Get Away protest group says it is now clearer than ever that this unwanted £12.1m project could tank Harrogate’s economy
The grim reality of the UK’s economy, as revealed by Wednesday’s Spring Statement, is further proof that the ill thought-out Station Gateway scheme must be scrapped, says the Get Away protest group.
The Autumn budget saw the Bank of England and Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) halve their growth predictions for the UK and yesterday’s announcement further highlights the financial constraints facing the country.
Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, described the Spring Statement as a ‘missed opportunity’ and said it would pile more pressure on the local business community.
He wrote on X: “The Government had the chance to boost growth and support our high streets by scrapping their job tax and reforming business rates – something businesses in Harrogate and Knaresborough need. Instead, they’ve piled more pressure on small businesses, pushing high streets towards decline.”
David Waddington of Hornbeam Park Developments Limited said today: “Enough is enough now. The time has come to pull the plug on this unwanted and totally unnecessary project which will do nothing for Harrogate except to tank the local economy.
“Our traders need all the help they can get in difficult times like this but forcing Station Gateway on the town could be the final nail in the coffin for many.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves blamed global factors for the UK’s economic slowdown which followed her Autumn budget and the OBR expects inflation to average 3.2% this year.
Waddington added: “Tom Gordon is right to highlight the pressure faced by Harrogate’s business community which is crying out for support such as business rate reforms but instead we get Station Gateway which has been roundly rejected by the very businesses it will impact most.
“The grim news which came out of the House of Commons yesterday should be a wake-up call to North Yorkshire Council that they cannot play Russian Roulette with the jobs and livelihoods of Harrogate’ business community.
“By all means spend money on improving traffic flows in the town centre and address empty business properties but unless the desired outcome is more boarded up premises and more job losses, then Gateway should be laid to rest for once and for all.”
The Get Away campaign, which opposes the controversial, long-running £12.1m Station Gateway project, recently commenced its High Court legal challenge against the proposal. Papers have been filed and issued by the court and Get Away solicitors have served notice on both North Yorkshire Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The Get Away group has alleged that North Yorkshire Council’s failure to consider the wider impacts of the proposal and to consult fully with the public have rendered the Traffic Regulation Orders illegal.
The legal challenge followed an explosive survey of almost 200 local businesses in Harrogate that revealed that 91% of those questioned said they opposed the scheme.
The Get Away campaign group is also astonished by recently unearthed comments from Cllr Carl Les from a year ago. It has come to light in a BBC report in February 2024 that the councillor was quoted in connection with trying to strike a balance between making the scheme pedestrianised and cycle-friendly with a business-friendly environment, saying that “whether we’ve got it right, only time will tell.”
Added Waddington: “This is unbelievable and clear that the council does not know whether it’s going to work or not, but yet happy to spend more than £12m in finding out! It’s hardly a vote of confidence in the scheme they are pushing the town’s population to accept.”
The Get Away campaign, which includes freeholders, tenants and high street retailers – has also written to both Simon Lightwood MP, the minister for Local Transport at the Department for Transport and Tom Gordon, the MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough to highlight its concerns.
