Police have issued an appeal for a Harrogate man who is wanted for breaching a court order for animal cruelty.

Robbie Nelson, 24, of Woodfield View, was given a community order last year after neglecting two dogs at a house on High Street in the town.

The case was brought by the animal welfare charity the RSPCA, which revealed that the animals were living in a flat covered in faeces and with carpets soaked in urine.

Nelson was banned from keeping animals for five years and handed a community order to undertake rehabilitation activity following a court hearing in July 2022.

Read more:

• Harrogate man banned from keeping animals for five years
• Malnourished dogs found in Harrogate flat covered in faeces and urine

North Yorkshire Police has now issued an appeal for information on his whereabouts after the 24-year-old failed to comply with the order.

He was due to attend Harrogate Magistrates’ Court on March 3, 2023, but he failed to appear resulting in a warrant for his arrest.

The conditions in the flat in Harrogate. Picture: RSPCA.

Enquiries are ongoing to find Nelson, including multiple address checks and contact with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Job Centre.

A police statement added:

“If anyone knows where he is or have information that could help us to find him, please make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website or call 101, select option 1, and speak to the Force Control Room.

“If you’d prefer to remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Please quote reference number 122300039283 when providing details.”

A corner has concluded that the death of a 16-year-old Harrogate schoolboy in an adult homeless hostel was “unascertained”.

Benjamin Nelson-Roux, a student at St Aidan’s Church of England High School, died in Harrogate on April 8, 2020.

His body was found by his mum, Kate, at Harrogate Borough Council-run homeless hostel Cavendish House on Robert Street. He had been living there since February of that year.

The hostel was intended for adults and has nine bedsits.

A wide-ranging 12-day inquest was held into Ben’s death and concluded this morning at North Yorkshire Coroner’s Office in Northallerton.

The hearing explored the decision by North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council to place Ben in an adult homeless hostel, given his age, vulnerability, and what was known about his lifestyle at the time.

Death ‘unascertained’

Jon Heath, senior coroner for North Yorkshire, concluded Ben’s death was “unascertained”, but noted that “multiple drugs” had been found in his body.

Mr Heath said there was no evidence of any third party involvement.

Read more:

• Hearing begins into death of Harrogate schoolboy Benjamin Nelson-Roux, 16
• High speeds and alcohol contributed to young Harrogate man’s fatal crash, inquest hears

He added that the accommodation provided to the 16-year-old was “unsuitable”, but it could not be determined whether this contributed to his death.

The inquest heard that the hostel had no security on April 7 and April 8 due to a contract issue.

However, Mr Heath said it could not be determined whether any other accommodation would have prevented his death.

The inquest, which was held last year, heard how Ben’s body was found by his mother Kate after she forced entry into his room at around 4pm.

She carried out CPR until a paramedic arrived. However, he was certified dead at 4.50pm.

A toxicology report found several drugs in his bloody, including diazepam, ecstasy and cocaine.

Dr Carl Gray, consultant pathologist at Harrogate District Hospital, said he was unable to undertake a full post-mortem on Ben’s body as it took place during the first covid lockdown.

He told the inquest:

“The cause of death cannot be certain as there was no internal dissections due to the pandemic. Multiple drugs were present but were low and the effects were debatable.”

Ben was placed in the hostel on Robert Street in February 2020 until alternative accommodation was found.

The inquest heard concerns from social workers and other agencies that the hostel was not suitable due to the 16-year-old being at risk of exploitation from county lines drugs dealers.

The hearing at Northallerton also heard that Ben had struggled with drug misuse for several years.

Prevention of future deaths

Following his conclusions, Mr Heath told the court that he intended to issue a prevention of future deaths report.

Mr Heath said he would to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to raise concern over the lack of under-18s facilities for drug misuse.

He also intended to write to North Yorkshire County Council to raise concern over why alternative accommodation was not considered outside of the county.

A plan to convert the former Lugii’s restaurant in Harrogate into a flat has been approved.

The Italian restaurant, which was situated in a residential area on Valley Drive, closed in October 2021.

