Work has started on reviewing the need for and route of a Harrogate Relief Road.
At a meeting of the North Yorkshire County Council Area Committee, members were told the investigations would look at “the need for and alignment of a Harrogate Relief Road’’.
But it was stressed that no decisions had been taken and the public would be kept informed of progress.
Speaking after the meeting, the chairman of the Area Committee, County Councillor Michael Harrison, said:
I recognise that this is a controversial subject, and the meeting was well attended by members of the public reflecting this.
Some members of the public took the opportunity to ask a question or make a statement, and I hope everyone was reassured that the report presented was only to inform local County Council members about the start of work to look at relief road options. No final decisions on a route of a relief road, or even if a new relief road is the solution to traffic congestion in Harrogate and Knaresborough, are being made yet.
Information about the relief road review will be kept updated on the County Council website at www.northyorks.gov.uk/hrr
The webpage includes a plan showing some ‘‘indicative corridors’’ for the route of the relief road for further investigation. Much more work is required before the County Council can identify actual routes and this will take into account all the potential traffic benefits and consider the impact on the environment and on local residents.
Councillor Don Mackenzie, the Executive Member for Highways, said:
Today’s Area Committee meeting was part of a long, detailed process of keeping elected members and residents informed. This openness will continue with regular statements to the media and on the NYCC website. There will also be a formal public consultation as part of the review of a need for, and alignment of, a Harrogate relief road.
Public consultation is expected to take place late next year before the County Council takes a decision on the way forward.
