"Doing more for people to walk or cycle" - New Harrogate crossing approved
The toucan crossing is proposed on Wetherby Road at Slingsby Walk
Last updated 9th Jun 2024
Work is to get going in Harrogate after councillors at North Yorkshire County Council approved a new crossing.
It's said to potentially 'unlock the potential' to get more people in the town walking or cycling, thanks to work from a piece of specialist modelling commissioned by the local authority.
The signalised toucan crossing is set to be installed on Westerby Road at Slingsby Walk.
It's proposed to be installed there as the location is where two cycle and walk routes meet up.
Approval to go ahead is subject to a design process and safety checks, but it was given the go-ahead at a meeting with North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways and transportation.
The location is close to a hospital, as well as schools, and is a regularly-used link to the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists.
It's also close to the Stray and a train station.
North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways and transportation, Cllr Keane Duncan, said: “A crossing at Slingsby Walk would be a positive step forward for active travel in Harrogate, providing a safe, formal crossing point for both pedestrians and cyclists who might currently be hesitant about using the link.
“We recognise the concerns around existing traffic congestion on this section of Wetherby Road and at the meeting we discussed how we will use sensor technology to detect automatically when the crossing is clear to ensure no unnecessary delays to motorists.
“We are committed to doing more to create opportunities for people to walk or cycle for work, education and shopping as part of a balanced approach to travel. This means doing what we can to support all road users - motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport services.”
Subject to the outcome of the design process and safety checks, Cllr Duncan added that the aim would be to install the crossing in the 2023/24 financial year.