Harrogate District Cycle Action gives 'cautious welcome' to new cycle lanes proposals

A major new cycle lane may be constructed at Pannal Ash Road in Harrogate on a key route for school pupils.

Details for North Yorkshire Council’s plans for new cycle schemes for Pannal Ash Road and Otley Road will be made public tomorrow, Friday, July 31 at a drop-in session in the town.

The event will be hosted by the council’s Major Projects Team from 5pm to 8pm at Harlow Hill Methodist Church at 4 College Road.

On Otley Road, North Yorkshire Council is planning a shared use path from Beckwithshaw to the Harlow Moor Road junction.

North Yorkshire Council's plans for new cycle paths at Pannal Ash Road, pictured, and Otley Road, are first potentially positive moves on cycle infrastructure in Harrogate after a series of disappointments and setbacks for supporters of ‘active travel’. (Picture contributed)

On Pannal Ash Road, its proposal is for a mainly segregated cycleway.

Members of local campaign group Harrogate District Cycle Action have reacted positively in principle to the plans, the first potentially positive moves on cycle infrastructure in Harrogate after a series of disappointments and setbacks for supporters of ‘active travel’ in the town.

HDCA gave its reaction in its newly-published Summer Newsletter.

Its statement said: "We support the principle of a cycleway to Beckwithshaw but it should be separate from the footway, not shared use.

"For most of the way there is ample space to do so.

"We support the proposal for a cycle track on Pannal Ash Road and will comment further once we've seen the plans.

"But the council should commit to building the section of Otley Road cycleway that it abandoned in 2023, from Cold Bath Road to Beech Grove, otherwise there will be no cycle link to the town centre.

"Cold Bath Road is not a suitable alternative route because it's a very busy road, 9,000 vehicles a day, and it doesn't go to the town centre.”

The new Harrogate cycle schemes have been put forward by North Yorkshire Council for funding from Labour Mayor David Skaith’s Mayoral Transport Fund.

The council is also asking for money to resurface existing cycle routes.

The council initially disputed the Mayor's allocation of funds between themselves and City of York Council but they have dropped a threat of legal action.

Harrogate District Cycle Action was established in 2003.