Applicant Nidge O’Brien tabled plans to Harrogate Borough Council to convert the building into a two-bedroom apartment.

Now, the council has approved the plans.

In a report, the authority said the move would “respect the character and appearance of the existing building and surrounding conservation area”.

Luigi’s closed its doors on October 17, 2021. In a post on its Facebook page, management at the restaurant said:

“We have thus reached the end of the journey, and we take this opportunity to thank all the customers who have supported us with their affection during these two years.

“Luigi’s Restaurant will open its doors for you on Sunday 17th October for the last time.

“Heartfelt thanks to all of you, it was a pleasure to pamper you and give you the goodness of our simple and genuine dishes.We will meet again, around the county.”

Read more:

• Knaresborough’s Riverside Cafe owners bid farewell after 13 years
• Harrogate Mojo bid to open until 6.30am approved

Harrogate is forecast to be the second fastest growing town in Yorkshire this year, says the new chief executive of North Yorkshire Council.

Richard Flinton, who is set to oversee devolution in the county from April 1, was the keynote speaker at the inaugural Stray Ferret Business Awards on Thursday.

Mr Flinton told the ceremony at Pavilions of Harrogate that supporting local business would be a major part of the new council’s agenda.

He said:

“Supporting business will be a really big part of the council.

“I have got great admiration for the wealth creators, the entrepreneurs and the talented individuals in this room.”

Mr Flinton will oversee the biggest reorganisation of local government in North Yorkshire since 1974.

The move will see seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, and the county council scrapped to make way for one unitary authority.

Read more:

• National firm acquires Harrogate accountants
• Stray Ferret Business Awards: The winners

Mr Flinton, who is also involved with York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said he wanted to see the new council work closely with the private sector.

He said:

“Our shared aim has got to be to try and create more jobs and wealth.

“I know that growing your businesses is what creates those jobs and that wealth. One of our roles in the public sector is to be able support you through infrastructure, through making sure people have got the right skills and work together to make sure we grow our economy.”

‘A massive opportunity’

Mr Flinton said Harrogate was “an incredibly important” part of the economy of North Yorkshire, adding:

“Ernst and Young are forecasting that Harrogate will be the second fastest growing part of the whole of Yorkshire this year, just behind the city of Leeds.”

He added that there was a “massive opportunity” for Harrogate to be one of the most vibrant towns in the north of England.

The Stray Ferret Business Awards showcased a variety of talent from across the area, and 11 finalists were crowned the winners of their categories.

The ceremony was attended by nearly 400 guests and celebrated the success of businesses from across the district.

You can read more about the winners of the awards here.

A Harrogate Conservative councillor has described as “unhelpful” comparisons between Harrogate’s failed levelling up bid and a successful bid for a village in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s constituency.

The comments came as both the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives on Harrogate Borough Council made a rare joint plea to the new North Yorkshire Council to press ahead with a redevelopment of the town’s convention centre.

During a full council meeting this week, Cllr Chris Aldred, a Lib Dem, said the backing was needed after failed funding bids to the government’s levelling up fund in January.

He added that, while Harrogate was rejected for funding, a successful bid was made in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Richmond constituency.

Cllr Aldred said:

“Whilst government money was obtained to deliver a new Catterick town centre – I wonder whose constituency that is? – Harrogate lost out once more.”

Read more:

• New council chief questions future of Harrogate Convention Centre
• New board to review Harrogate Convention Centre operating model
• Government rejects £20m levelling up bid for Harrogate Convention Centre

However, Cllr Sam Gibbs, who works as a party agent for the Richmond Conservatives, said comparison between bids was “not helpful”.

He added that the area of Catterick was deprived and the success of the bid had nothing to do with Mr Sunak.

Cllr Gibbs said:

“I don’t think comparisons with other bids is helpful.

“Saying that we’re more deserving than X or Y is largely pointless.”

He added:

“Focussing on Catterick for a start, there is no such thing as Catterick town centre.

