Harrogate traders voice anger after court ruling clears way for Station Gateway scheme
A survey of 200 businesses earlier this year found overwhelming opposition to the scheme
Businesses in Harrogate say their concerns have been ignored after the High Court rejected a legal challenge against the £11 million Station Gateway scheme.
The Harrogate Station Gateway scheme is a £12 million North Yorkshire Council project, funded by the Transforming Cities Fund, to revamp the area around the town’s bus and rail stations. It includes new cycle lanes, a bus lane, upgraded traffic signals, and public realm improvements such as paving, planting and lighting, aimed at encouraging walking, cycling and smoother journeys.
While the council says it will boost footfall and modernise the town centre, many local traders and the Get Away campaign group oppose it, arguing it will cause long construction disruption, reduce parking, and harm the local economy.
The challenge, brought by Get Away, was dismissed earlier this month, effectively giving the green light for the project to move forward. But the group, which has consistently opposed the plans, has vowed to appeal the ruling, claiming it still has a “strong case.”
A survey of 200 businesses earlier this year found overwhelming opposition to the scheme, with 94% saying the plans would not benefit local people or visitors and 93% believing it would not boost the local economy.
Now, traders say they are “bewildered” by the court’s decision and fear the project could cause long-term damage to the town centre.
William Woods, director of Woods of Harrogate, a 130-year-old family-run interiors and fine linens business, said: “I welcome investment into Harrogate, and indeed like elements of the scheme such as the synchronisation of traffic lights to improve traffic flow and the improvements to One Arch. However, I’m concerned about a two-year construction period that might adversely affect many traders that are already in a precarious position due to the increase in government taxes.
“Over sixty per cent of visitors to Woods come by car. Whilst active travel has its place, we need to make it accessible for motorists by providing cost effective and easy access parking, it’s the only way to compete with out-of-town shopping where parking is free.”
Chris Robbins, of Robbins Associates Chartered Surveyors, said the council had ignored local opinion: “When the local population was surveyed by North Yorkshire Council about what they wanted to improve the town centre, the response was unequivocally more free parking. This was completely ignored.
“The proposed development demonstrates a failure to understand the distinctive and special nature of Harrogate’s shopping centre and the requirements of its customer base. Making it difficult for people to access by car, either by losing spaces or through high tariffs, will hit the town hard.”
Robbins warned that years of construction disruption could add to pressures already faced by businesses competing with online retail, larger cities, and recovering from the pandemic.
Campaign spokesperson Steven Baines said traders felt the decision undermined local democracy: “This scheme has failed on every level – there is no public majority for it; the vast majority of local traders are against it; there was no consultation of the revised plans; and there has been no updated economic impact assessment. We are so sure of our position that we have already instructed lawyers to take forward an appeal.”
Baines also raised concerns over reports that the council plans to adopt new parking policies, warning that the loss of disc parking and higher tariffs would leave businesses “in a perilous position.”
Despite opposition, North Yorkshire Council has maintained that the Station Gateway scheme — the largest single recent investment in Harrogate — will improve traffic flow, encourage sustainable travel, and create a more attractive town centre.