A petition has been launched, asking North Yorkshire County Council for 20mph limits in an area that includes:
- the Saints and Oatlands areas north of Hookstone Road/Drive
- an area west of Leeds Road, around the Cricket Ground and
- the area either side of the A61 Leeds Road south towards Pannal
It complements a similar initiative and petition for a neighbouring area of Harrogate which was launched as the Pannal Ash Safe Streets Zone.
Harrogate District Cycle Action supports both initiatives.
Walking, Wheeling or Cycling to School
The Oatlands petition is motivated by concern for the safety of children walking, wheeling or cycling to school.
‘Road safety has been of particular concern from school leaders, parents and carers of school children and local residents in Oatlands and the wider Harrogate area for many years.’
extract from oatlands road safety and active travel petition
Over 4,000 children and young people travel to schools, colleges, and early years settings within the area identified by the petition, at:
- Oatlands Infant School
- Oatlands Junior School
- St John Fisher
- St Aidan’s
- Harrogate College
- Busy Bees Nursery, South Drive and Hornbeam Park
Collisions that Caused Injuries
A child was injured and hospitalised on Beechwood Grove when hit by a driver in January 2023.
Two teenagers suffered severe injuries when hit by a driver on Yew Tree Lane in February 2023.
Change is urgently needed for the safety, health and well-being of children and young people and the wider community. Without it, road danger will continue to be a barrier to walking and cycling in the area and across Harrogate.
Safety Benefits of 20mph
Edinburgh introduced 20mph limits in 2021, and it has seen a 40% reduction in road traffic casualties.
Of course on its own 20mph will not be enough to persuade parents to let their children cycle to school. We need a cycle network, with physically-protected cycle tracks on busy roads, and interventions such as modal filters on residential roads to stop their use as through routes by motor vehicles and thereby reduce the speed and volume of traffic.
Sign the Petition
You can sign the petition on 38 degrees.
At the time of writing there are already more than 500 supporters, which means the petition will be debated at a meeting of the Harrogate & Knaresborough Area Committee of NYCC.