A man has been seriously injured in a crash in a village on the edge of the Harrogate district.

North Yorkshire Police has appealed for information about the collision on the B6161 Leathley Lane near Leathley on Sunday (April 2).

It happened at around midday and involved a red motorcycle and green agricultural tractor.

The motorcyclist was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

A police statement added:

“Officers are asking anyone who saw the collision, or the vehicles involved prior to the collision – or has relevant dashcam footage – to get in touch.

“Please call North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference 12230058477.”

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• Beckwithshaw man found guilty of attempted murder

A man has been found guilty of attempted murder in Beckwithshaw.

The accused, who is in his 40s, denied attempting to murder both children, one of whom had his throat slit, on June 20 last year.

A jury at Leeds Crown Court returned a guilty verdict this morning.

The man was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on June 16.

The trial heard prosecuting barrister Robert Stevenson say the man slit the boy’s throat with a 10-inch serrated knife during the incident in June last year.

He told the boy “this needs to happen”, the court heard.

Neither of the children can be named for legal reasons. 

The defence told the court that the man had paranoia and deteriorating mental health.

He initially admitted wounding the boy with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and attempting to cause the girl serious harm but denied two counts of attempted murder.

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The MP for Ripon has backed a campaign to raise £250,000 for villagers to buy a Skelton-on-Ure pub.

The Black Lion, on Skelton Lane close to Newby Hall, between Boroughbridge and Ripon, was bought in December 2019 by Admiral Taverns.

However since then it has stood derelict, leaving locals questioning its future.

After the pub was put up for sale, residents called on people to pledge to buy a share in the pub in order to raise funds to buy it and revitalise it.

Now, Julian Smith, Ripon and Skipon MP, has backed the campaign after meeting with villagers aiming to buy the pub.

Sandy Delf, one of the residents involved in the Black Lion Community Hub and Pub group, said:

“Potential is fantastic for this venue. The village is shared with Newby Hall and is in an ideal position between the Dales, York and North Yorkshire Moors. The pub is on an ideal cycling route and so the opportunities are endless.

“The target is within sight and so the group are wanting to attract new pledgees and also ask existing pledgees to think about increasing their pledge amount.”

Great to visit Skelton-on-Ure and meet the Community Benefit Team trying to save the @blacklionpubhub– an Asset of Community Value. The group is collecting pledges to be able to re-open the pub, more info here, https://t.co/ECPKsoFeae pic.twitter.com/Z3iouStHq6

— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) April 3, 2023

The group has currently raised £160,000 towards its £250,000 target.

The group, which has received support from rural community charity the Plunkett Foundation, aims to reach the goal in order to access government match funding as part of the community ownership fund.

Shares in the pub cost £250 each and are open to people and businesses to submit an expression of interest.

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The pub was recently listed as an asset of community value by Harrogate Borough Council, which gives the group a six-month window to raise cash.

For more information on how to pledge a share in the pub, visit the Black Lion Community Hub and Pub website here.

A ping pong parlour has returned to Harrogate’s Victoria Shopping Centre.

The attraction, which was set up by Harrogate Business Improvement District, will be open for seven days a week during retail hours.

It includes four table tennis tables and bats and balls are provided.

The BID is funding the free initiative as part of its mission to encourage people to visit town centre shops.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, said:

“This is ever popular with workers and students alike and evidentially brings people into town. It is open until mid-July before it will take a short break for the Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebrations’ immersive exhibition. It will then return and run through to the autumn.

“Table tennis is a great sport, and anyone can play it, no matter how young or how old. This parlour is for the public to use, free of charge. All we ask is that if there are a lot of people wanting to play, then please be sensible and don’t hog the tables too long. Give others a chance.”

The BID is encouraging people to come along and take part and there will be a monthly competition for those who ‘check in’ through a QR code to win a £50 Harrogate Gift Card.

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It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Harrogate’s Adler and Allan has completed the acquisition of a Lancashire sewer monitoring company.

The environmental firm has acquired Detectronic, which is based in Colne, which specialises in helping customers prevent flooding and pollution.

The company said the move would help it to position itself strategically in the utilities sector and provide asset maintenance, environmental monitoring, and emergency pollution response.

It comes as Adler and Allan agreed a similar deal with Aqua Consultants in February this year.

Henrik Pedersen, chief executive officer at Adler and Allan, said: 

“This is our fourth acquisition in the utilities sector, and sixth overall in the last 18 months. It is a further step in the Group’s ambitious growth plans to support customers with a broader set of environmental challenges including trade effluent, wastewater management and the hugely divisive and the high-profile topic of CSOs. 

“With this latest acquisition, we are cementing our position as a strategic partner to the water industry to manage and monitor their assets through the full lifecycle.”

Neil Butler, managing director at Detectronic, said:

“We are delighted to be joining the Adler and Allan Group.

“The services Adler and Allan offer, combined with its established position in the utilities market, allows us to extend our expert monitoring and management solutions to more companies.”

