Knaresborough Liberal Democrat Councillors Hannah Gostlow and Matt Walker are calling on North Yorkshire Council to release funds from local housing developments to improve Knaresborough High Street.
This call builds on years of campaigning by local Liberal Democrats to address congestion and improve conditions on Knaresborough High Street and town centre roads.
In 2022, Hannah Gostlow and Matt Walker launched the ‘Starter for 10’ survey, which attracted national media attention and received strong backing from local residents.
The campaign led to a site visit with North Yorkshire Council highways engineers and the development of proposals to improve loading arrangements on the High Street.
The plans are ready to move forward, but funding is needed to deliver the changes that residents and businesses have long called for.
Cllr Gostlow said:
“Knaresborough is crying out for investment in its High Street, and we want to see a share of the money that North Yorkshire has already collected from local housing developments spent to benefit our community."
North Yorkshire Council has accrued £1.4 million in the Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy Fund from housing developments in the Harrogate & Knaresborough area.
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge collected by councils on new housing and commercial developments.
The money is intended to help fund infrastructure and local improvements in the areas affected by development.
Cllr Walker said:
“We have been calling for improvements to parking and loading bays on the High Street to tackle congestion, and these plans are already in the works.
"Releasing this funding would help us deliver the improvements residents and businesses are asking for.”
Cllr Gostlow added:
“The funding could also help improve the area around the bus station, support public transport users, enhance public realm and address known issues with rat-running through local streets."
Cllr Walker concluded:
“Improving the High Street benefits all of Knaresborough by making the area more attractive for residents, visitors and businesses, and will help support the local economy."
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