New row about progress of Stray restoration at West Park in Harrogate

Green shoots of recovery? The Stray at West Park pictured earlier this week as repair work continues. Picture: Gerard Binks

From looking like a mudbath in the aftermath of the UCI cycling championships, new grass has spread rapidly across West Park giving some of it signs of a rich green glow for the first time since last September.

The Stray Defence Association, which first came into being in 1933, remains concerned the new grass will be too thinly rooted to withstand a wet season like last autumn’s and claims its views have been confirmed by its own experts.

The SDA also claims, although recent flooding at West Park did subside quickly, it should not be happening at all if the drainage had been completely sorted.

West Park Stray this week - The Stray Defence Association remains concerned the new grass will be too thinly rooted to withstand a wet season.

But Harrogate council said the project to return the parkland in the middle of town to its full glory was going well.

Coun Andrew Paraskos, cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said: “We haven’t taken this project lightly. This has been months of hard work including the appointment of a multi-award winning green space specialist.

“You’ve only got to see the outcome of two-to-three weeks growth to see the results. And the firm we hired will continue to be involved by monitoring and maintaining the site in the coming months.”

In April, Yorkshire 2019, the organisers of the UCI World Cycling Championships, agreed to cover most of the £38,000 repair costs. In addition, the council is spending a further £95,000 on upgrades to the parkland, though it says £65,385 of this is not new money and had already been set aside.

But nearly ten months since the UCIs left Harrogate, the SDA says it has yet to learn when the orange netting will be removed at West Park Stray and full access restored.

Coun Paraskos said the council had been keeping both the public and the SDA up to date with progress.

He said: “We have routinely updated residents via social media, as well as on our website, and information has also been communicated directly to the SDA.

“I’m sure most people would appreciate that this has been a very challenging year but we have continued to work tirelessly to ensure our Stray remains a jewel in the crown.”

Major blow as historic Harrogate district hotel closes after 114 years

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.