Survey: Harrogate Advertiser asks for your views on the town's green transport future

The Harrogate Advertiser today launches its Sustainable Transport Survey in a spirit of optimism that things can change and get better in the post-Covid world in the town we live.
By Graham Chalmers
Published 3rd Mar 2021, 17:58 GMT
Updated 3rd Mar 2021, 18:08 GMT
Will Harrogate’s race for a greener future stall at the starting gun? Or is there still a way forward?Will Harrogate’s race for a greener future stall at the starting gun? Or is there still a way forward?
Will Harrogate’s race for a greener future stall at the starting gun? Or is there still a way forward?

In theory, these ought to be exciting times for anyone who cares about tackling traffic congestion and reducing carbon emissions in the town.

After years of talks and consultations and bids for Government money, not one but three separate - but related - initiatives to turn the town away from car use towards sustainable transport are beginning to happen... not at some vague point in the distant future, but right now.

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Our local transport authority North Yorkshire County Council, in conjunction with Harrogate Borough Council, is currently taking forward three major transport projects in the town:

The Gateway:

A £7.9m project to spruce up the Station Parade area and give priority to cyclists and pedestrians over car use.

LTNs:

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods at Beech Grove and Lancaster Road to block cars and make routes more suitable for cyclists and pedestrians.

Active Travel Fund:

Cycle paths are planned at Victoria Avenue, Oatlands Drive and on the A59 out of Knaresborough towards Starbeck.

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Previous checks in the mood of public opinion across Harrogate has appeared to show a large majority in favour of a future which no longer dominated so much by cars - or the traffic congestion they bring.

However, all three of the initiatives mentioned have been greeted with swift resistance from various business and residential groups.

The question now is clear, will Harrogate’s race for a greener future stall at the starting gun? Or is there still a way forward?

Showing support for ‘green’ proposals is all well and good when the ideas are in principle, but now that the public have actually seen the implications such plans will have on their own lives, have they cooled on sustainable transport?

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Aim of the Harrogate Advertiser Sustainable Transport Survey and how you can fill it in

The aim of the Harrogate Advertiser Sustainable Transport Survey is straightforward.

Is Harrogate willing to change how it operates to tackle climate change and traffic congestion even if making that change does then impact on individual daily lives?

Your answers will be collated and we will report on the outcome in two weeks.

Click here for the Harrogate Advertiser Sustainable Transport Survey

Related topics:HarrogateNorth Yorkshire County Council