A number of junctions need to be brought up to minimum standards of cycle provision. The issues at four of them are outlined below.
6.1) Follifoot Underpass
The Follifoot junction is a problem on National Cycle Network Route 67, where it crosses the A658 south eastern bypass to Follifoot. (Route 67 can be seen on this map). The bypass severed the older Pannal Road link to Follifoot.
In 2013, Harrogate Rugby Club moved to a site just on the Harrogate side of the A658. It was a planning condition that the developer would improve the Follifoot Underpass, as a way of crossing the A658. Instead, £10,000 was paid to NYCC, then passed to HBC, and they were to do the work.
After 7 years of going round and round in circles, some work was finally done on the Underpass in 2020. It had been very muddy and waterlogged. Some drainage was added, and a fairly soft, crushed stone surface laid that is likely to deteriorate quickly – especially as the Follifoot riding school is adjacent to the Underpass and uses it routinely.
On the Follifoot side of the Underpass, there’s a 60-90cm wide mud and gravel path, which has not been improved. The Underpass also represents a detour for cyclists.
The real solution would be a light-controlled crossing of the A658, but NYCC currently refuses to do this. The details of the problems with the junction, and the solution, are set out in this Follifoot document.
The story of this junction is representative of NYCC’s approach to active travel in two ways:
- delay – 7 years of delay to carry out basic work on Follifoot Underpass, even when a sum paid by the developer was being held
- failure to make proper provision for cycling – a focus on motorised transport only, with no priority or investment in quality provision for walking and cycling
Then there’s the bigger issue of the Harland Way. A sign in Spofforth dating from 1996 states that the Spofforth-Wetherby path is the first part of a cycle route from Harrogate to York – but next to no progress has been made since then.
The Harrogate – Spofforth route needs to be changed to make it inclusive, the Harland Way needs to be resurfaced (HBC responsibility), then the path must be extended to Tadcaster and York.
An enlightened, proactive local authority would be getting on with this work as a priority.
6.2) Sainsburys Junction, Wetherby Road
The Sainsburys junction on Wetherby Road links the Yorkshire Showground Greenway and a continuation of the route through Stonefall Park.
The arrangements for active travel at this very busy junction are abysmal/non-existent. Crossings are uncontrolled, and take you to a stretch of pavement that isn’t even designated shared use. One of our Supporters who has to go this way to work has described the situation.
NYCC is aware of the problem. They have made no attempt to solve it, and there’s no evidence that it is a priority for them. Unless the Area team’s way of working changes, nothing will be done about this junction for years or decades.
6.3) Leadhall Lane/Leeds Road Junction
This is a very busy junction, with heavy traffic. It is also a junction that people on foot and on bikes need to traverse – for example between the residential areas to the west of Leeds Road and the schools and Hornbeam Park station to the east of Leeds Road.
The light-controlled crossings for pedestrians are poor and haphazard.
Dedicated, physically-protected facilities for cycling are needed; there is currently no cycling provision.
The cycle lane on Hookstone Road stops before the entrance to M&S, and all the space leading up to the junction is given to cars. The Advanced Stop Zone on Leadhall Lane has a tiny approach lane that’s almost always blocked by cars.
Crossing the junction on Leeds Road on a bike is dangerous in both directions, with the risk of being hit by left-turning drivers in two-lane traffic. It’s impossible to get to the Leeds Road shops by bike safely.
This junction is covered by NYCC’s Harrogate Transport Improvement Plan (HTIP) work. That started in 2019, but there is no indication of when physical changes might happen.
In the meantime, there are proposals for the junction as part of the West Harrogate Urban Expansion which completely ignore active travel and focus on increasing capacity for motor vehicles.
6.4) Penny Pot Lane/King Edwin Park
The entrance to the new King Edwin Park development from Penny Pot Lane is 83m (EIGHTY-THREE METRES) wide.
This is an example of the failure of HBC (the planning authority) and NYCC (the highways authority) to ensure that new developments follow the rules in the Manual for Streets and NPPF and make walking and cycling the first priorities.
Specifically, new residential streets should create low speed environments.
Side roads should have tight kerb radii.
Side roads with tight kerb radii don’t have 83m wide entrances.