Court rejects legal challenge over cycle/bus lane

A legal challenge by a group objecting to a new road scheme and traffic measures outside a railway station has been rejected.

The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of North Yorkshire Council after the Get Away campaign group appealed against parts of the Harrogate Station Gateway project.

They disputed four traffic regulation orders proposed as part of the scheme, including the introduction of a short section of bus/cycle lane, one-way systems and turning restrictions near the town's rail and bus stations.

Thursday's judgement ruled that the council had acted lawfully and all three grounds of appeal were refused.

The original legal challenge was brought by A&E Baines Limited, a Harrogate-based property development company, and led by the Get Away campaigners.

They claimed the orders were unlawful and the authority had failed to consider their full impact or properly consult local people.

The Court of Appeal upheld an earlier High Court ruling, finding the council had followed proper process and was not required to run further public consultation.

Dismissing the appeal, Lord Justice Lewis stated that "there was nothing irrational or unlawful about the way in which the respondent was proceeding" and "the appropriate arrangements for the regulation of traffic in Harrogate is a matter for the local authority to decide".

The council's executive member for highways and transport, Malcolm Taylor, said: "We welcome the Court of Appeal's clear decision, which confirms that the council acted lawfully and appropriately at every stage of this process.

"This is the second time we have had to defend our position in the court and both times we have won all points convincingly.

"While our costs are recouped from the applicant, we have wasted a significant amount of time and energy on these two unjustified appeals."

The council said it was working with partners to secure the necessary funding and agreements to start work on the travel scheme at the earliest opportunity.

It includes the redevelopment of One Arch and Station Square, improved traffic signals, a bus lane, a southbound cycle lane on Station Parade, new paving for pedestrians and cycle parking at Harrogate Station.

There will also be improvements to traffic signals on the A61.

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