4 June 2008.
Harrogate Borough Council has this week confirmed that it is to look closely at whether it would be possible to include some cycle paths on Harrogate's Stray.
The council will shortly be carrying out a full consultation with all sectors of the town and district including the Stray Defence Group, cycling groups, walkers, footballers and any other resident with an interest in the Stray.
Councillor Don Mackenzie, Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport, wishes to give clarity to early proposals.
He said: "The existing situation of cycling being officially banned but not enforced is clearly unsustainable.
We have the opportunity now to regularise the situation by designating a small number of paths for use by cyclists and pedestrians.
Sharing paths is recommended by Sustrans the country's leading sustainable transport charity.
All other paths would be for pedestrians only and we would expect to enforce any contravention.
The proposed shared paths would have to be widened slightly to comply with Government recommendations for which we have funding and we can identify 'exchange' Stray land, which is a requirement under the Stray Act."
Since 2001, over £1.5million has been spent on cycling projects in Harrogate and Knaresborough and a further £250,000 has been delivered at developers' expense as part of development proposals.
As a result, over 18 kilometres of off-road cycle route has been created which has, in turn, brought substantial additional lengths of quiet road into useful operation achieving the council's objectives set out in the Cycling Implementation plan.
Councillor Don Mackenzie, added:
"However, there is one gap in the cycle network which is a suitable cycle route from the north to the south side of Harrogate and since our town may be part of a much wider cycle route, we do need to look at ways of bridging the gap.
"
ENDS
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Councillor Don Mackenzie is available for comment on 01423 872211 or 07957 304109.
Further technical information is available from John Burton, Head of Transportation on 01423 556606.