Council secures funding for £14m town centre overhaul… but fuming locals shoot down “bicycle-obsessed council” because plan includes a cycle lane; James May ‘invents’ the cargo bike + more on the live blog

Up in Harrogate, North Yorkshire Council was pleased to announce it would be investing in the town centre having won £38m of investment from central government’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF). Alongside other investment in Skipton and Selby, around £14.3m of that is to be used “improving Harrogate town centre [by] providing better access to public transport, and ensuring people are connected to economic and educational opportunities”. Positive news? Well, apparently not, according to residents on Facebook…

You’ve probably worked out how these sort of things go by now, but North Yorkshire Council has been accused of being “bicycle obsessed” because there’s a major new cycle lane included in the plans.

It is worth pointing out there were also some concerns about if there could be more greenery in the plans, but for many the big issue was, to quote one local, “Cycle lanes, cycle lanes, cycle lanes?!?!?”

As this funding is specifically from the TCF the council clearly has to abide by that and can’t just put the £14m towards some of the more day-to-day local authority service issues that some residents suggested would be a better destination for the money. Sorry, got distracted there, back to the fury that sight of a cycle lane causes.

“Bicycle obsessed council …. There aren’t any!” John Scott said.

“Artists impression — who’s ever seen three cyclists on Station Parade?!” Chrissy Fincham added, a comment which… some might argue is… well… perhaps the point of providing a safe, protected route so people can.

Gary Fitzsimmons commented: “Cycle lanes, cycle lanes, cycle lanes?!?!? Why not build a proper hub that links to bus and train stations together, the one that was promised over 20 years ago! The bridge across to the car park from the Victoria Centre was meant to be part of it, hence the eyesore that has been left there looking like a temporary rig! Wrong priorities!!”

“That money would be better spent lowering business rates to actually help store owners, a cycle path will do nothing,” Neal King said.

We’ll give the last ranty comment to Steve Lilley: “Have the powers that be carried out a survey to see the flow of cyclists who use that section of road. I think not because they don’t exist. I have not seen one cyclist on that section. What a complete waste of money.”

It’s fairly standard for discourse around these sort of town centre projects to be dominated by cycle lane complaints, even if the Harrogate scheme also includes improved traffic signals, a bus lane, new paving on pedestrian areas, and cycle parking at the station. There will also be traffic-signal improvements at junctions on the A61.

Work is set to begin in the New Year to avoid disruption over the festive period and the scheme is due be completed in autumn 2027.

“The aims of the programme are to provide more accessible, affordable and attractive greener transport options, connect people to employment and educational opportunities, and create happier and healthier communities,” the council explained.

Executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, added: “The scheme has been in the making for around five years, with several rounds of consultation and engagement to produce the final designs. We have maintained our commitment to delivering the scheme, which will be key in promoting sustainable travel and public transport options. The town centre will become more visibly appealing, ultimately driving economic prosperity through improved access to employment and future investment.”