Views wanted on proposal to improve cycling and walking route in Harrogate
People in the town are being invited to give their views on a proposal to enhance facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.
People in Harrogate are being asked to give their views on a plan for three new cycling routes in the town.
The routes would be alongside a section of the A59, between Badger Mount and Maple Close, Oatlands Drive between Hookstone Road and Knaresborough Road, and Victoria Avenue near the County Court, between the A61 (West Park) and Station Parade.
North Yorkshire County Council's holding the consultation - after its successful funding bid for more than a million pounds from the Government.
The council has received £1,011,750 from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund to improve the infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.
The grant, which must be spent during the 2021/22 financial year, is earmarked to fund work along four corridors to improve access to the town centres for cyclists and pedestrians, allowing for more space for social distancing.
Cycling improvements are also planned in Whitby.
County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, said:
“To help us to develop our proposals, we are inviting local people to give us their views on the proposed corridors and potential improvements. Detailed designs will follow, taking account of the feedback we receive, and we will consult further on those later in March.”
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.
Cllr Mackenzie said:
“The grant comes with strict conditions. Schemes must be delivered quickly, should reallocate road space from vehicles in favour of cyclists and pedestrians, and offer alternatives to existing, well-used bus routes. All 300 schemes put forward were assessed within the limitations of timescale and cost. Many exceeded by large margins the funding available. While this meant that a number of very worthwhile proposals had to be omitted this time, we are confident that there will be many more funding opportunities for them in future.”
People are invited to give their comments by completing an online survey, which will run until 23 February 2021.
The survey for the proposals can be found at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/NYCCATFMain/
Covid-19 lockdown restrictions mean it is not possible to hold public consultation events.
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 ÂŁ2bn five-year sustainable travel package from the Government.