Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon is standing up for cycling facilities at the Sainsburys junction of the A661 Wetherby Road.
North Yorkshire Council (NYC) has put forward a proposal to revamp the junction, adding fancy traffic lights that would move more motor vehicles faster through it. There would also be pedestrian crossing facilities, but no cycle crossing.
After Harrogate Cycle Action raised the issue with Tom Gordon, he said:
‘I completely agree that all new infrastructure projects should accommodate the needs of all road users, including active travel users.
In this case, it seems particularly sensible that consideration should be given to connecting the two cycle routes on either side of the road’.
The Harrogate & Knaresborough MP has written to the Minister with responsibility for active travel, Simon Lightwood, to highlight the scheme and ask the Department for Transport to raise the omission of cycling facilities with North Yorkshire Council.
Meanwhile, Councillors Mat Walker and Chris Aldred have asked the Corporate Director of North Yorkshire Council to include cycle crossing facilities at the junction.
We understand from Active Travel England that the funding bid for the scheme is still in their ‘quality assurance’ process.
As for North Yorkshire Council, it has promised to ‘look again’ at the scheme.