Go-ahead for £200,000 scheme to secure cliff face below castle

Harrogate Council has agreed to completely net off the rock face below the 800-year-old fortress to counter the risk of large chunks of the cliff crashing down onto the road and properties directly below.

So far the only significant fall took place in a controlled environment, after the council had cordoned off the area to remove vegetation and other loose materials from the cliff.

But council chiefs say the large chunk of rock coming loose has underlined the potential dangers to life and property, including a number of homes in the area.

Officials have already been concerned by damage caused to domestic garages below the cliff. Holes appeared in the roofs after small pieces of debris fell.

As part of the conditions of the lease of the land from the Duchy of Lancaster, the council is responsible for the management and maintenance of the Knaresborough Castle cliff face, which overhangs a section of Waterside.

Council head of parks and open spaces Patrick Kilburn said yesterday: "Some of the cliff face is already netted off and the council carries out regular de-vegetation programmes.

"Last year after concerns were raised over the safety of the cliff face it was decided to bring in a specialist company to carry out even more detailed investigative works.

"We have regularly had specialist firms in to advise us but this has been the most detailed analysis of the rock face we have carried out."

Several years ago, due to a land stability problem, the top edge of the cliff was reinforced. The council has been monitoring the situation ever since, as well as removing vegetation from the cliff face.

Mr Kilburn added: "There seemed to be quite a bit of loose material, which was causing concerns. So we called in consultants and they recommended we took steps to prevent rock falls from the cliff face. Safety netting will hold the rock in place."

He made clear there was no threat to the castle itself or its visitors. "This is about material falling off the cliff face. Nothing is falling off the castle. There are properties below, including garages, and there are homes in the area."

No one had been injured so far but the holes in the garages showed that if nothing was done there was the risk of bigger sections of cliff collapsing "causing serious injury or worse," he added.

Funding for the scheme has already been set aside and will not be affected by Government cuts to local authority spending.

Specialist contractors aim to start the 10 weeks on site in September, as the tourism season draws to a close. In the meantime, protective hoardings have been scaffolded over the garages.

It was not immediately clear why the problems had been detected at this particular time. "I think there has always been a degree of risk. We have recognised it and taken action accordingly," Mr Kilburn said.

He compared problems to those at Scarborough's Castle Headland and the historical rock falls which had taken place there over the years, requiring safety work to protect users of the Marine Drive.

Mr Kilburn and building surveyor Jack Kettlewell will explain the proposals to members of Knaresborough Town Council at 7pm on Monday at a public meeting. All are welcome.

Mr Kilburn added: "There is a lot of interest in this ancient monument and its setting and I hope people will come along to hear our presentation so that they can be made fully aware of the need for this netting work to ensure everyone's safety."