Consultation is now under way on £31m proposals to transform the gateways to three North Yorkshire towns.
New entrances to railway stations, new public spaces linking stations to town centres and better access to education and employment sites are among options for Harrogate, Selby and Skipton after a partnership of local authorities succeeded in a bid to the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF).
The TCF aims to make it easier, safer and quicker for people to travel on foot, by bike and by public transport. Transformational projects in the three towns will be delivered by a partnership of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Craven District Council, Harrogate Borough Council and Selby District Council and are scheduled to be completed by 2023.
Public consultations on the proposals for each town run until 24 March 2021. People can read more about the proposals and complete the surveys at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/northyorkshire
In addition, a series of online public events begins next week, enabling people to hear more about the projects and to ask questions before completing the survey. The events are:
- Harrogate project: 3 March – see Teams Event
- Harrogate project:10 March – see Teams Event
- Skipton project: 2 and 11 March
- Selby project: 4 and 12 March.
All will start at 6pm. Find out how to join at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/northyorkshire
or for the Harrogate specific page: Harrogate Station Gateway | Your Voice (westyorks-ca.gov.uk)
Proposals include:
In Harrogate, improved railway station frontage with better access for walking and cycling; improved facilities for walking and cycling in the town centre; and improvements to public spaces.
In Selby, improved station frontage and links to the town centre, Abbey and bus station; improved walking and cycling links to major redevelopment sites, including a new cycle and footbridge over the River Ouse to the Olympia Park site.
In Skipton, improved access for walking and cycling from the railway station to the bus station; improved railway station frontage and improved access to education and employment sites.
North Yorkshire County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, said:
Improving the gateways to these towns will not only make them more attractive, but will also provide infrastructure for sustainable travel. We have looked at barriers to people accessing public transport, cycling and walking and devised schemes to address these. I hope people will have their say through the consultation and take advantage of the online events to learn more and to ask questions.
Councillor Phil Ireland, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, said:
Through the Harrogate Congestion Study, it was clear the community wanted to see improvements to walking, cycling and public transport prioritised. The TCF project is the first step to delivering this and I’m pleased that the hard work and determination of council officers has paid off, and helped secure around £8million for the Harrogate bid.
Public feedback will help to shape the next stage of the project plans.
