North Yorkshire Council is set to approve a £11.2million scheme

councilors are recommended to agree to the advice submits a full business case to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in September, with a decision in late autumn.

If approved by the joint authority, work could start by the end of the year.

Supporters of the Station Gateway scheme say it will give buses, pedestrians and cyclists easier access to the city centre.

Acceptance for Harrogate Station Gateway – despite fears of inflation

But business groups and others fear such road restrictions will exacerbate congestion, reduce footfall and hurt city-centre merchants, as they will also remove 40 car parks and several taxi ranks, forcing cars onto other streets.

An online petition against the system has collected more than 2,000 signatures alleging damage to city businesses and obstructing access to emergency vehicles.

“The whole premise of the plan is nonsense and will do irreversible damage to Harrogate.

“Those who live and work downtown are not listened to. Our voices must be heard,” said petitioner Rachael Inchboard.

The Station Gateway scheme aims to make the area around Harrogate’s train and bus stations more attractive. It is part of a £42m investment by the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) in North Yorkshire, which also includes upgrading the station gateways at Selby and Skipton.

Latest step in transport plans for Harrogate and Selby

Tuesday’s Council Bureau meeting follows the Harrogate and Knaresborough Borough Constituency Committee meeting in May, at which an overwhelming majority voted to move the project forward.

The project involves reducing 300m of the main A61 Station Parade road to single lane traffic and creating a dual lane cycle lane at the northern end and a bus lane.

James Street will also be partially traffic-calmed.

The station square will undergo a major redevelopment, including the removal of the ‘little temple’.

North Yorkshire Council Member for Motorways and Transport, Cllr Keane Duncan, said: “The Harrogate scheme represents a landmark investment aimed at revitalizing the city centre, supporting businesses and encouraging people to travel more sustainably. ”

“The most recent vote in the district committee showed that the local councils support the project clearly and across party lines. The majority recognized the importance of securing this £11.2million investment and the transformative impact the project could have.

“We have responded to councilors’ feedback by committing to review the Odeon Roundabout design prior to final submission and to consider key crossings outside the scope of the Gateway project (Ripon Road/King’s Road/Cheltenham Parade). pull to further limit congestion.”

“Fully submitting the business case would represent a major step forward for the project and allow us to stay on track and start work in winter 2023.

“The input and oversight of local councils, as well as working with city center businesses, will be incredibly valuable as the project progresses and we will be presenting more detailed plans for this shortly.”