With contributions from ourselves and developers, the total package will deliver £4.6m of improvements.
What will the package of improvements include?
Among the planned upgrades are improvements to junctions on Otley Road including smart traffic lights, extra traffic lanes, a new off road cycle lane to link into the developing cycle network and new or improved pedestrian crossings. These engineering measures will be complimented by an investment into the ‘softer’ measures such as publicity and education regarding sustainable travel.
The package of sustainable measures will help to improve safety and alleviate the levels of congestion currently experienced along the Otley Road corridor, accommodating the existing traffic and future growth of Harrogate as recognised in the former Harrogate Borough Council’s draft Local Plan.
Surveys and design work in relation to the ‘off road’ Otley Road cycle route and junction upgrade at Harlow Moor Road with Otley Road commenced in April 2018. The local highways team will be keeping the public up to date regarding design, programme and delivery over the next 18 months here.
Public Engagement Event - 21 January 2019
We hosted a public engagement event at Harrogate Grammar school in January 2019. This event focused on the designs of Harlow Moor Road Junction and the Otley Road cycle route, schemes that have been developed as part of a wider package to improve congestion and the impact of future trip demand on the highway network.
Attended by over 200 Harrogate residents and stakeholder representatives, the attendees were provided with the opportunity to discuss the draft pans with the designers. All comments were noted and have been considered as part of the final design of the schemes. A number of the key questions raised at the event have been collated in the question and answers document.
Scheme Updates
Otley Road Cycle Route
The cycle route has been designed off road along the wide footpath and verges of Otley Road. It has been designed to take cyclists on both sides of the road on segregated routes where site constraints allow, otherwise shared – approx. 42% segregated and 58% shared. The design has included a number of new junction upgrades to introduce two new Toucan facilities for cyclists. The designs can be found at the links below.
Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 1 - 1 Of 3 (pdf / 2 MB)
Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 1 - 2 Of 3 (pdf / 2 MB)
Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 1 - 3 Of 3 (pdf / 1 MB)
Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 2 - 1 Of 4 (pdf / 2 MB)
Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 2 - 2 Of 4 (pdf / 2 MB)
Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 2 - 3 Of 4 (pdf / 2 MB)
Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 2 - 4 Of 4 (pdf / 2 MB)
The design includes the use of the Stray, requiring a change in byelaw. This must be implemented by North Yorkshire Council local highways team are liaising with Harrogate Officers. It is likely that the legal requirements associated with the Stray will not be concluded by the scheme start date. If this is the case, delivery of the cycle route will need to be split into phases.
The first phase to be delivered will be Harlow Moor Road to Arthur’s Avenue and the second phase, Arthurs Avenue to the Town Centre will be delivered at a later date once the use of the Stray and associated requirements have been concluded.
There will be a third phase that continues the route from Harlow Moor Road to Cardale Park. This element will be developer funded and discussions are ongoing regarding the design and delivery of this section. We will continue to work with the developers to ensure the appropriate standards are consistent with the off road cycle route delivered by us.
North Yorkshire Council Officers are currently considering locations where surfaced areas can be returned to grass. Appropriate consultations and permissions must then take place.
Harlow Moor Road Junction
Improvements at the junction of Harlow Moor Road with Otley Road will see the widening of the junction and the introduction of a left turn lane into Harlow Moor Road. This improvement will address the impact of queuing traffic in the short term but has also been designed to allow the capacity of future growth identified in Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan. The final design can be found at the link below.
Harlow Moor Road junction general arrangement - sheet 1 of 2 (pdf / 1 MB)
Harlow Moor Road junction general arrangement - sheet 2 of 2 (pdf / 2 MB)
Otley Road - Phase 2 work updates
Phase 2 works are due to start shortly
The following documents show the designs of the Phase 2 works on Otley Road. More details will be added once the work begins.
Otley Road phase 2 designs 1 (pdf / 115 KB)
Otley Road phase 2 designs 2 (pdf / 86 KB)
Beech Grove – Experimental Modal Filter
In February 2021 we introduced an 18 month experimental restrictions to Beech Grove and Lancaster Road which prohibited through traffic (often referred to as a Low Traffic Neighbourhood or LTN).
A Low Traffic Neighbourhood is essentially an area where non-residential through traffic is prevented in order to create quieter residential streets with less vehicular traffic, where residents can enjoy a quieter neighbourhood and feel safer when walking and cycling. This scheme was trialled for an 18 month period:
The scheme was aimed at preventing motorists from outside the area driving through residential areas through the use of ‘modal filters” or “traffic filters” which can be installed by means of various measures but planters alongside bollards(for emergency services access) were used at this location. It was possible to walk and cycle through the filters and access was available for residents, their visitors, deliveries, emergency vehicles, refuse collections and taxi/ private hire vehicles.
Next Steps – October 2022
Following the conclusion of the experimental modal filter residents have been invited to respond to a consolation letter asking for their views on two options for this area (please see the links below). Once the consultation is concluded the feedback will be assessed and an update will be provided regarding the way forward for this area
This consultation will run from 24 October to 12 December 2022 (the consultation period has been extended by two weeks).
Next Steps – November 22
Further to the initial consultation letter and invite to a public meeting held on 11 November, we are extending the consultation period for a further two weeks, ending 12 December 2022. Letters are being posted to local residents to advise of this extended consultation period and invite them to a second meeting on 5 December between midday and 2pm at the Harrogate Civic Centre. This will provide another opportunity to discuss the proposals with us.
Read the consultation letter from 26 November 2022
