The Get Away campaign, which opposes Harrogate's controversial £12.1 Station Gateway project, has now commenced a High Court legal challenge.
Papers have been filed and issued by the court and Get Away solicitors have served notice on both North Yorkshire Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The Get Away group has alleged that NYC’s failure to consider the wider impacts of the proposal and to consult fully with the public have rendered the TROs illegal.
The development comes just 48-hours after an explosive new survey of almost 200 local businesses in Harrogate revealed that 91% of those questioned said they opposed the scheme.
Similar numbers said they felt that Station Gateway, which has been the source of much controversy for years, would not benefit the economy, visitors or local people.
Steven Baines, a local business owner and spokesperson for the Get Away campaign, said:
“Battle has now commenced! The legal challenge has been filed and issued by the court and our solicitors have served papers on both North Yorkshire Council and WYCA.
“Not only is there anger from the Harrogate business and trade community that this is the wrong scheme for the town but there is outrage at the way it was pushed through without adequate consultation.
“This is simply not good enough and this is why we want the whole matter to be out in the open and heard by the High Court so we can get to the bottom of what has gone on here.”
The Get Away campaign has also written to both Simon Lightwood MP, the minister for Local Transport at the Department for Transport and Tom Gordon, the MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough to highlight its concerns.
Steven added:
“Only this week it was reported that close to 20 councillors – almost a quarter of North Yorkshire Council - staged a mass walk out during a meeting to discuss the annual meeting and five-year plan, over the alleged lack of democracy and accuracy in the way the executive conducts its business.
“There is something badly amiss at North Yorkshire Council; these fleeing councillors know this, the business community knows this and it can’t be allowed to continue.
“We await the outcome of the High Court challenge and sincerely hope it results in the end of Station Gateway and better governance for the people of Harrogate and North Yorkshire.”
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