A specialist electric bike shop will open on Leeds Road in Harrogate next month.
The Electric Bike Shop will open on February 11 in a unit that previously was home to Fultons Foods and Choices video rental.
The company began in Bristol but has expanded to open stores in London, Cheshire and the Midlands. Harrogate will be its ninth location.
It sells and services bikes with electric motors and also sells e-cargo bikes, which are like electric bikes but have a large storage area to transport goods.
Helen Gadbury, PR manager from Electric Bike Shop, told the Stray Ferret that Harrogate is a “prime location” for the company to open its next shop.
She added:
“The bikes are getting more powerful and the technology has improved a great deal. The majority of our customers are older people who used to cycle regularly but had suffered from a lack of confidence. Electric bikes are a way to get out and start cycling again.”
Six jobs are set to be created. It will be open from Monday to Saturday.
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- £10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway ‘must focus’ on cycling and walking
Bilton Park Village Farm hopes to install 264 solar panels to produce green electricity for its park homes and caravans.
The site, on Bilton Lane, is a popular holiday location for people wishing to explore Harrogate and Knaresborough.
The owner of the site has now submitted a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council for the solar panels, which would cover 454 square metres of a field next to the site.
They would be capable of producing 90,471 kWh of electricity a year.
Planning documents say the park wants to improve the environmental impact of the business and the solar panels would reduce its carbon footprint by around 31 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
It also says that around 30% of the electricity generated will be exported back to the National Grid so it can be utilised by the public.
It adds:
“This means that the public can also utilise electricity which has been generated by renewable energy, further reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and power stations.
“The installation of the solar PV system would not solely serve the applicant but would also benefit other households.”
Harrogate Borough Council will decide on the plans at a later date.
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‘So beautiful I can’t believe it’s real’: TikTok video of Knaresborough goes viral
A Russian TikToker has racked up a million views with a video of Knaresborough that she described as “a place in England so beautiful I can’t believe it’s real”.
The clip by alievskaya.uk was taken at Knaresborough Castle overlooking the River Nidd as a train crosses the viaduct.
The TikTok user, who is based in London, travels around the UK each weekend filming with her husband to post short videos on the social media platform.
She writes on her website:
“Despite the coronavirus, we managed to visit dozens of British villages and many cities. I adore exploring the British countryside and taking pictures of it!”
Watch the video below:
@the.wanderlust.blonde #northyorkshire #visitengland #visituk #traveluk #traveltiktok #best_places_uk #northyork #uktravel #exploreengland #knaresborough #ukgetaway #england
Read more:
TikTok is a social media app used primarily by young people, and the video is priceless publicity for Visit Harrogate, the council’s tourism body for the district.
One person commenting on the video said:
“Oh my god I’ve been there! I always remember it as one of the most beautiful places I’ve been”
Another said:
Buzzard trapped in Harrogate car bumper has miraculous escape“Knaresborough is fantastic, it’s absolutely stunning.”
A buzzard had a miraculous escape after it was hit by a car in Harrogate and got trapped in the front radiator grille.
The driver of the Jaguar felt a bump whilst driving and later was surprised to see her car had hit the bird, which had become stuck.
She frantically called different mechanics in Harrogate to see if they could remove the bumper and free the buzzard. After struggling to get help she called the RSPCA.
RSPCA animal rescuer, inspector Claire Little, was sent to an address in Fulwith Road to free the bird of prey.
Ms Little said:
“She thought the car had hit something and she then found the bird stuck in the car grille – who was miraculously still alive.
“I went along and was able to carefully remove the bird from the front grill of the car by removing some parts.
“I then checked her over and amazingly she didn’t seem injured – she just had a few ruffled feathers but no cuts on her body.”
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The plucky bird of prey has made a full recovery and was released back into the wild on New Year’s Day.
Ms Little added:
“She was a little shocked at first but wasn’t displaying any signs of injury. I think she just had some concussion but she seemed to recover well.
“It was a great moment to watch her happily fly off as I released her – and I caught the heart-warming moment on video.”
Watch a video of the bird being released below:
Plan to build new classroom at Bishop Monkton schoolBishop Monkton Church of England Primary School has submitted plans to build a new permanent classroom.
The new structure would replace a temporary unit at the school that would be demolished.
Planning documents submitted to North Yorkshire County Council say the 134 square metre classroom would provide a more accessible and inclusive environment for pupils.
The village school currently has around 100 pupils.
Documents say:
“The new classroom unit will provide modern teaching environment and a much-needed space for the needs of the existing pupils providing them with a more suitable means of access and teaching environment.”
A decision on the proposal will be made at a later date.
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Three newt ponds to be built at Long Lands Common
Work will begin in January to build three ponds for Great Crested Newts at Long Lands Common in Harrogate.
The team behind the community-funded nature reserve and woodland between Bogs Lane and Bilton Lane hopes the ponds will become a flagship for biodiversity in the area.
The ponds will be built in places that already have seasonal flooding and semi-wetland communities.
Surveys have found the common toad, common frog, smooth newt and Great Crested Newts all within 2km of the site. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust will carry out the works.
