First phase of refurbishment completed for Harrogate community centreEnd of an era as Harrogate residents’ group foldsHarrogate council allocates £55,000 for advice on horticultural nursery relocation

Harrogate Borough Council is set to spend £55,000 on consultants and other professionals to help develop a new horticultural nursery to the north-west of the town.

In December, the council revealed it had identified an unspecified site in the Hampsthwaite and Killinghall ward to build a new nursery, which will pave the way for its current site in Harlow Hill to be sold for housing.

A report that will go before Conservative councillor Graham Swift, the council’s cabinet member for resources enterprise and economic development, next week, says the council now needs professional consultation and site investigations to complete the next phase of the project.

It asks Cllr Swift to approve £20,000 being spent on a consultant partner and £35,000 to undertake initial site surveys, investigations, planning fees and other works.

The council, which will be abolished at the end of next month, has said the construction of a new nursery will be financed through capital investment funding, money raised from the sale Harlow Hill nursery and income generated from the nursery.

The project will transfer to the new North Yorkshire Council after April 1.

Why does the council want to move from Harlow Hill?

Harlow Hill nursery is where Harrogate Borough Council grows flowers for its award-winning displays across the district. It also sells plants to members of the public to bring in revenue.

The nursery is a significant earner for the council with its 2020/21 annual report saying it brought in income of £153,477.

However, the council says it the facility is “no longer fit for purpose” and is unsuitable for redevelopment.

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The land is accessed off either Otley Road or Harlow Moor Road. The council’s Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which sets out where development can take place, says 40 homes can be built there.

A council report published last year recommended 62 “high-quality, carbon efficient” homes are built.

The authority is currently inviting expressions of interest in the land prior to a sale.

An emotional move for residents

Liberal Democrat member for Harlow & St Georges Division on North Yorkshire County Council, Michael Schofield, previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the move away from Harlow Hill will be keenly felt by residents as many have walked there to buy plants for decades.

He said people enjoyed visiting and walking through the Pinewoods and Valley Gardens afterwards.

He added the nursery also served as part of a horticultural trail as it connects with RHS Garden Harlow Carr and the charity nursery Horticap.

Cllr Schofield said:

“I understand what people may call progress but we have three fantastic horticultural sites all within walking distance of each other. That inspires people. Residents living here will be very sad to see it go.”

Harlow Hill residents suffering from ‘constant’ road closures

Harlow Hill locals are suffering from a “constant and continuing” succession of road closures, says a local residents group.

It follows the confirmation that Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate will be closed until April 21, including for pedestrians. A series of roadworks on nearby Otley Road began on January 5.

Whinney Lane has been closed since July 2020.

Northern Power Grid needs Harlow Moor Road closed to relocate underground utilities. This is so NYCC can upgrade the Harlow Moor Road/Otley Road junction as part of the Otley Road cycle scheme.

David Siddans, spokesman for the Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association (HAPARA), said locals now expect “years of disruption” due to the various new housing developments on the Western arc of Harrogate.

NYCC has an order to close Harlow Moor Road at any time between January 18 2021 and January 17 2022 but a spokesperson said no further closures are currently planned on the road.

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Mr Siddans said:

“Whilst we accept that temporary closure works are necessary for works to improve the junction layout, we know that residents in this area are suffering from a constant and continuing succession of road closures and disruption from utilities diversions and construction activities relating to the extensive housing developments, on top of which we fear the prospect of further lengthy delays on Otley Road once works on the cycleway begin later this year.

“It seems that residents will be facing the prospect of continuing disruption from infrastructure works relating to a succession of housing developments on the west side of Harrogate for many years to come.”

When the Otley Road works began in January, Melisa Burnham, the council’s highways area manager, said those involved would try to keep disruption to a minimum.

She said:

“The traffic management will be continuously monitored and manually controlled during peak times each day. We are committed to keeping disruption to a minimum.”