Football club under fire over 'damaging' rugby ground bid

The football club unveiled its bid to buy the ground at Claro Road and create a purpose-built stadium with a "sports academy" including offices, five-a-side pitches, tennis courts and training facilities, last week.

Bosses at Harrogate Town say they have the money to buy the land, believed to be priced at around 1.4m, and are already in talks with developers Crest Nicholson about the sale.

But there is no place at the planned development for Harrogate Rugby Club.

Following the announcement, Coun Don Mackenzie, cabinet member for planning at Harrogate Borough Council, has urged Harrogate Town to reconsider its proposals.

He said: "I certainly do think it would be very damaging for the town. Up to 500 youngsters currently use the rugby ground for training every week.

"We know nothing about their plans, there have been rumours before they are going to launch a bid.

"I have had no direct discussions with the management of Harrogate Town, while I appreciate their ambitions to climb up the football league, I cannot support a development where the rugby club is thrown off.

"The council and both teams need to get together and discover a way that is good for everybody. This is crucial to the sporting future of Harrogate."

Harrogate Rugby Club sold the Claro Road site to Crest in 1999, while remaining there on a 10-year lease.

Since that expired in December, the club has been renting the ground on a rolling monthly contract, while negotiating to buy it back.

Alan Williams, secretary of Harrogate Town who are currently bottom of the Blue Square North League, said: "It has never been about ousting the rugby club.

"We are more than willing to sit around the table with them.

"If the rugby club bought Claro Road tomorrow we would be delighted, at least one set of supporters in the town would have a future. We just want another site to progress up the football league."

Harrogate Rugby Club declined to comment.