A coalition of aggrieved local businesses is calling on North Yorkshire Council to urgently rethink its proposals for the £12 million Harrogate Gateway scheme, warning current plans could restrict accessibility, jeopardise the town’s historic character and severely impact local trade at a time of immense economic hardship.
The group, known as Get Away, has voiced particular frustration at the lack of transparency surrounding the project, with many local businesses – including freeholders, tenants and high street retailers – saying they were not adequately consulted despite the significant impact the scheme will have on their livelihoods.
Criticism has also been levelled at North Yorkshire Council’s engagement efforts, with Traffic Regulation Orders inconsistently displayed and missing key information, and plans not made readily available online or in public spaces such as the library. The group argues these shortcomings have left residents and businesses unable to make informed decisions or provide meaningful feedback on the project.
While it welcomes well-considered investment in the town, Get Away says this scheme represents a ‘gross misspend of public funds’ which needs to be paused and reevaluated in light of pressing social and economic concerns.
Among Get Away’s chief criticisms are:
- Parking Reductions: The number of parking spaces on Lower Station Parade is set to drop from 24 to just 3, which the group says will deter foot traffic and harm profitability for local businesses.
- Accessibility Concerns: The introduction of a one-way system will require taxis to pick up passengers on the right-hand side of the street. This poses risks for disabled individuals using vehicles with accessible doors on the near side. Gary Sadler Simpson, a business partner of Mainline Taxis, said: “This means accessible taxis will have to on- and off-board passengers in the middle of the road, creating unnecessary risks.”
- Ineffectiveness of Proposed Features: The introduction of a new bus lane, which is expected to shave just 20 seconds off of the average peak time journey, and a cycle lane which effectively ‘starts nowhere and ends nowhere’. Get Away said these are prime examples of how millions in taxpayer money is ‘being wasted’ under the scheme.
- Quality Control: While the use of Yorkshire stone ensures a high standard for materials, the group raises concerns about cost management. If the project exceeds it budget, the financial burden will fall on the council and taxpayers. This raises the question whether taxpayers could end up paying more for aesthetic enhancements that might not deliver proportional economic benefits?
- Erosion of Harrogate’s Welcoming Character: The planned removal of seating and trees near the station, replaced with hard landscaping risks diminishing the spa town’s inviting and friendly image. Get Away warn that for visitors arriving by train, this creates a less appealing first impression, which could negatively impact Harrogate’s reputation.
- Prolonged Construction Disruption: The group warns that the anticipated two-year construction timeline raises serious concerns about the prolonged disruption to the local economy. Extended road closures, noise, and restricted access could deter visitors, complicate commutes and create challenges for local businesses that depend on high footfall.
Steve Baines, spokesperson for Get Away and a local business owner, said: “We understand the need to modernise our town’s infrastructure and fully support meaningful, positive investment, but this project feels poorly planned and disconnected from the needs of our community.
“The last thing the council should want is to steamroll over the serious concerns raised by its proposals. We are calling for it to hit the brakes on this project until these key challenges have been acknowledged and addressed.
“This project, on paper, may cost £12 million, but the real price will be paid by local trade and residents if nothing changes. Harrogate deserves investment that enhances the town, not plans that risk hurting its character and economy.”
Get Away hasn’t been alone in its criticism about the proposal. The Harrogate Civic Society has also expressed concern about the plans – most recently objecting to tree felling that has been approved as part of the scheme. The group noted the speed at which this decision was made, with the application being validated on November 13, 2024, and approved on November 25, 2024, questionable timescales unheard of by public applicants.
The HSC previously said it considered the proposed design for Station Square to be ‘poor’ and that ‘it would not reflect or enhance the character of Harrogate’. Get Away echoed these concerns, warning that visitors arriving at the train station would be greeted by a ‘concrete jungle’ rather than the town’s historic charm.
An online petition opposing the Harrogate Gateway scheme, though unaffiliated with the group, has earned more than 2,600 signatures.