TREES are being cleared from the site in Flaxby, near Knaresborough, where developers are hoping to build a five-star hotel.

Developers Skelwith group are clearing the trees where they intend to make road improvements before birds start to nest.

Ben Pilgrim, head of communications for the company, said that they hope to sign off the details of the road improvements after a couple of years of legal complications, in the next few weeks.

He said: “It’s been a long process and there has naturally been a lot of cynicism about it in the current market but it will be a big relief to get it under way and actually deliver the scheme, which we have been working on since 2008.”

The Skelwith Group secured planning consent from Harrogate District Council in 2010, but has had to negotiate a complex agreement with North Yorkshire County Council to ensure that major highways improvements to the A59 are introduced to cope with the increase in traffic on the road.

He said the developers had reached an agreement with Harrogate council, North Yorkshire County Council and the Highways Agency.

Contractors Hewlett Group were lined up to do the work, so once they had the final sign off, they could start work within a few weeks.