New row about progress of Stray restoration at West Park in Harrogate
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.
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Hide AdThe 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.
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.”
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Hide AdIn 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.
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Hide Ad“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.”
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