Northallerton Sports Village site still not fully open

The Northallerton Sports Village site has been beset with delays and complications over the last two years, and ownership of the land has still not been transferred to North Yorkshire Council.

The authority says this means organised activities requiring a permit still cannot be held, or the allotments opened.

Northallerton Sports Village (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

While the main site, which includes a one-kilometre running track, was opened to the public last December, the allotments remain locked, with sheds laid down and weeds almost four feet high covering the plots.

The sports village development was designed to enhance the former Stonecross playing fields north of Northallerton Leisure Centre and was a major part of the North Northallerton scheme of more than 900 homes.

Overgrown grass and weeds at Northallerton Sports Village (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

The first £1.3m phase includes the running track, grassland, allotments and wildlife improvements, while a future second stage was planned with grass and artificial sports pitches.

This week the council’s assistant director for culture, leisure and libraries, Jo Ireland said: “The formal land transfer for the site is still not completed.

A lock on the gate at Northallerton Sports Village (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

"This means that whilst we can open the site for community use any organised activity that requires a licence or a lease is currently not permitted – we can only allow this once the land is owned by the council and that includes the allotments.

“We understand the inconvenience and share the frustration of residents. We would like to reassure everyone that we are working hard to resolve the outstanding issues.”