New showhome in Green Hammerton

A housing company has opened a new showhome at a development in Green Hammerton.

Avant Homes is currently building a £21.5 million 80-home development in the village off the A59 called Ambretone Park.

The Avant Homes showhome at Green Hammerton.

The scheme is set to see a range of three, four and five bedroom homes built.

Now, the company has opened a showhome on the site and at its 154-home development in Easingwold.

Both homes include open-plan living space, kitchen with integrated appliances and boutique bathrooms complete with designer tiling and contemporary sanitaryware.

Dan Hardcastle, Avant Homes North Yorkshire head of sales, said: 

“Following the successful launch of our regional operation, we’re pleased to have opened our first showhomes in North Yorkshire for buyers to view.

“Our developments in Green Hammerton and Easingwold are already making great progress and we would encourage potential purchasers to come and experience our new showhomes first hand.”

For more information on the new homes, visit the Avant Homes website.

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A plan to demolish Harrogate town centre’s ‘little temple’ to make way for the £11.2 million Station Gateway scheme has been approved.

An application was tabled by North Yorkshire County Council in November last year to remove the tempietto in Station Square.

The proposal was approved by Harrogate Borough Council prior to its abolition on Friday.

However, a county council spokesperson told the Stray Ferret previously that the structure would only be removed if the Station Gateway goes ahead.

The council’s Liberal Democrat-controlled Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee is due to vote on the scheme on May 5, and the council’s Tory leadership has indicated it will abide by its decision.

The tempietto, which is inside Harrogate Conservation Area, was built between 1988 and 1992 as part of the redevelopment of the area to create the Victoria Shopping Centre.

Made of Jedburgh sandstone, its classical design was based on the work of 16th-century architect Andrea Palladio’s basilica at Vicenza in Italy.

The government-funded gateway scheme would see major changes to the public realm opposite the train station to make the gateway to Harrogate more attractive to visitors and more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians.

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It would also see part of Station Parade reduced to single lane traffic to accommodate cycle routes and James Street partly pedestrianised. Business groups and residents have voiced concerns about the impact on trade and traffic.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire Council, said:

“Planning approval for the removal of the tempietto does not pre-judge the final decision on the overall Harrogate Station Gateway scheme. Local Harrogate and Knaresborough councillors will have their say on this at a special meeting of the area constituency committee on May 5.

“Removal of the tempietto is key to our plan to create a welcoming and attractive public space in Harrogate town centre. It will only be removed if the overall Gateway scheme receives support and goes ahead.

“We are aware that there is some interest from other organisations in relocating the tempietto and we are looking to understand if this could be achieved should the decision be taken to implement the Harrogate Station Gateway project.”

In a letter to the county council, Matthew Roberts, economy and transport officer at now abolished Harrogate Borough Council, said the borough council also supported the move.

He said:

“Evidence suggests that town centres are at risk of decline in the medium term. Consumer behaviours and expectations are changing and towns must diversify and advance to maintain healthy and vibrant visitor economies.

“The removal of the tempietto from Harrogate Station Square will open the space to provide flexibility for events (e.g. markets) that, in turn, will support town centre diversification and vitality.”

However, Henry Pankhurst, of Harrogate Civic Society, told the council in a letter that no proposal should be approved until the final plans for Station Gardens under the gateway scheme are agreed.

He said:

“We agree that demolition of the tempietto would result in less than substantial harm to the conservation area, but surely no application for demolition should be approved before we know what the final plans are for Station Gardens.

“Demolition in the conservation area must surely be accompanied by knowledge of what its replacement would be.”

Harrogate Christmas Fayre will be extended to 18 days this year.

The market will take place in the town centre from December 1 to 17, over three weekends rather than two as previously.

The move comes after calls from hoteliers and businesses to extend the fayre beyond its original 10 days.

Destination Harrogate, which organised the event with Market Place Europe and the now-defunct Harrogate Borough Council, confirmed the news today.

It also said the event will see the return of fairground rides and attractions but did not give specific details.

John McGivern, destination events manager for Destination Harrogate, said: 

“We’re delighted to support our local businesses by giving them just what they’ve asked for – an extended Christmas offer that provides an excellent opportunity to boost our visitor economy even further at a crucial time of year.”

Dan Siddle, chair of Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Association and general manager of the Crown Hotel, said occupancy levels increased in December 2022 “and a lot of our business was based on the new Harrogate Christmas Fayre”. He added:

“We were in favour of the market being extended and it’s fantastic to hear that visitors will have even longer to enjoy the Christmas fayre during a festive break in Harrogate in 2023.”

James White, manager at Victoria Shopping Centre, also welcomed the news, saying the “increased footfall is very much welcomed by local business”.

Nick Rhodes, chief executive of Market Place Europe, said it was looking forward to “bringing an exciting variety of traders into Harrogate town centre” and

Those wishing to be stallholders and traders at this year’s Harrogate Christmas Fayre can register via email at info@mpel.co.uk.

