Gridlock as M&S chokes Harrogate

Business leaders have warned major roadworks on a main route into one of Yorkshire’s most popular visitor destinations are causing delays for motorists and hitting the town centre economy.
Brian Dunsby, chief executive of Harrogate Chamber of Trade and CommerceBrian Dunsby, chief executive of Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce
Brian Dunsby, chief executive of Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce

Yesterday it was confirmed the works on Leeds Road, in Harrogate, which have caused long queues, will take slightly longer than expected and are now set
to be completed by early May rather than April as previously predicted.

Work is being carried out to improve a junction, as part of work for a new Marks & Spencer Simply Food store.

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However, Brian Dunsby, the chief executive of Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce, warned the works were hitting local traders and businesses in the town centre and claimed they were making it difficult for emergency vehicles to get through.

He said: “The prolonged delays at the Leeds Road/Hookstone Road lights is also having a serious effect on town centre businesses who are dependent on their staff, their customers and potential visitors driving in from the south side of Harrogate.

“At peak times, stationary traffic north-bound stretches back to Pannal which makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles.

“I have personally witnessed four emergency ambulances going north towards the hospital having to use the south-bound lane in the face of oncoming traffic because the nearside north-bound lane is full of stationary vehicles.”

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Mr Dunsby said he had been contacted by local traders with businesses near where the work is taking place who were worried that customers were having difficulties parking because of the queueing traffic and said he shared their concerns.

Tourism is a major contributor to the local economy.

Last year it was announced a drive was under way to boost tourism numbers in the spa town by capitalising on the multi-million pound conferencing trade and using the opening stages of this year’s Tour de France to showcase the region to an international audience.

Work began in January on the most complex part of the highways works to improve the Leeds Road/Hookstone Road junction, required by North Yorkshire County Council, as part of planning permission terms for the new store at the junction. It is being co-ordinated with highways work planned ahead of July’s Grand Depart of the Tour de France in Harrogate.

Dan Murray, construction director of the site’s development managers St James Securities, said: “We understand the frustration experienced by local traders and road users and would like to apologise. We have worked very hard with North Yorkshire County Council’s highways department to find a way to carry out the necessary works as quickly and safely as possible.

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“The roadworks are due to take around a further nine weeks to complete, with a number of different phases which will involve alterations to the road layout several times during that period.

“Last week we discovered uncharted high voltage cables under the western side of Leeds Road which will have to be moved. Work is also needed to protect low voltage cables and both of these require the assistance of the electricity utility company. Despite these setbacks, a significant amount of progress has been made already.

“The project was always anticipated to take until April 2014 to complete and we now expect to be finished by early May 2014.”