Last chance to shape £42m plans to improve towns’ ‘gateways’

An initiative to allow people to shape the planned transformation of key parts of Selby, Skipton and Harrogate will be completed this month.

Public consultation on detailed designs for the schemes to enhance the gateways of these three towns ends on 12 November.

The investment will transform each town’s gateway by boosting public transport, encouraging sustainable travel and upgrading the public realm for residents and visitors.

The projects, worth a total of £42m, are being delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Craven District Council, Harrogate Borough Council and Selby District Council.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, said: “We’re delighted to be working with our local authority partners across North Yorkshire on these important schemes, which will make it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport, connecting more people to job, training and education opportunities.”

North Yorkshire county councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said: “We want as many people as possible to tell us how well these revised designs meet the objectives of opening up the towns’ gateways to facilitate and encourage cycling and walking and improve the quality and sense of identity in these locations.”

Selby district councillor David Buckle, lead executive member for communities and economic development, said: “This next phase in the project has seen the original plans changed following the comments and feedback we received from members of the public.

“We’re now able to give much more detail about our vision for how this part of Selby can be transformed and this is a further opportunity for residents, commuters and businesses to look at the plans and let us know what they think.”

Cllr Phil Ireland, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, added: “We want to ensure this multi-million pound Transforming Cities Fund project provides an exciting and attractive gateway to Harrogate town centre that encourages people to use sustainable travel options and helps us achieve our carbon reduction goals.

“Listening to residents’ feedback provides valuable insight into achieving these aims and I’d like to thank those businesses, residents and visitors who have done so already.”

The schemes are being funded from the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which is helping to improve gateways to towns and cities across the region by making it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport.

People can view details of the three proposed gateway projects here.