Lib Dems are calling on North Yorkshire Council Executive Member to resign over Gateway bungle.
In a joint letter, Harrogate and Knaresborough’s Liberal Democrat Councillors have called for Councillor Keane Duncan’s resignation as the lead member for Highways and Transportation. His department spent £2 million of taxpayers money on consultants for a scheme that was disliked by local businesses and residents and was axed on the advice of North Yorkshire Council’s own lawyers!
Local Liberal Democrat Councillors have been critical of the handling of the Harrogate Gateway project by the North Yorkshire’s Conservative-led Executive citing lack of engagement with residents and businesses. In July, the group sent a message of no confidence to Cllr Duncan over his handling of this scheme.
Councillor Monika Slater said:
Let us make this clear Harrogate needs investment but the Conservatives, both at North Yorkshire Council and those in Westminster seem unable to deliver for Harrogate.
Cllr Duncan has overseen a project that has a £2 million spend on consultants but is not robust enough to withstand a legal challenge. What a waste of public money.
Cllr Duncan and the Conservative Executive have failed to address meaningful concerns of residents and businesses and deliver a scheme that has local support, one that will bring positive changes to Harrogate. If this is the best he can do it is simply not good enough.
Cllr Hannah Gostlow said:
It’s astonishing that the Conservatives have selected Keane Duncan as their Mayoral candidate. If he can’t stop this project from turning into a fiasco what will he do with the tens of millions of pounds the Mayor has at it’s disposal?
The Councillors have echoed calls made yesterday by Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Tom Gordon for the money due to be spent on the Gateway Project to be ring fenced for Harrogate.
