticism from landlords and store managers, including former England and Leeds United star Danny Mills.

Now, Cllr Brown has broken rank and criticised the move which forms a part of the council’s masterplan for the town centre.

He said:

“Much has changed in retail since 2016, with the rise of Internet shopping, accelerated by the covid lockdown since March this year. 

“Sadly, retail in central Harrogate is suffering badly. Now is not the time to deliver it a further body blow by pedestrianising the town centre. 

“I believe that the 2016 masterplan, which promotes further widespread pedestrianisation in central Harrogate, is totally out of date and will not serve local businesses well. It may be relevant and have merit sometime in the future but certainly not now, when our retailers need all the help from us that they can get.”

Cllr Brown questioned what economic modelling had been done for the pedestrianisation and whether the consultation for the move was sufficient.

Harrogate Borough Council has maintained that the temporary pedestrianisation was for “social distancing and safety purposes”.

A spokesperson for the council said:

“The proposal to temporarily pedestrianise part of James Street, that already has parking restrictions in place, is to support existing social distancing measures during the continuing covid-19 pandemic and allow people to feel safe when visiting the town centre.

“There is also a wealth of evidence that suggests pedestrianisation supports town centres, increases footfall, reduces vacancy rates, supports local businesses and is viewed positively by visitors.”

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, previously defended the the measure and said it was “timely and appropriate”.

James Street pedestrianisation ‘timely and appropriate’, says council

County council bosses have said a move to temporarily pedestrianise James Street in Harrogate is “timely and appropriate”.

It comes as the county council lent its support for a temporary pedestrianisation of the street, which could be in place as early as next month, but has faced opposition from some businesses and landlords.

Harrogate Borough Council requested the measure for “social distancing and safety purposes”. The move was then backed by Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access.

But business owners and landlords on the street, including ex-Leeds United star Danny Mills, have since opposed the decision and described it as “damaging”.

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Now, Cllr Mackenzie has defended the decision and said that the move is an experiment after the borough council requested a full closure.

He said:

“NYCC is aware of the views expressed by some owners of James Street businesses who are opposed to plans to pedestrianise James Street.

“We wish to remind all business owners that, in response to the request from Harrogate Borough Council for full closure of James Street, the county council has indicated that it is willing to introduce as an experiment a temporary closure of a section of the street between 10am and 4.30pm each day.

“Such closures are being supported by the Department of Transport and are proving popular in various parts of the country both with residents and with local businesses. We believe, therefore, that our proposed trial closure is both timely and appropriate.”

Harrogate Borough Council has also been approached for comment, but had not responded at the time of publication.

It comes as Mr Mills wrote to both county council leader, Carl Les, and borough council leader, Richard Cooper, calling for an urgent rethink of the decision.

Mr Mills, who has lived in Harrogate for 20 years and owns four properties on James Street, described the move as “very damaging” and said businesses needed all the help they can get.

Nick Hubbert is the general manager at Hoopers.

Meanwhile, the general manager at Hoopers, Nick Hubbert, also wrote to the borough council regarding pedestrianisation.

Mr Hubbert told the Stray Ferret that he does not believe that the temporary pedestrianisation of James Street will help businesses and said he based that on years of experience.

He added that he is not against pedestrianisation long term, but he does not think that the middle of a pandemic is the right time to change things.

Former Leeds star Danny Mills urges rethink on James Street pedestrianisation

Former England and Leeds United star turned businessman, Danny Mills, has called for an urgent rethink on a decision to temporarily pedestrianise James Street in Harrogate.

Mr Mills, who has lived in Harrogate for 20 years and owns four properties on the street, described the decision as “very damaging” and said businesses need all the help they can get.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Mr Mills said the decision would affect businesses which have already been through enough during the coronavirus pandemic.

It comes as the county council lent its support for a temporary pedestrianisation of the street, which could be in place as early as next month.

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The borough council, which put the request in for the closure, said the move was needed to help “safety and social distancing measures” and that it would benefit shoppers and businesses.

But Mr Mills, who owns buildings at Kuoni Travel and Ecco Footwear among others, said the decision would only make matters worse for shops and landlords.

He said:

“We have had to take a hit already and I feel we have done our bit and it’s bizarre that such a decision would be made without speaking to the businesses it affects.