“Yes it is in Richmond and I know what you were getting at with it being Rishi’s constituency, but I’m sure you know that the bid was put in by the Liberal Democrat and Independent-run council and has nothing particularly to do with Rishi.

“If you have ever been around what you call Catterick town centre, it is hard to argue that the money is not needed. It is one of the most deprived parts of North Yorkshire, the money is very, very much needed.”

A rare joint plea

Both the Conservatives and Lib Dems agreed to call on the new unitary council to back a £49 million renovation of the centre.

The council has previously warned that if the convention centre redevelopment doesn’t go ahead, the district could lose out on up to £250 million over the next 40 years in lost tourism and business spending.

A motion passed by the council asked that the new council “moves forward with urgency” in setting up a management board for the Harrogate Borough Council.

The project has moved to the design phase but where the money will come from to pay for it remains uncertain. North Yorkshire Council will make a final decision at a later date.

A new council is set to take over in the Harrogate district in three weeks’ time.

Both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council will make way for North Yorkshire Council on April 1.

The move throws up questions over housing and planning in the district – in particular, who will make the decisions?

In this article, we will explain how key decisions over housing, new businesses and a Local Plan for the Harrogate area will be made.

Who currently makes planning decisions?

Currently, any decision over permission to build new homes or businesses in the Harrogate district is made by Harrogate Borough Council.

The council is the local planning authority – meaning any applications must be submitted to it.

Officials at the council then make decisions on whether to approve or refuse permission for a development.

Some applications may go to a council planning committee, which is made up of local councillors, to make a decision.

What will change from April?

From April, the borough council will no longer exist.

This means that the new North Yorkshire Council will become the local planning authority.

Any proposals to build new homes of businesses will have to be submitted to the new council.

It will then make decisions on new developments in the Harrogate district.

How will it make decisions?

North Yorkshire Council has proposed setting up two committees to deal with planning applications.

The first will be a strategic planning committee in Northallerton which will deal with major proposals, such as plans for 500 or more homes and employment sites.

There will also be a sub-committee on the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee, which will deal with proposals of 500 homes or less.

Similarly, plans for Ripon would be overseen by the Ripon and Skipton Area Constituency Committee.

What about the Harrogate district Local Plan?

Under the new council, a fresh Local Plan will be drawn up.

The plan will show where land can be used for housing and employment over the next 15 years.

It means that the current Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35 is set to be scrapped.

Read more:

• Councillor calls for housebuilding in Harrogate to be paused
• Harrogate councillors approve transfer of council-owned companies
• Explained: What happens to bin collections in Harrogate after devolution?

The Harrogate district has woken to its worst snow of the winter. Amber and yellow weather warnings remain in place all morning and roads are treacherous.

Please send news of how the weather is affecting your school, roads and neighbourhood so we can add it to the blog. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

12.39pm: Ice warning for tonight

A @metoffice warning for ice is in place across #NorthYorkshire until 10am tomorrow. A warning for #snow and #ice is also in place from 3pm tomorrow until 6am on Sunday.

Please take care when out and about.

Find out more at https://t.co/hUMWZu9ntv pic.twitter.com/6zjLqfCNjJ

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) March 10, 2023

12.08pm: Council says it ‘stood down’ today’s bin collections

Due to the weather conditions overnight, and the sub-zero temperatures predicted tonight and into tomorrow, we have made the decision to stand down today’s (10 March) household waste and recycling collections…

Find out more at: https://t.co/F9iIHqV6GD

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) March 10, 2023

11.42am: Minus nine degrees tonight?

The BBC weather forecast is currently forecasting a minimum temperature of minus nine degrees tonight. The Met Office, however, is predicting no lower than minus four degrees.

Either way, it is going to be cold and with standing snow conditions could be treacherous.

11.31am – Commercial Street in Harrogate ‘passable’

Commercial Street is “open for business” and “passable”, say businesses.

