Media centre

Thursday 19 May 2005

NEW BRIDGE OVER HARROGATE RAILWAY LINE

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A new £550,000 footbridge over Harrogate’s railway line is to be provided at Dragon Junction in a partnership between North Yorkshire County Council, Network Rail and Harrogate Borough Council.  This new footbridge will be fully accessible for pedestrians, wheelchairs, pushchairs and cyclists.  It will link into Harrogate Borough Council’s cycle route from Bilton to the town centre and provide easier access to Granby High School from the Bilton area. Funded with a £500,000 contribution from North Yorkshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan, the project will be managed on the county council’s behalf by Harrogate Borough Council and Network Rail.  Network Rail is also providing £50,000 to create this new modern and user-friendly footbridge. This is a milestone in both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council’s plans to encourage more people to cycle and walk and it should help to reduce traffic congestion on our busy roads.  The new bridge has been designed to accommodate a new Bilton Railway Station in the future and is just one of a series of major investment plans by Network Rail.  The existing bridge is difficult to use because there are steps at both ends, which means wheelchair users cannot use it, parents with prams find it difficult and cyclists have to carry their bikes over the bridge. County Councillor Peter Sowray, Executive Member for Environmental Services North Yorkshire County Council, said:  “We are delighted to have been able to fund this project which will make walking and cycling more accessible across the Harrogate area.” Welcoming the news of the project, Councillor Julian Sturdy, Cabinet Member for Transport at Harrogate Borough Council, said: “So many people are waiting for this new bridge.  It is certainly going to open up the cycle route network and give many more people easier access to the town centre, schools and, indeed, the bus and railway stations.  We are extremely grateful to North Yorkshire County Council and Network Rail.  If we are to reduce traffic congestion then we have to make the extra investment to improve the alternatives.” The footbridge has been designed in consultation with the three partners and is being built by C Spencer Ltd of Barrow in Lincolnshire. Network Rail will be taking pupils from Woodfield County Primary School to see the bridge being fabricated. Dyan Crowther, Route Director, Network Rail said:  “We are pleased to be working in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council to deliver this new footbridge which will improve access and links for pedestrians and cyclists in the local area.  ENDS PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:  3.30 pm Monday, 23 May 2005.  Pupils from Harrogate Granby High School who use this crossing will join representatives from the two councils and Network Rail at a ‘big digger’ turf turning ceremony.  Harrogate Granby High School is to revert back to its former name of Harrogate High School from the new September term.  New stylish uniforms have been designed and the pupils will be ‘modelling’ them.   We are also expecting some pupils from Woodfield County Primary School to attend on their bicycles. Representatives of the media should turn down Grove Park Terrace. off Skipton Road and then into Grove Park Avenue, Harrogate.