“All the businesses are struggling to get footfall through the doors and I think the parking restrictions make it look a little bit unsightly at the moment.

“There are so many potential advertising opportunities because of the traffic is going through the street. It would be very, very damaging.”

James Street, which has already seen its pavements widened, has been earmarked for pedestrianisation.

James Street, which has already seen its pavements widened, has been earmarked for pedestrianisation.

As part of his opposition to the plan, the former England defender has written to both Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, and Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, urging them to reconsider the decision.

He said those who own property on the street want the best for the town and want to see Harrogate succeed.

“The last thing that the council needs is for shops to close. 

“People come to Betty’s and to see the Stray and if that means that shops are boarded up then that’s not good for the town.”

Mr Mills said he has had no contact from either council over the measure. But, he added that it was not too late for council bosses to change their minds and speak with those affected.

Mr Mills said:

“The most important thing is to open dialogue with business and talk with landlords. We all want want is best for Harrogate.

“The council has to have a rethink and a consultation process. We are not doing this to be spiteful, we are doing this for the town. I do not want a town where shops are closing.”

Nick Hubbert is the general manager at Hoopers.

Meanwhile, Nick Hubbert, general manager at department store Hoopers, has also written a strongly worded letter to borough council leader, Cllr Cooper, regarding pedestrianisation.

Mr Hubbert told the Stray Ferret that he does not believe that the temporary pedestrianisation of James Street will help businesses and said he based that on years of experience:

He added that he is not against pedestrianisation long term but he does not think that the middle of a pandemic is the right time to change things.

Strayside Sunday: Pay MPs more and ban outside interests

Strayside Sunday is our weekly political opinion column. It is written by Paul Baverstock, former Director of Communications for the Conservative Party. 

What are we to make of this weeks’ news that two Conservative MP’s and former cabinet ministers, Sajid Javid, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Ripon’s own Julian Smith, the former Norther Ireland Secretary, are both supplementing their income to the combined tune of almost a half a million pounds.  This from “interests” beyond the walls of the Palace of Westminster?  Mr. Javid is to work for the American bankers JP Morgan, for a reported salary of £400,000.  Mr. Smith is set to work for a company called Ryse Hydrogen Limited and, as the register of member’s interests states, will provide 20 hours advice annually for the princely sum of £60,000, a billable rate of a cool £3,000 per hour. How do you like those apples?

Before I go on I should point out that both Javid and Smith asked for, and received, advice on the propriety of their new positions from the government’s Advisory Committee on Business Interests.  Both sinecures were approved by the committee, led by former Conservative Cabinet Minister and professional Yorkshireman, Eric (now Baron) Pickles.  In short, Javid and Smith played by the parliamentary rule book and their commercial actions and activities have been given a clean bill of health.  Well that’s ok then.  But it isn’t really, is it?  Not now, not ever.

Let’s first look at the numbers.  The salary of a Member of the United Kingdom Parliament is £81,932.  None too shabby when one considers that the average full-time salary in the UK is £36,611.  We pay MPs more than twice the average wage to exercise their duties – and I contend they are duties – as public servants.  Given they ask for our vote and seek our trust at election, isn’t full-time working the least we can expect from them in return?  I think so and that it is fair to demand it.  I believe that MPs should not be allowed outside interests, however my view is that we don’t actually pay MPs enough to attract individuals of a calibre to deliver good government.

Most of our current crop of MPs seem like intellectual pygmies in comparison to the politicians we grew up with and that polls show we respected a great deal more than today’s lot.  Margaret Thatcher, Michael Heseltine and Ken Clarke for the blues; Harold Wilson, Barbara Castle, Dennis Healey for the reds; and Roy Jenkins, David Owen and Shirley Williams for the yellows.  Giants all.

Being an MP was an entirely different proposition then of course: Far greater power was vested in local government, meaning that the volume of business conducted in Westminster was much less than it is today, constituency mailboxes could be dealt with (in written hand) in one good sitting per week, and the demands of the media and social media were not 24/7.  Our politics was better because of it and our politicians were unambiguously superior.  But nostalgia for the good old days will not a significant improvement make.