The animals will use the ponds to breed between March and June and will use the habitat that Long Lands Common will provide for the rest of the year.
Read more:
- Newts delay junction 47 A1(M) upgrade near Knaresborough
- Long Lands Common set to open to members for the first time
The Long Lands Common December newsletter says:
“Given the situation of the site close to an existing pond, and with the landscape corridors provided by the railway cutting and Bilton beck, once habitats on-site start to become more natural, it is very likely that this baseline will increase in both diversity and absolute numbers as well as the additional benefits for species diversity and human enjoyment of the site that the presence of the ponds will bring.”
In 2020, around 3,000 people bought shares in the land. The appeal raised £375,000 to purchase 30 acres of land near the Nidderdale Greenway and protect it from development.
An official open day was held on the land for people who pledged money in July.
A detailed plan for the site is set to be submitted to Harrogate Borough Council in February. Thousands of trees will eventually be planted there.
Excitement builds for Ripon’s New Year Eve celebrations tonightRipon’s New Year’s Eve concert this evening on Market Square will go ahead — but without a fireworks display.
An Oasis tribute band and Big Boyband Reunion will entertain revellers and the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, will address the audience at five minutes to midnight.
This will be followed by a blessing by the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt. Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley.
Ripon City Council said yesterday that the fireworks display, which would have provided the finale to the night of free entertainment, had been cancelled, because of circumstances beyond its control.
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- Ripon’s New Year’s eve concert to go ahead without the fireworks
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Stage times are below:
21:00 Hornblowing Ceremony
21:10 Definitely Might Be (Oasis Tribute Act)
21:55 Big Boyband Reunion
22.35: Definitely Might Be
23.25: Big Boyband Reunion
23.55: Address by Mayor of Ripon followed by a blessing from the Bishop of Ripon
Ripon City Council leader Cllr Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret that those planning to attend take a lateral flow test beforehand and only venture onto Market Square if the test gives a negative result.
330 positive covid cases reported in Harrogate districtThe Harrogate district has reported 330 positive covid cases, according to the latest daily government figures.
Nationally, the number of infections also remains high. Figures show 189,846 cases have been recorded as the Omicron variant continues to spread.
The Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate has reached a record high and stands at 1094 per 100,000 people.
Across the county, the rate stands at 879 and the England average is 1,305.
Read more:
- Excitement builds for Ripon’s New Year Eve celebrations tonight
-
Harrogate Town game tomorrow postponed due to covid outbreak
As the number of infections continues to rise, many residents have reported difficulties obtaining lateral flow tests in the Harrogate district.
Yesterday, our reporter visited pharmacies across Ripon and found they were in short supply, with pharmacies currently out of stock and awaiting deliveries.
Harrogate Town game tomorrow postponed due to covid outbreakHarrogate Town’s home game against Port Vale on New Year’s Day has been postponed due to a covid outbreak in the Harrogate squad.
The club told the EFL that it would be unable to fulfill the fixture at the EnviroVent Stadium due to “a number” of positive COVID-19 cases in their squad.
A rearranged date for the fixture will be confirmed in due course.
Manager Simon Weaver said:
“We’ve been waiting in the wings ready to get back playing after matches had been called off due to Covid in the opposition camps. Unfortunately, we’ve now got a couple of positive cases in the group which adds to our extensive injury list and it means we’re depleted. It’s heavily frustrating as we’re all desperate to play for the supporters and we’re hoping a return to action isn’t too far away.”
It’s the third game in a week to be postponed due to covid.
Town’s away clash with Bradford City which was scheduled for Boxing Day was postponed due to coronavirus cases in Bradford’s squad.
Harrogate Town were also due to welcome in-form Mansfield Town to the EnviroVent Stadium on December 29.
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- Harrogate Town’s Boxing Day clash with Bradford postponed
- Pilgrims brave the elements for Ripon’s Boxing Day walk
Demolition of former McColl’s in Starbeck delayed
A proposal to fast-track the demolition of the former McColl’s supermarket in Starbeck has been put on hold by Harrogate Borough Council.
Fire ripped through the supermarket in July 2018 and more than three years later, the Victorian-era building is still a burned-out shell with much of its roof missing.
Bates & Hemingborough, which owns the building, submitted an application in November to demolish the building under permitted development rules, which allows the demolition of a building without the prior approval of the council if it is deemed a safety risk.
The owner hopes to build new retail and housing units on the site.
However, planning documents reveal the council has written to the owner to say that the council must have the final say on the demolition.
It has requested the owner submits further documents, including a construction and safety plan, details of how the demolition would affect the public footpath and St Andrew’s Church and details of where construction vehicles would park on the site.
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- Harrogate social distancing planters find a happy home in Starbeck
- Plans submitted to demolish burned-out Starbeck building
Andrew Hart, founder of Starbeck Community Group and the owner of Starbeck Post Office, said he agreed with the council asking for conditions around the demolition but wanted to see quicker progress.
He added:
“The Starbeck Community Group have been in constant correspondence with our councillor, Harrogate Borough Council and the two owners of this property for months now.
“We have been promised real progress by all concerned but in reality we are again facing delaying tactics.”