Editor’s Pick of the Week: A59 Kex Gill delays and World Cup fever

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This past week, a Stray Ferret reader likened the ongoing A59 Kex Gill saga to the High Speed Rail 2 project — dubbing it “North Yorkshire’s answer to HS2”.

While tongue in cheek, readers would be forgiven for thinking that it may not be without foundation given the news on Wednesday that the Kex Gill scheme will not be open before the Great Yorkshire Show.

The council has pointed out on numerous occasions that the scheme is a complex project which is one of its biggest ever capital outlays.

However, setting opening dates and then pushing them back may do little to win the sympathies of some people.

Another story which wins little sympathy with some of our readers is the ongoing Harrogate Station Gateway project.

Cllr Malcolm Taylor, the council’s executive member for highways, sought to defend the scheme this week after an independent poll revealed that 82% of respondents said the gateway should not proceed.

He claimed the project will make the town more prosperous and a better place — much to the raised eyebrow of those who oppose it.

For those tired of of the Kex Gill and Station Gateway sagas, it may be time to take refuge in one of Harrogate’s local pubs.

Some, as revealed this week, are even planning on being open late for the festival of football which is this year’s World Cup.

Eight pubs in the Harrogate area have applied for late openings to screen the big matches from across the pond.

The World Cup may offer a bit of respite for some — or maybe not, depending on how Thomas Tuchel’s men get on.

John Plummer is away.