Council leader backs Yorkshire Post fight

At a full meeting of the Tory-led council, Coun Don Mackenzie will add his support to the Fair Deal campaign during a debate on a motion to give unanimous backing to £150m plans from the Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce to electrify the antiquated railway line between Leeds and York.

Key to the Yorkshire Post campaign, which has already been praised by a host of political leaders, is a bank of 60 practical measures published earlier this month on issues including transport, infrastructure, enterprise, tourism and inward investment to improve the prospects of the region as it battles out of recession and crack the North-South divide.

The proposals for Harrogate, representing the biggest improvements to the region’s rail network in nearly 20 years, are seen as a vital step forward to boost the spa town’s conference economy.

Coun Mackenzie will tell tonight’s council meeting: “Of particular concern to our residents and businesses is the lack of investment in the rail infrastructure on the Leeds-Harrogate-York railway line.

“The district’s economy relies upon business and leisure visitors, and a good, modern and reliable rail service is vital to attract those visitors.”