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Nov
New plaque at Harrogate’s Sun Pavilion prompts call to restore walkway
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Harrogate Civic Society has unveiled a brown plaque to commemorate the long history of the Sun Pavilion in Valley Gardens.
The plaque, which was unveiled on Monday (November 10), displays a short history of the pavilion and its link to the nearby royal pump room.
Opened in 1933, the pavilion has a domed art deco roof, a sun collonade, two sun parlours and a covered walkway.
It became a venue for refreshments and entertainment.
The new plaque
However, a few years ago, public access to the walkway was restricted.
Reader Janet Myers said the view from the path on the walkway in front of the pavilion is one of the best in Valley Gardens and called for public access to be restored.
She said:
Much of the path around the pavilion is covered and there are several benches which give shelter for park users from rain and sun.
However the gates either side if the pavilion are now padlocked, preventing public access. Whilst it is understandable that privacy is required when the pavilion has been hired for an event, it is quite unnecessary to prevent public use at other times. It is rarely used on week days and not that often at weekends. There are very limited alternative covered spaces in the park.
The new plaque highlighting the public walkway seems such an irony.
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