 

What do we need to do to make things better?  Let’s say that we paid MPs a salary of £150,000 per annum and that outside interests are, in-turn, banned.  By way of comparison and perspective, the basic pay for an NHS consultant (a Doctor with 5 years of medical school training and then another 8 years of on the job experience) tops out at £107,688.  With bonuses known as Clinical Excellence Awards consultants pay nears the £150,000.  This places them just below the average UK Chief Executive, who makes £156,000 per year.  My argument, not original, is that increasing MPs pay will attract a much better quality of potential candidate and that politics can once again become one of the respected professions.  In my view there should also be a lower age limit on parliamentarians, say 30 years old, so that they have to bring several years-worth of real-world experience into their role as elected representatives.  I would create too an independent public HR body to vet potential parliamentary candidates of all parties for their suitability for the profession.

 

When one is recruited to any paid position of employment these days, expert interviews are held, salary benchmarking is conducted, reference checks are made, and personality tests are assessed – especially if the process is handled by a professional headhunting or recruitment agency.  Which brings me back to the Right Honourable Julian Smith.  Before he entered parliament Mr. Smith founded and ran a successful recruiting company.  I doubt very much that he achieved a billable rate of £3,000 an hour for any of the candidates he placed.

Again let’s place this in perspective; a leading London commercial “silk” (a barrister appointed Queen’s Counsel; “Her Majesty’s Counsel Learned in Law”), of which there are very few, following 20 years of practice and an ascent to the very pinnacle of their profession, might, just might, be able to bill their multi-national corporate clients up to £2,000 per hour.  I cannot, in any view, see how Mr. Smith can justify £3,000 an hour for the advice he is giving to a private company to his Ripon constituents (and, for that matter, to himself).  It would be good to hear from Mr. Smith precisely the kind of advice he is to provide for such riches. It looks just awful.

With behaviour like this the Conservative Party is in grave danger of appearing (again) to harness the worst excesses of “the market” to fill its boots, rather than focussing on the now immense twin tasks of rebuilding our nation’s shattered economy and delivering the much vaunted “levelling up” agenda.  This, by the way, at a time when competence and empathy seem in terribly short supply (think Robert Jenrick and his planning fiasco and; see also Gavin Williamson’s exam results debacle).  When I worked for the party our obsession was to lose the tag of being “the nasty party.”  If the current tone-deaf behaviour of its cabinet members continues it won’t be long before we regain that most unwelcome moniker.

And talking of tone deaf, what of the handling by Harrogate Borough Council of its plans to close James Street (the town’s main shopping thoroughfare) to traffic?  Sara Ferguson, the acting chair of Harrogate Business Improvement District, felt moved this week to call out the fact that the council appears to have decided unilaterally on the pedestrianisation of James Street.  The council had asked the BID to canvass opinion among local business about the plan and, in so doing, the BID found that two thirds of businesses on the street are against full pedestrianisation.  However, with more than a whiff of fait accompli it seems that the council had no intention of waiting to hear the views of local business leaders and had already put in a request to North Yorkshire County Council to close the street for “safety and social distancing measures” (a measure since backed by NYCC to come into effect as early as next month).  Through bull-headed incompetence Harrogate Borough Council, much like the United Kingdom government, is testing our patience and goodwill to the limit.

That’s my Strayside Sunday.

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Two thirds of James Street businesses against full pedestrianisation, says BID

Harrogate BID has said it is disappointed in a council decision to pedestrianise James Street after it says more than two thirds of businesses on the street are against its full pedestrianisation.

In a strongly worded statement, the BID’s acting chair, Sara Ferguson, said she felt disappointed that Harrogate Borough Council appeared to have already made a decision on the measure without speaking to “the very businesses this will effect”.

She added that the town’s masterplan, which was written up by the borough council in 2016 and includes full pedestrianisation of James Street, “tinkered at the edges” and that the town “deserves a really ambitious plan”.

The BID was contacted by the borough council to ask for its views on the measure at the same time it had put a request into North Yorkshire County Council.

The authority said the temporary pedestrianisation of the street was needed to help “safety and social distancing measures”.

Since then, Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, has backed a temporary closure of the street which could be in place as early as next month.

But, the BID has said, while there was no overwhelming single consensus of opinion, a third of businesses are against any pedestrianisation of the street, another were in favour and a third supported partial pedestrianisation.

