Work starts to repair damage to Starbeck field after fun fair rumpus

Harrogate Borough Council workers have been at Belmont Park this morning to repair damage to grass and heal over muddy tracks left behind by the Starbeck Gala Fun Fair.

The fair divided opinion when its lorries rolled through the High Street in the first week of September - some residents welcomed it with open arms, and others were alarmed by a lack of consultation and a name clash with Starbeck Gala.

Whatever your view is, the necessity of dragging the rides and equipment on and off the field, combined with a series of torrential downpours over the last four weeks, has left the field in a worse condition - much to the dismay of the Starbeck Residents Association and regular walkers.

Starbeck Residents Association committee member Stuart Rhodes, said: "The council has been waiting for the ground to dry out since the fair left. Unfortunately for the fair, the heavens opened and as anybody in Starbeck will tell you, there is a reason why we have a placed called Bogs Lane, and the park is no exception.

"The fair got caught up in it, the vehicles ended up sinking quite badly, and had to be towed out of the field when they left. It's been a nightmare since with bad ruts in the ground. If you're walking your dog in the dark, it can be quite treacherous conditions. They've not been able to cut the grass at all in the worst areas.

"It's great we had a fair, but overall I don't think Belmont field is the right place for it. I think it would be better placed over at the football ground where the ground is a lot firmer. It could be a part of the Starbeck Gala. I also think it was at the wrong time of the year."

Organisers of the fun fair, Rapture Events, said they are keen to work with the community in the future so that Starbeck can have a gala in the coming years