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Officers from West Yorkshire Police have said they have “exhausted every possible line of enquiry” into missing man Jesus Moreno.

Mr Moreno, 41, who worked at a Leeds brewery, was last seen eight months ago in August 2022.

The brewer was spotted on CCTV catching a Harrogate-bound 36 bus from Leeds bus station at 6.10am on Monday, August 1.

He got off the bus at Swindon Lane near Dunkeswick, just north of Harewood bridge on the A61, at 6.39am. He was then seen on CCTV near the bridge at 8.14am.

In a fresh appeal, Detective Inspector Ryan Malyk, who has overseen the missing person investigation, said the force had explored all possible lines of enquiry into Mr Moreno’s disappearance.

He said:

“We recently met with Jesus’ family to give them a detailed overview of the work that we have been carrying out to find him since he was reported missing.

“We are acutely aware that they are continuing to go through a really difficult time while his disappearance remains unresolved.

“It is completely out of character for him to go missing like this and to remain out of contact with his family and friends for such a long period of time.

“As it stands, we have explored and exhausted every possible line of enquiry to find him, and unfortunately that has not brought us any progress beyond the last confirmed sighting of him at Harewood Bridge.

“We remain committed to finding him and would welcome any new information that could assist us.”

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Mr Moreno was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, with the logo of his Piglove Brewing Co business on it, black jeans and carrying a black Vans rucksack with a chequered pattern on it.

Police said he was known to have previously visited nearby beauty spots on the River Wharfe at Netherby.

A new image of Jesus Moreno released by West Yorkshire Police.

Police search advisers oversaw a number of searches of the countryside surrounding where Mr Moreno was last seen.

Specialist marine and underwater search officers checked the surface of the River Wharfe down to Ulleskelf, North Yorkshire, and carried out underwater searches of specific locations along the waterway.

The force said detectives from Leeds District CID have conducted extensive enquiries over the time since he was reported missing, but had not yielded any new information on his whereabouts.

Anyone with information can call West Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting reference 13220422334.

A plan has been submitted to install 32 solar panels on Coppice Valley Primary School in Harrogate.

Red Kite Learning Trust, which runs the school, has lodged the plan with North Yorkshire Council.

It would see the panels installed on the school’s roof to generate 13.6 kwp of renewable energy. 

In documents submitted to the council, the trust said it felt the panels would help to enhance the character of the building.

It said:

“It is considered that the proposed solar panels would be complementary to the character of the building. 

“The visual appearance of the solar panels on the roofed area is considered appropriate for the school building, thereby enhancing the visionary appearance of the site as an up-to-date centre for learning, creating responsible citizens for tomorrow’s world with an appreciation for their surroundings and a duty of care for the environment. 

“It is considered that the panels could have a positive impact on the character of the building and no overall detrimental impact on the surrounding area.”

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

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It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Masham-based Black Sheep Brewery has partnered with a baby charity to help support the donation of milk to sick and premature babies.

The brewery is supporting the Human Milk Foundation with a fundraising campaign for the second year running.

The charity provides donor human milk to over 40 NHS hospitals and thousands of families across England and Wales.

Black Sheep will help to raise awareness of the issue by placing a ‘peel and read’ label on its Milk Stout drink in supermarkets, which will direct people to the HMF site with instructions on how to donate.

Charlene Lyons, chief executive of Black Sheep Brewery, said: 

“We’re delighted to once again partner with the incredible people at Human Milk Foundation to launch this fundraising campaign.

“We consider the blood bikers to be real heroes; when they receive the call, they do whatever it takes, day or night, to pick up the donation from the nearest milk bank and quickly but safely transport the milk to the necessary hospital or family in need.”

Natalie Shenker, co-founder and director of the HMF, added: 

“We are delighted to again partner with Black Sheep brewery as we aim to raise further funds to save the lives of sick and premature babies, as well as supporting the ‘blood bikers’ in their incredible efforts.

“The support of Black Sheep has allowed for the expansion of our milk bank operations so we can make safe, screened donor milk available via the blood bikers for hospitals and families across England and Wales.”

Harrogate MP visits local health business

Andrew Jones MP visited a Harrogate business supporting NHS hospitals with patient discharges.

Vivid.Care, which is based at Forest Lane Head, sells rehabilitation and recovery equipment across the UK.

Andrew Jones MP visits Vivid.Care.

The Harrogate and Knaresborough MP visited the firm this past Friday and was shown products which were being given to the NHS.

Tristan Hulbert, managing director of the company, said:

“We wanted to demonstrate just how Vivid.Care products and healthcare solutions help to enable timely patient discharge from hospitals and reduce system costs where possible.” 

Mr Hulbert added:

“We showcased some of our innovative healthcare solutions such as the Raizer lifting chair and our Lento specialist seating range which are being used by healthcare providers across the UK to reduce delays to patient discharge and existing backlogs.”

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