Local traders have been making their objections to the latest Station Gateway development – which threatens to decimate the town centre and compromise the future of Harrogate businesses.
One of those to stand against the plans had this to say:
I am writing as a business owner in Harrogate to express my grave concerns and objections to the latest Traffic Regulation Order connected to the Harrogate Station Gateway Scheme (Harrogate TCF Parking Station Parade 129944).
In large part this road is actually the ‘A’ road through Harrogate and, as such, a busy thoroughfare.
Despite several years of rational objection and several petitions against this proposal, NYC keep updating and persisting with it. This, despite the vociferous protests of the business owners in the area and hundreds of Harrogate residents who will also be seriously affected by these plans.
There is already tremendous pressure on businesses and the plans proposed by NYC will only exacerbate this to breaking point. The plans listed below are nothing short of detailed decimation of a large part of commercial Harrogate and will result in catastrophic consequences to almost all of the businesses.
- Parking slashed by 87% on Station Parade North – from 23 spaces down to just 3. That’s a potential loss of 300 visits per day – up to 2,000 customers a week gone.
- Takeaway customers for five restaurants left with nowhere to stop.
- Only one loading bay for 30+ businesses.
- Loading bays will be reduced by 75% from four to one along Station Parade North and Station Parade.
- More lost parking elsewhere along Station Parade.
- Fails to take into account the actual impacts of the scheme including
After so much dissent and so many objections over such a lengthy period surely it is about time NYC conceded that this is a pointless, unwanted and ridiculously expensive project which nobody in Harrogate wants, or needs?
Saying that the hard pressed Council is not paying for this, the Governments is, is frankly, puerile. Government money is Taxpayers money…our money. Which we will be unable to pay if our businesses go under. Please think about that for a moment or two.
This is not a question of NYC knowing what is best for Harrogate. Not a question of Active Travel and reducing car use. THIS is a plan which will destroy Harrogate’s commercial heart.
Frankly, it is about time that certain people listened and took heed of what the people of Harrogate and the business owners of Harrogate both know, need and want.
They do NOT WANT the Harrogate Gateway proposal. Not in any way, shape or form.
Please accept this as my total 100% objection to all plans, proposals and ideas concerning the Harrogate Gateway Scheme. Your acknowledgement would be appreciated.
Click here to find out how you can object to the development, before the September 19 deadline: Harrogate-Getaway-Template-Letters-and-Emailers.docx