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Sara Ferguson, acting chair of the Harrogate BID, said:

“We are disappointed that without first speaking to the very businesses this will affect, Harrogate Borough Council appears to have already made its decision, namely that of pedestrianising the entire length of James Street.

“They asked us for our views, but before we responded to them, we wanted to speak to our members along the street. In addition to calling in to shops, we also emailed them too, which revealed a three-way split.

“Based on these responses, and for what it’s worth, we have now given this feedback to both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council. We trust that before any long-term decision is made about James Street’s future, there is full and proper consultation.”

It comes as cones which blocked off parking spaces along James Street for social distancing were no longer in place this morning.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said its officers have not removed the cones. He added that the council will put them back in place.

Cars return as cones come down on James Street

The cones which blocked off car parking spaces are no longer in place on James Street and cars have returned to the street in their numbers.

A reporter for the Stray Ferret found the cones stacked up on the side of the road this morning.

It is unclear who is responsible for removing the cones. It comes in the same week that the district and county councils both moved to support partial closure.

This move also comes the day after shop owners on James Street said they were open-minded to pedestrianisation.

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A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said its officers have not removed the cones. He added that the council will put them back in place.

These traffic cones have been on James Street for around four months now. North Yorkshire County Council said it put them there to widen pavements and make social distancing easier.

North Yorkshire County Council removed the cones from West Park after shopkeepers vented their frustrations to the Stray Ferret.

It remains to be seen whether the county council will abandon its plans on James Street like it did on West Park.

Shop owners open-minded ahead of James Street pedestrianisation

Shop owners on Harrogate’s James Street remain open-minded after county council bosses gave their backing to a temporary pedestrianisation of the street.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, has said the authority will support a trial partial closure of the road from Princes Street to Station Parade.

It comes after Harrogate Borough Council lodged a request to the county council to close the street to help “safety and social distancing measures”. The trial could see the street temporarily pedestrianised as early as next month and would involve daily closures to cars from 10am until 4.30pm.

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Jade Firth, assistant manager of The White Company on James Street, said it was difficult to say whether the measure would have a negative or positive impact on the store.

She said:

“I can’t say if it will be positive or negative, we haven’t been able to park along the street for a couple of months now.

“It’s not affected trade tremendously, of course covid in general has affected custom. In terms of not being able to drive down the street, it will have a parallel effect; I don’t think it will change.

“Our customers are already having to walk up so hopefully it should stay the same as it is now.

“Of course, everyone has the worries about people not being able to get down the street to the stores and this street is quiet due to people closing down but I think it will be fine. Customers are often walking five to 10 minutes anyway to get the free parking elsewhere.”

James Street, which has already seen its pavements widened, has been earmarked for pedestrianisation.

James Street, which has already seen its pavements widened, has been earmarked for pedestrianisation.

Meanwhile. Keiran Lancaster, head of fiction at Waterstones, said the move would more likely effect elderly customers parking on the street.

He said:

“With the population in Harrogate, it is a lot of elderly people and we have a lot of people who drive up outside to help their partner in or use a wheelchair so we have had people who have driven down James Street and couldn’t park. 

“So for our elderly customers it could have a negative effect and they wouldn’t be able to get near to the shop. 

“Comparable to Leeds with a younger population it would perhaps not have a big impact. Overall a slight negative impact on takings, but it wouldn’t be anything too much.”

Others, such as Ben Ogden, co-owner of Ogden of Harrogate Jewellers, felt the county council could focus on spending money elsewhere first.

He said:

“I would say to North Yorkshire spend the money-making Cambridge, Oxford and Beulah street look beautiful and see how that works and, if it looks great and it’s being applauded by the town, then look at James Street. 

“To do it properly and beautifully, it will take years, and electric cars are on the rise too, so the argument of pollution will go out of the window.”

In response to the borough council’s request to pedestrianise the street, Cllr Mackenzie said:

“There are hospitality businesses in this section of James Street, which could benefit from the additional space, which the closure would provide.

“Furthermore, if this partial closure proves to work well, and if it is found to be popular with the general public and businesses, full pedestrianisation of James Street can be considered. Such a step would require a process of consultation.

“As far as that part of James Street is concerned which would remain open to traffic, the suspension of parking bays to support social distancing will remain in place. Our highways team will continue to liaise with counterparts at HBC regarding the use of more suitable and attractive alternatives to cones for this purpose.

