Bars, cafes and restaurants keen to take advantage of the Stray for alfresco-style dining this summer face opposition from its guardians.
Harrogate Borough Council is in talks with the Duchy of Lancaster, the freeholder of the Stray, ahead of a public consultation.
The Blues Bar, The Empress and Fashion House Bistro are all hoping to put tables and chairs on the Stray when they reopen outdoors on April 12.
But ahead of a public consultation, the Stray Defence Association has today made its opposition to the plans clear.
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Judy d’Arcy Thompson, chair of the SDA, told the Stray Ferret:
“The tendency for both HBC and NYCC to ignore or try and overrule the Parliamentary Stray Act is disturbing. Indeed, the Stray Act was formulated and put in place to prevent such misuse.
“No one is against people having fun or enjoying the Stray, that is what it is there for, and how blessed Harrogate has been to have it for the benefit of everyone during the past traumatic year.
“However, as with many things, the few could well spoil it for the rest of Harrogate.
“In fact, a few years back when HBC wanted to levy a charge on the footballers using the Stray and make them pay to play, it was the SDA who argued that this could not be done as the Stray is an open and free space for the benefit of the people of Harrogate.
“Without going into too much detail, Section 6(2) of the 1985 Stray Act also precludes anyone making profit from the use of the Stray.
“We are not aware of any time, other than by explicit and limited dispensation given by Parliament as a result of a specific detailed application, when the council has been empowered with a general discretion to consent to inclosures and our history confirms this.
“After all, the Stray is protected by law for the free use of Harrogate’s people, not businesses.”
The SDA has raised further questions about the types of businesses which would be able to use the Stray and also asked where such a scheme would begin and end.
