Fears unchecked development could split Harrogate in half

Next week, members of the Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce will receive presentations on a number of proposed town centre developments, including a new masterplan to pedestrianise Parliament Street and divert A61 traffic down Montpellier Hill, a new transport interchange at Station Parade and a new restaurant, retail and leisure space on Tower Street.

Peter Jesper, vice president of the Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce and chair of the Harrogate Town Centre Development group, told the Yorkshire Post 2012 marked a defining moment for Harrogate and welcomed the new injection of private money.

But he warned without renewed efforts to improve footfall for independent retailers who are losing customers to the chain stores on James Street and Cambridge Street, the town centre could be split in half.

“A lot of the town centre retailers are concerned about the footfall and the way the public are being directed towards the major retailers,” Mr Jesper said.

“If the proposed developments are not looked at for the town centre as a whole, our fear is the town centre is in danger of moving away from this part of town permanently even though the retailers still have to pay the high rents of a prime location.

“If you take these small independent retailers away, you lose Harrogate and gain what could be any town.

“This is a worry shared by a lot of traders.

“In principle, we are enthusiastic about the fact there is private money coming in to help kickstart Harrogate’s town centre economy.

“But any developments need to look at the whole picture.”

The plans to pedestrianise the town’s Parliament Street create a large public square around the town’s War Memorial, redevelop the historic Montpellier Quarter and divert A61 traffic down Montpellier Hill by Harrogate developer Philip Lunn, have provoked a storm of controversy since being announced last year.

Critics claim it would bring traffic chaos to historic low Harrogate around Valley Gardens and the Pump Room Museum.

However a number of members of the Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce have defended the scheme, although warned the proposed diversion of the A61 would need to be changed before throwing their weight behind the proposals.

Meanwhile, plans to transform a disused town centre bowling alley on Tower Street into a 78-bedroom Travelodge including a restaurant and gym, which are also to be discussed at the meeting, are expected to be submitted on January 17.

The Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce meeting takes place on Monday at 5.30pm at the Old Swan Hotel and will be chaired by Coun Richard Cooper, Harrogate Borough Council cabinet member for planning, transport and economic development.

Coun Cooper said: “The council looks at every development that is proposed in terms of how it affects the whole of the town centre not just one particular part.

“We will do whatever we can to ensure that Harrogate continues to be a thriving retail centre.

“I am more than happy to look at the concerns of independent traders but I am pleased to see that unit vacancies in Harrogate town centre are lower now than they were three years ago.”

The Harrogate Town Centre Development group was established last September to address concerns regarding the health and state of the town centre trading environment and the lack of voice for businesses.

It has now grown to around 106 members.