Have Your Say On The Future Of Transport Across York And North Yorkshire
Businesses across the Harrogate district are being urged to help shape the region's transport for the next two decades, as the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, opens a 10-week public consultation on his Local Transport Plan.
The plan sets out a long-term vision for how people and goods move around York and North Yorkshire, covering walking, wheeling, cycling, buses, rail and roads. It will guide where transport investment goes in the years ahead, so the decisions taken now will affect every business that relies on staff getting to work, customers reaching the high street and deliveries arriving on time.
For our members, that is not an abstract question. Whether it is the reliability of the Harrogate Line, bus services linking Knaresborough, Ripon, Pateley Bridge and Boroughbridge with the town, parking for visitors, or the state of the roads that connect our rural businesses to their markets, transport is one of the issues raised most often with the Chamber.
We would encourage every business in the district to take part. This is a chance to put our priorities directly in front of the Mayor and the Combined Authority before the plan is finalised, rather than reacting to it afterwards.
Residents, businesses, visitors and stakeholders can share their views by completing the online survey at yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk/local-transport-plan-consultation.
There is also a chance to speak to the team in person. The Great Harrogate Transport Fair takes place at the West Park Centre, Harrogate, on Tuesday 22 September from 5pm to 8.30pm, with drop-in sessions and webinars running across the region throughout September and October.
Launching the consultation, the Mayor said: "Transport in York and North Yorkshire hasn't been good enough for too long, but I'm determined to change that."
We will be submitting a formal response on behalf of our members and would welcome your views to inform it. If there is a transport issue affecting your business, please let us know by emailing the Chamber office - transport@harrogatechamber.co.uk
The consultation opened on 26 August and runs for 10 weeks, so please respond before the deadline in early November.
