Residents, traders, councillors and Harrogate’s MP have joined forces to show the red card to proposals for town centre traffic. The scheme – brought forward by the County Council – will stop traffic using Station Parade and instead send it up Cheltenham Mount, onto Bower Road passing ASDA and then up East Parade to rejoin Station Parade at Station Bridge. The two roundabouts on East Parade would be replaced by traffic lights.
On Thursday Andrew Jones MP spoke at a meeting of traders and residents at Lily’s Cafe on Commercial Street where a campaign was mapped out to stop the proposals.
Mr Jones commented: “These plans are nonsensical. To send traffic scooting all round town, through residential areas, passed two elderly persons residences and through two new sets of traffic lights is a recipe for traffic chaos. The amount of opposition – from residents and traders alike – is gathering pace. I am sure the County Council will listen carefully and I hope they will abandon the plans.”
Sue Kramer of Crown Jewellers on Commercial Street organised the meeting. Mrs Kramer commented: “I have been overwhelmed by the amount of opposition there is to these plans. We’ve put petitions in shops and local councillors have been spreading the word to residents. It’s a real team effort and it is great to have our MP on board too.”
Andrew Jones is organising a meeting with Country Councillor Gareth Dadd who is the authority’s spokesperson for highways issues.
Andrew added: “There are a number of traffic issues about which I want to speak to Councillor Dadd. I am sure it will be a most constructive meeting and that he will recognise the strength of feeling about these proposals.”
The next meeting is Thursday 14 April, 5.30 at Lily’s Cafe on Commercial Street all welcome or e-mail no2stationparade@yahoo.co.uk
