Village Focus: Threat of change in Green Hammerton

Like many villages across the country, Green Hammerton, which lies off the busy A59 between Harrogate and York, has seen and will see more new homes being built. With development comes change to village life as locals know it.

Chris Turner moved to the village 26 years ago and while she said newcomers will always be made to feel welcome, she is torn by the way the village is expanding.

“Everybody knows we need more housing. There’s no doubt about that, but we have had a lot of expansion already. Since I moved here three new estates have been built.

“When a village expands slowly and organically it works but developers have suddenly started this week on another site for 86 houses, and there are 20 more to come on one side of it by another developer. The strain on the A59 is not going to be insignificant and there are no plans to widen the road.”

Retired headteacher Barry Atkinson is taking part in a mass yard sale tomorrow, spanning 22 properties in Green Hammerton and neighbouring Whixley to which visitors are welcome to peruse - a sign of the community spirit still fostered here.

Barry relocated locally in 1991 and has worked as a supply teacher at Green Hammerton Church of England Primary School. He too is concerned by the scale of new developments. Another 90 new homes are planned off New Lane.

“It’s a super little village with a shop, a post office, the church, a school and The Bay Horse Inn pub but if it gets too big we are worried it will lose its character.”

Robert Conning delivers bottled milk, cream, orange juice and eggs to villagers’ doorsteps - a job he will have been doing for 44 years this year. Born in nearby Hunsingore his family moved to Green Hammerton. His father Dennis used to transport local children to and from school - in a Morris Minor to begin with - a role Robert now fulfils as a private minibus operator.

He talked of once delivering milk churns to the old Whixley hospital, which has since made way for housing. He said he struggled to see how the village will cope with more new homes.

“We have a field opposite us with views across to the White Horse (of Kilburn) but it is being sold for 43 new houses to be built. Green Hammerton is good for being able to walk to your local shop, doctors and pub and it has playing fields and a lot of facilities but how will that change when we get extra houses? The school is full already and I don’t know how the doctors will cope.”