Traders launch legal action over plans to transform Yorkshire town centre
Business owners have launched a legal action over plans to transform a North Yorkshire town centre.
The Get Away campaign group says they have instructed lawyers to challenge North Yorkshire Council 's decision to issue traffic regulation orders last month as part of the £12m Harrogate Station Gateway Scheme. These orders have set the stage for a series of changes, such as modifications to bus access into the station, a new bus lane on Station Parade, enhanced cycling infrastructure between Bower Road and Station Bridge, and improved pedestrian accessibility.
Plans also include better pedestrian and vehicle movements with linked signals and the enhancement of public spaces at One Arch and Station Square.
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Steven Baines, a Harrogate business owner and spokesperson for the campaign group, accused the council of failing to fully consider the impacts of the proposal and not consulting adequately with the public, rendering the orders illegal. The Get Away group is now conducting its own survey to collect feedback on the scheme and launching a publicity campaign to urge traders to voice their opposition to the plans.
Mr Baines said: "North Yorkshire Council may have shied away from consulting with local businesses so we are facilitating our own consultation to give us a voice.
"As the UK economy continues to worry the business community, the extra financial pressure from the disruption this scheme will cause could be the final straw for many Harrogate traders.
"North Yorkshire Council should scrap this project to allow our business community the best possible operating environment to provide much-needed goods and services to the people of Harrogate and further afield now and in the future.
"Where is the over-arching business support for this scheme? Where is the economic impact assessment which shows the benefits this will bring for our businesses and where is the open dialogue with traders? The answer is nowhere."
Campaign group members and businessman, Barry Adams, claimed there was a "growing feeling" that the council had wanted to push the scheme through without fully considering the best interests of businesses. He said: "The engagement has been poor, to say the least. Traffic regulation orders were inconsistently displayed and missing key information and the plans were not made available as they should have been in the local library and online.
"We are all for investment in the town but it must be the right investment which makes a positive impact for Harrogate, creates growth and helps local businesses thrive."
North Yorkshire Council's corporate director of environment, Karl Battersby, said: "We have received a pre-action protocol letter in respect of the Harrogate Transforming Cities Fund traffic regulation orders approval decision in December.
"We will provide the necessary information and respond to the claims made in the letter."
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