Decision soon on football club’s fate

Under the ambitious plans for Harrogate Railway Athletic, a 66-bed care home would be built by Vida Healthcare on land currently occupied by its club house.

A new two-storey club house would also be erected and a large field would be divided to provide a training pitch, mini playing area and four five-a-side pitches.

The proposals, due to go before a Harrogate Council planning meeting tomorrow, were originally recommended for refusal after Sport England objected over a reduction in recreation land, and a detailed transport assessment was not provided.

But at a Harrogate Council planning meeting last month, officers urged councillors to defer a decision.

The call came after Sport England withdrew its opposition, additional transport papers were submitted and an error on Railway’s application form about opening hours was amended.