Get Away spokesperson Steven Baines declares: ‘Battle has now commenced!” as the campaign moves into overdrive.
The Get Away campaign, which opposes the controversial, long-running £12.1 Station Gateway project, has now 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 NYC’s failure to consider the wider impacts of the proposal and to consult fully with the public have rendered the TROs illegal.
The development comes just 48-hours after an explosive new survey of almost 200 local businesses in Harrogate revealed that 91% of those questioned said they opposed the scheme.
Similar numbers said they felt that Station Gateway, which has been the source of much controversy for years, would not benefit the economy, visitors or local people.
Steven Baines, a local business owner and spokesperson for the Get Away campaign said: “Battle has now commenced! The legal challenge has been filed and issued by the court and our solicitors have served papers on both North Yorkshire Council and WYCA.
“Not only is there anger from the Harrogate business and trade community that this is the wrong scheme for the town but there is outrage at the way it was pushed through without adequate consultation.
“This is simply not good enough and this is why we want the whole matter to be out in the open and heard by the High Court so we can get to the bottom of what has gone on here.”
Steven added: “Only this week it was reported that close to 20 councillors – almost a quarter of North Yorkshire Council – staged a mass walk out during a meeting to discuss the annual meeting and five-year plan, over the alleged lack of democracy and accuracy in the way the executive conducts its business.
“There is something badly amiss at North Yorkshire Council; these fleeing councillors know this, the business community knows this and it can’t be allowed to continue.
“We await the outcome of the High Court challenge and sincerely hope it results in the end of Station Gateway and better governance for the people of Harrogate and North Yorkshire.”
The Get Away campaign, which includes freeholders, tenants and high street retailers – have also launched a hard-hitting multi-media campaign to highlight concerns about the Station Gateway project and has set up a website and Facebook group.
It 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.
The Get Away campaign also received a major boost earlier this month when local businessman Chris Bentley announced that he was providing ‘resources and lobbying support’ to advance their cause.
Bentley, owner of Hornbeam Park Developments, said he could no longer ‘observe from afar’ as he accused North Yorkshire Council of being ‘dictatorial’ and ‘dangerous to our town’.
David Waddington, spokesperson for Hornbeam Park Developments said: “Chris has grown increasingly concerned at the decision-making process regarding Station Gateway and felt compelled to publicly support Get Away.
“At a time when council taxes are increasing and trading conditions for Harrogate are already very difficult, there needs to be both meaningful consultation and full transparency over important proposals such as this one.
“We are also concerned that this will bring two years of traffic disruption for a scheme that the business community do not want. Another huge concern is that North Yorkshire Council wants to deliver this project itself and we question whether it has the necessary skills to do so.”
