AFTER 18 months of discussion with Harrogate Borough Council and two meetings on site, agreement has been reached that remedial work will be undertaken to protect the historic Fairy Steps from further flood damage.

The Fairy Steps were adapted by the army during the First World War to allow access from High Cleugh to Hell Wath Common, part of the largest military camp in Europe, by horsedrawn field guns (and possibly early tanks?).

The meeting with Dan McAndrew, rural strategy officer for Harrogate Borough Council, Astrid Paget, development engineer with the Environment Agency, and myself, on site recently, agreed with Astrid’s proposals that bio-engineering techniques will be used; gravel will be moved from midstream to repair flood damage and together with other remedial work, all using natural materials available on site, willow cuttings will be planted to bind the banking from upstream of the steps down towards the Rustic Bridge.

The timing will be dependent on the requirement to avoid disturbing the breeding patterns of, for example, the crayfish and other aquatic species. Colin Slator, the district countryside ranger, will be consulted.

Unfortunately, my request and appeal to English Heritage to ‘list’ the Fairy Steps has been refused, much to my dismay.

North Yorkshire County Council’s ‘Rights of Way’ officers have agreed to examine the footpaths and the other flight of steps leading to Hell Wath Common in the near future to see what is required to make them safe for the many walkers using them.