❄️Commercial Street is quite passable & OPEN for business❄️

☕️Don’t forget we’ve got 2 fab indie businesses to keep you warm with delish hot drinks – Bean & Bud and Lilly’s Cafe! ☕️

Find out more on our website https://t.co/UoImSxseXl#shoplocal #indie #Harrogate #snow pic.twitter.com/HWcapDPjsV

— Commercial Street (@Commercial_St) March 10, 2023

11.20am – More Harrogate pictures

More pictures of Harrogate covered in snow this morning on Montpellier and the Stray.

11.10am – Household waste recycling centres reopen

North Yorkshire County Council has announced its household waste recycling centres in Harrogate have reopened.

All of our household waste recycling centres have now reopened, except for #Leyburn. pic.twitter.com/A8Ldz5u5t2

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) March 10, 2023

11.05am – Ripon covered in snow

A nice aerial shot of Ripon market square and the cathedral sent into us by Paul Smith.

10.55am – Picturesque Knaresborough

Knaresboroughphotography has shared this picture with us on Instagram. Perfect for a postcard.

10.45am – Stray pictured in the snow

Ian Wilkie has sent some beautiful pictures of the Harrogate Stray pictured in the snow, along with a snowman.

10.35am – RHS Harlow Carr to reopen at midday

RHS Harlow Carr is set to reopen at midday today. However, play areas will be closed.

⚠️ Garden reopening at 12pm – 10 March ⚠️

We'll be reopening at noon today with a limited route around the garden – play areas will be closed. It will be half price tickets for payers.

Grab the camera and snow boots to enjoy a winter wonderland ❄ pic.twitter.com/S6Yr3HPku5

— RHS Harlow Carr (@RHSHarlowCarr) March 10, 2023

10.24am – West Harrogate recycling centre closed.

The West Harrogate recycling centre at Pennypot Lane is also closed this morning due to snow.

Thornton-le-Dale and West #Harrogate household waste recycling centres are also currently closed due to the #snow. pic.twitter.com/6038uUcNPK

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) March 10, 2023

10.15am – Belmont Grosvenor headmaster gives snowman advice

With pupils learning from home, Nathan Sadler, headmaster at Belmont Grosvenor School, has issued the following advice to parents:

In terms of learning from home, if you get the opportunity with your children, please can you:

• make snow balls
• roll in the snow – make snow angels!
• build a snowman
• sledge
• drink hot chocolate
• HAVE FUN!

Here he is pictured with his family and their snowman.

10.05am – Harrogate recycling centre is closed

North Yorkshire County Council has announced the household waste recycling centre on Wetherby Road is currently closed due to the snow.

The following household waste recycling centres are currently closed due to the #snow:
– #Harrogate Stonefall
– #Leyburn
– #Settle
– #Skipton pic.twitter.com/EfrQRGm9yS

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) March 10, 2023

10am – The view from Pateley Bridge

Joyce Liggins has sent this picture in of Pateley Bridge covered in snow this morning.

9.25am – No waste and recycling collections this morning

Harrogate Borough Council has announced that its waste and recycling teams currently are not collecting this morning.

Due to this morning's conditions, our waste and recycling crews aren't currently collecting.

We are keeping a close eye on the weather and road conditions and will provide an update later in the day. pic.twitter.com/o4pc5wNSGF

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) March 10, 2023

9.15am – Snow pictures from across Harrogate

9am – Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal closed

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal has announced it will be closed today.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is closed this morning due to the snow. Please don’t travel here as the car parks are closed and the paths are not safe. Take care on the roads and keep an eye on the website for all live updates. https://t.co/tyiQ88giPV pic.twitter.com/x0cdXUG7eS

— Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust (@fountainsabbey) March 10, 2023

8.30am – Full list of school closures

Here is the full list of school closures in the Harrogate district.

6.39am: Bus service cancellations

The Harrogate Bus Company is warning of problems and providing a link to more information.

⚠️ Due to the current weather conditions we have a number of diversions and cancellations in place.

