Editor’s Pick of the Week: Empty paddling pools and rock stars in Harrogate

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Buddy Holly visiting Bettys in Harrogate seems about as likely as Taylor Swift ordering a pork pie at Appleton’s Butchers.

But it really did happen. One of the most influential musicians in rock and roll history was taken there by Des O’Connor on his only UK tour in 1958.

Sheffield singer-songwriter Richard Hawley was among the musicians paying homage to Holly at a book launch at Bettys this week.

It wasn’t quite as rock and roll as the London version of the book launch, which attracted Ronnie Wood, Roger Daltrey and Yungblud, but we were treated to Hawley singing Words of Love and given Fat Rascals with Buddy Holly-style glasses. Both were lush.

Beryl Burton’s local connection is better known. Hailed as Britain’s greatest ever female cyclist, she rode for Knaresborough during the latter part of her career and lived in Harrogate, and it was revealed this week a commemorative plaque will be unveiled.

Being an advocate of home-grown Yorkshire food, Burton might not have been first in the queue for this week’s opening of the latest Greggs in Harrogate.

Nevertheless, competition was fierce. When we visited a couple of hours after yesterday’s opening, on a fact-finding mission, the place was already rammed. Our reporter made his excuses and left.

With that rarest of combinations — a bank holiday, warm weather and half-term — upon us, families will be flocking to parks across the district.

But in a further example of bureaucrats’ ability to suck the joy out of any occasion, North Yorkshire Council announced this week the paddling pools won’t open as scheduled this week because “essential maintenance” is required. They’ve only had nearly nine months to sort it out. Still, there’s always crazy golf.

Parents’ reaction could be summed up by a sad emoji. But don’t expect to see any such emojis on speed signs in North Yorkshire. In another example of ‘council says no’ this week, it revealed it wouldn’t allow parish councils to use the happy and sad face signs like those you see when approaching Wetherby even though they’re cheaper than the vehicle-activated signs that flash up your speed.

Better news in Ripon, which remains on course to have a new cinema in November after the scheme received planning permission this week.

The hospitality sector, however, continues to suffer. An almighty community effort went into buying the Black Lion at Skelton-on-Ouse, only for the pub to announce this week its current business model, employing tenants, was “unviable”. Having enjoyed a pint there on Boxing Day, let’s hope a viable option exists.

The same could be said about Brierley Homes, the council-owned housing company that is flogging half-a-million pound homes at Kirkby Malzeard while being propped up by a £27 million loan. News this week raised questions about whether it will all be repaid and the company return a profit. That’ll be the day, as Buddy Holly might have sung.