“The highways team has already arranged a meeting with an HBC officer for later this month in order to discuss the details of the introduction of the trial partial closure, which could be in place as early as next month.”

Cllr Mackenzie said the James Street pedestrianisation tied in with the Transforming Cities Fund Harrogate Gateway project, which could see significant changes made to the rail and bus stations and surrounding areas along Station Parade. A meeting to discuss its progress is expected to be held later this week.

James Street pedestrianisation would be welcomed, says charity

A Harrogate-based disability charity has said disabled people would welcome a temporary pedestrianisation of James Street in the town.

Disability Action Yorkshire said the move would help to create more space for shoppers, particularly those who use wheelchairs, but added that parking would be an issue.

It comes as Harrogate Borough Council made a request to North Yorkshire County Council to temporarily close to street, which it said would help with social distancing and safety.

The proposals to pedestrianise the street have long being opposed by some traders in the town.

Jackie Snape, chief executive at Disability Action Yorkshire.

But, Jackie Snape, chief executive at Disability Action Yorkshire, said she believed the move would help disabled shoppers.

She said:

“I think it would be welcomed. James Street has quite narrow pavements and for wheelchair users there is more space because it is hard to manoeuvre two metres for social distancing.

“But I think parking would be an issue if you need to park close to the shops.”

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Meanwhile, Scope, a national charity which campaigns to change negative attitudes towards disability, said disabled people should not be left behind in any changes for social distancing.

James Taylor, executive director for strategy, impact and social change at the charity, said:

“We cannot allow disabled people to be forgotten. Local authorities must engage with disabled people about the changes they are making in their communities and fully understand the potential impact before they happen.

“At a national level, the government must factor disabled people’s needs into every step of its coronavirus recovery plan.”

Any closure of James Street would be made by North Yorkshire County Council and Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, said the authority would respond to the borough council’s request shortly.

It comes as James Street already has suspended parking spaces in order to widen the pavement for social distancing, which were put in place by the county council in May.

But the plan to pedestrianise the street fits into a wider strategy for Harrogate drawn up by the borough council in its 2016 Town Centre Strategy and Masterplan.

Council requests temporary James Street pedestrianisation

Harrogate Borough Council has put in a request to North Yorkshire County Council for a controversial plan to temporarily pedestrianise James Street.

At the same time as the request went to the county council, Harrogate Borough Council asked for views on the scheme from the BID.

In an e-mail to levy-payers, Harrogate BID said it had been contacted by the authority looking for support on the move which could see the street closed off to vehicles.

The email said the council’s reasoning for the move was for “safety and social distancing measures” and that it would be a significant benefit for shoppers, visitors and businesses.

It added that the pedestrianisation could improve the experience for shoppers and that there was “anecdotal evidence” of an increase in speed from cars on the street due to no parking.

However, this has been fiercely opposed by traders such as William Woods and trade body Independent Harrogate.

Mr Woods said the current widened pavements was already effecting businesses on James Street and the town’s masterplan, which includes a potential pedestrianisation, is out of date.

“It’s had an adverse effect and to say that it would be helpful to pedestrianise is nonsense.

“The masterplan is out of date and we want a well organised, structured plan which is up to date.”

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Any such closure of James Street would be made by North Yorkshire County Council and Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, said the authority would respond to the borough council’s request shortly.

He said:

“I can confirm that I have received a letter this week from the HBC Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport, in which he requests a temporary closure of James Street. I have discussed the request with senior officers and we will be responding shortly.

“It is worth remembering that the successful bid to the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund for the £7.9 million Harrogate Gateway scheme includes partial closure of James Street on which the County Council will be consulting in the near future.”

In its e-mail, Harrogate BID said it was looking for views from businesses before responding to the borough council.

It comes as James Street already has suspended parking spaces in order to widen the pavement for social distancing, which were put in place by the county council in May.

But the plan to pedestrianise fits into a wider strategy for Harrogate drawn up by the borough council in its 2016 Town Centre Strategy and Masterplan. It states:

“The council’s preferred option is for the full pedestrianisation of James Street. This option will serve to link the public realm schemes at Prospect Square and Station Square.”

Harrogate Borough Council has been approached for comment on the proposal.