North Yorkshire’s highways officers have organised two public meetings to hear the views of Harrogate and Whitby residents on proposals to introduced car traffic flow restrictions, changes to cycling and walking routes in the towns.
North Yorkshire County Council has received £1,011,750 from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund to change the infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.
The grant, which would need to be spent during the 2021/22 financial year, if used, is earmarked to fund work along four corridors to change access to the town centres for cyclists and pedestrians.
The meeting to discuss the Harrogate proposals will be held on 29 March 2021 from 3-5pm, and the meeting to discuss the Whitby proposals on 31 March 2021 from 3-4pm.
In the Harrogate area, three scheme are proposed that will make it more difficult to use a car in the town, while increasing cycle routes.
- A59 (Harrogate Road, Knaresborough) between Badger Mount and Maple Close
- Oatlands Drive between Hookstone Road and Knaresborough Road
- Victoria Avenue near the County Court, between the A61 (West Park) and Station Parade
In Whitby, the proposal is for a corridor to connect the Whitby Park and Ride site at Victoria Farm with Whitby town centre. The route would be along Guisborough Road and Mayfield Road. At Prospect Hill, it is anticipated users would continue to the town centre along local routes..
County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, said:
I thank all those residents who have submitted their views on the general principle of introducing the four active travel schemes for which we have received funding.
Our highways officers will take account of these views as they prepare more detailed designs of each scheme, which will be published later this month. The public meetings will give an opportunity for everyone to ask questions and make comments about the proposals.
Details of the meeting are to follow, but will be a presentation followed by a Question and Answers session.
The County Council bid for the funding last summer, after assessing 300 schemes across the county, including some received from the public, interest groups and county councillors.
The Active Travel Fund allocation is the second phase of funding from the Department for Transport following the Covid-19 lockdown last March. The first phase supported temporary infrastructure to aid social distancing. The Active Travel Fund is part of a £2bn five-year sustainable travel package from the Government.
Give the money back to Central government so it can be used in a worthwhile area, rather than these ridiculous and pointless attempts at the complete ruination of harrogate.