ℹ️ Please see the link for further details: https://t.co/0dCzYc3pFH

We apologise for any inconvenience@MetroTravelNews pic.twitter.com/7VEpbzFYdP

— The Harrogate Bus Company (@harrogatebus) March 10, 2023

6.34am: Pannal school closes

6.30am: Two schools announce closures

Admiral Long Primary School, Burnt Yates and Belmont Grosvenor School in Birstwith have emailed to tell us they have closed today.

Has your school closed? Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will include it in this blog.

Harrogate Grammar School is set to host a walk in memory of a former student.

Dom Sowa took his life in 2017, aged 17.

The school will be participating in the fundraising event Hopewalk on Sunday (March 12) from 10am at Swinsty reservoir.

The walks take place across the UK in support of Papyrus – a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.

Harrogate Grammar is inviting others to join in at Swinsty and help raise awareness of suicide prevention.

More information on the route of the walk can be found here. Those taking part are asked meet at the car park.

Read more:

• Harrogate Grammar School pays tribute to Seb Mitchell
• Harrogate Mojo bid to open until 6.30am approved

A Harrogate district theatre company has been saved by a £24,383 grant from Arts Council England.

Badapple Theatre Company, which is based in Green Hammerton, was awarded the funding ahead of its 25th anniversary.

The theatre, set up by Kate Bramley in 1998, aims to take productions to harder to reach areas of Yorkshire and across the country.

Ms Bramley said:

“It has been a hard few years for everyone in the arts and for Badapple too.

We were delighted to have survived the covid lockdowns in good shape, making sure we found new ways to keep our communities engaged and upbeat, particularly our youth theatre. 

“But two unsuccessful requests for funding support from the Arts Council across the autumn and winter of 2022 meant we were looking at having to close the company this year. All our reserves of finance and energy had gone, quite frankly.”

She added:

“So this support means a huge amount to us and the small communities that we serve right across the country — on this upcoming project from Somerset to Northumberland — in all the small places where we can spread a bit of theatre joy and bring folk together.”

The funding will also go towards Badapple’s Youth Theatre, which meets weekly in Green Hammerton during term time. 

The company is set to embark on a national tour of the 1960s comedy Eddie and the Gold in April as part of its 25th anniversary.

Read more:

• ‘Theatre on your doorstep’ returns to communities across Harrogate district
• ‘Britain’s biggest tractor run’ set to return to Harrogate district on Sunday

Network Rail has installed a passcode protected gate to keep people off the railtracks in Knaresborough.

The new gate has been put in place at Green Lane level crossing, near the Trinity Fields housing development in the town, to prevent trespassing.

Officials at the organisation worked with Harrogate Borough Council to install the facility.

Network Rail said an average of 20 to 25 people such as dog walkers or joggers illegally used the level crossing each day.

It added that in 2022 the gates were recklessly left open 20 times, posing a real risk for children, vulnerable people and animals.

The access to private land from Green Lane level crossing.

Darren Lord, north and east route level crossing manager for Network Rail, said: 

“We’re really proud to have worked with Harrogate Borough Council and the housing developers to champion this simple, quick-thinking solution which will vastly reduce risk and improve safety for the community.

“The railway isn’t the place to take a shortcut and we have to put safety first. With the new gate in place, the level crossing will be able to do what it was designed for – to help people safely cross over the railway on to their private land and remove the risk for the public.

“You can never predict when the next train is coming, so entering the railway where you’re not supposed to can be incredibly dangerous and lead to fatal or life-changing injuries.”

Read more:

• Cost of Harrogate to Leeds rail season ticket rises to almost £2,000
• Traffic order issued to close part of Harrogate’s James Street to vehicles

The new gate will be used by authorised people to access the level crossing to reach private land.

Those people have been given the keycode and briefed on how to use the new system safely.

Cllr Tim Myatt, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for planning, added: 

“We want to ensure all residents are kept as safe as possible.

“By working with Network Rail and the housing developer to introduce this anti-trespass measure we can help prevent people illegally trespassing on to the railway.

“This measure will also help ensure the gate is not recklessly left open, reducing the risk for children, vulnerable people and animals.”