WORK is beginning again at Guiseley AFC after it was forced to stop its ground upgrade because of concerns over damage to tree roots.

The club faced the potential threat of relegation when it was ordered to stop work to bring Nethermoor up to the standards required for the Vanarama National League.

But it is due to begin again today ( Thursday) after the club was given permission to re-start developments within the ground.

Now officials are hoping to have the stop notice removed completely so that the upgrade can be finished before the deadline at the end of March.

In a statement yesterday ( Wednesday) the club said: "Having had the arboriculturist’s report and method statement approved and the application for Release of Conditions submitted, we have now been given permission to continue with certain work inside the ground.

"The letters sent out by the planning department in the last day or so are, as far as we know, procedural and in pursuit of the above Release of Conditions.

While we have obstacles to overcome in terms of specialist work behind the two main stands – work which will be carried out in the presence of the arboriculturist over the coming days – we have been given permission to resume work from Thursday in other areas of Nethermoor that are within the stadium fence.

"This means work can get back under way on the 3G, Railway and Cricket Ground sides of Nethermoor and the club’s aim is to have the stop notice removed entirely in sufficient time to complete the work before the deadline."

Leeds City Council issued a stop notice in January because of concerns about alleged damage to tree roots.

The council’s intervention came as a blow to the club which needs to ensure its ground meets the standards set by the league. If it fails to meet a minimum A grade, it will be relegated.

After the stop notice was imposed Guiseley AFC’s chairman Phil Rogerson described the club’s determination to resolve the issue and warned of the potentially devastating effects of demotion. He said the problems were not insurmountable.