Stray Cycle Routes Consultation

Consultation to permit cycling on selected footpaths crossing The Stray

Outcome of consultation

A second round of consultation to allow cycling on a small number of Harrogate's Stray paths has shown increased support for the proposal.

Harrogate Borough Council will soon make the final decision on whether to amend the bylaw to permit cycling on the Stray and will take into account the results of the latest round of public consultation.

Councillor Don Mackenzie, Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Economic Development, confirms that a further 200 people have responded this time, and that the number who are in favour of the proposal has moved further ahead of those who are against it. He added: "I am very pleased that most respondents have given overwhelming backing to our plans to create six dual-use paths at the eastern end of the Stray.

"The council is the custodian of the Stray on behalf of the Duchy of Lancaster, and this is a responsibility that members take very seriously. At the same time, we must work to improve the town's facilities for cyclists, and to provide this form of transport with safe access from one side of town to the other. Many of the Royal Parks allow cycling to the benefit of residents, and I believe it is right that we can devote just a small number of our Stray paths to dual use by pedestrians and cyclists."

The council's Cabinet will consider the proposals on 23 June 2010 and the General Purposes Committee on the 24 ^th, before a final decision is taken by the full council on 22 July.

If cycling on the Stray is finally approved there would be a formal notice in the media, with a period of one month during which time any objections can be made to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

The paths would be 2.5 metres wide, there will be no lighting and signage would be kept to a minimum.

CONSULTATION RESULTS	FOR	AGAINST
New emails	187	6
New letters	2	5
New Consultation Results Total	189	11
Previous Consultation Results	829	233
Total Consultation Results	1018	244

Archive - Consultation period ended 1 June 2010

After extensive consultations the Council approved in principle proposals to improve a number of existing Stray footpaths to accommodate dual use by pedestrians and cyclists in February 2009 subject to the amendment of the existing by-laws which currently prohibit cycling on all Stray footpaths.

It is now intended, in line with the commitment given when the Cabinet first considered the issue to carry out further consultations on the proposals. The views of property owners directly affected by the proposals are being sought together with those of the existing users of the paths, and other representatives. Details of the proposals are being promoted through public notices, which are to be erected on the Stray footways affected and published in the local press. Members of the general public will have the opportunity to view the detailed plans at the Knapping Mount offices or on the Council's web site.

Following the consultation the General Purposes Committee will then consider the proposals again on 24 June 2010, when the Committee will make their final decision and if the proposals are approved the Council will be asked to make a resolution to adopt the byelaws at the next full Council meeting. A Notice will then be published in the Local Press confirming that the by-laws are to be changed. There will then be a period of one month during which time any objections can be made to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. If the decision is taken to go ahead, the Council will apply to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to confirm the proposals. If objections are received the Council may be asked to comment and provide any necessary evidence before a final decision is taken by the Secretary of State, based on the submission, to support the amendments to the by-laws, or to order a public inquiry into the issue.

The detailed proposals for the routes where widening of the path is proposed have now been developed and are available to view below. It is not intended that any widening be undertaken on the section of Slingsby Walk between Oatlands Drive and Stray Rein because the existing path is wide enough to accommodate joint use by cyclists and pedestrians. Consequently, detailed plans of this area have not been developed. However a plan is available below showing all the routes across the Stray that are proposed to convert to dual use and allow cycling on.

The detailed plans are also available to view at the Department of Development Services, Knapping Mount, West Grove Road, Harrogate, HG1 2AE. Opening Times Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 4.30 pm.