Calvin Robinson Chief Reporter, Author at The Stray Ferret

Council bids for £3m for cycling projects in Harrogate and Knaresborough

North Yorkshire County Council is set to bid for £3.19 million from the government to help fund two cycling schemes in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways at the council, confirmed that the authority had approved a submission for the funding from tranche four of the Department for Transport’s active travel fund.

The county council has been allocated £1.08 million of funding, although it has been invited to bid for an additional £2.16 million.

It will see the funding go towards improvements to public spaces, pedestrian crossings and segregated cycleways on Victoria Avenue in Harrogate.

Segregated cycling lanes would be created on Victoria Avenue in Harrogate.

This would use the full £1.08 million of the tranche four funding already awarded and would require a further £492,000 from the remaining tranche two funds. The Victoria Avenue project is described by the council as its ‘priority scheme’.

A further scheme would see segregated cycle lanes created in Knaresborough at a cost of £1.65 million. They would be created on the A59 Forest Lane Head/Harrogate Road starting around Maple Close toward Knaresborough, ending close to Knaresborough High Bridge.

The council has said this would “deliver improved crossing facilities to link existing cycle routes, Knaresborough town centre and the railway station”.

Today’s announcement appears to amount to the council reviving previously announced plans to improve cycling on Victoria Avenue and the A59 at Knaresborough — if it can secure funding.

The council has also earmarked a scheme in Richmond as part of the bid.

Cllr Duncan said:

“We want to enable more people in North Yorkshire to have the option of safely and conveniently walking, wheeling and riding.

“Our latest bid, worth more than £3 million, is another significant milestone in our efforts to deliver a more balanced approach to travel in the county, which will reduce emissions, cut congestion and promote healthier lifestyles.

“The new infrastructure in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Richmond would significantly improve road safety and unlock an estimated 579 additional walking and cycling trips per day.

“The bid builds on our efforts to encourage more sustainable travel, which in recent years has seen us secure more than £55m of central government funding.”

The move comes after the county council scrapped plans for the second phase of the Otley Road cycle route this month.

The council, which is the highways authority, also revealed it would not be bringing back restrictions for motorists on nearby Beech Grove.

Instead it will propose new measures to tackle speed in the streets surrounding Otley Road, improved crossings for cyclists, better signage for cycle routes and improvements to bus infrastructure.

A decision on bids submitted for the active travel fund is expected from the government on March 17.

Construction must begin on successful projects before March 31, 2024.

Harrogate bus operators confirm £2 fare cap extension

Bus companies in the Harrogate district have confirmed they will take part in an extension to the £2 fare cap.

The move comes in line with a government announcement that it had extended the cap until on single tickets until June this year.

The scheme was introduced at the start of January and was due to finish at the end of March.

But the Department for Transport announced last Friday that it was providing £75 million to extend the initiative.

Paul Turner, commercial director at Transdev, said Harrogate Bus Company would take part in the extension.

He said:

“We’re delighted to see to see that the Department for Transport has announced that the £2 fare cap will be extended until the end of June.

“So far during the fare cap, we have seen 11% extra customers on some of our routes, compared to customer numbers in November, and we’ve also seen the busiest day in the history of our company.

“The three month extension to the cap is bound to be good news for our existing customers, and we hope it will continue to encourage new customers out of the car and onto the bus.”

Meanwhile, Craig Temple, managing director at Connexions Buses, said the operator would also continue with a £2 cap on fares.

The £2 cap has reduced the cost of a 29-mile journey from Ripon to Leeds on the 36 bus by 73 per cent from £7.50 to £2, while the cost of a ticket from Harrogate to Bradford on the Flyer A2 has fallen by 63 per cent from £5.40 to £2.

Ministers hope the initiative will reinvigorate bus services amid fears many routes will be cut when funding runs out.

Plan approved to convert former Harrogate Slug and Lettuce into retail units

A plan to convert the former Slug and Lettuce bar in Harrogate into four retail units and apartments has been approved.

Leeds-based developer Rushbond PLC lodged the proposal to Harrogate Borough Council for the Herald Buildings on Montpellier Parade in September last year.

Built in the 1850s, the buildings were also the headquarters of the Harrogate Advertiser newspaper for much of the last century until it moved out in 1990.

The Slug and Lettuce chain then occupied part of the buildings for nearly 30 years before closing in May 2021

Now the council has approved plans to subdivide the ground floor into four mixed use units, including retail and food and drink.

Meanwhile, the upper floors will be converted into five flats.

The plans have been designed by Harrogate-based SPX Architects. Documents say the development would “enhance the area’s reputation” as a destination for independent boutique-style shops.

It says:

“The proposals generate a sustainable, long-term use for the upper floors of this locally designated heritage asset and simultaneously improve its energy efficiency and visual contribution to the area.

“Moreover, the replacement of a large public house and its associated outdoor eating and drinking areas with a scheme providing a complementary mix of small high-quality ground floor retail units to those found on Montpellier Mews, Montpellier Parade and Montpellier Street only serves to enhance the areas reputation as a destination for independent boutique style shops.”

Rebecca Micallef, economy and transport officer at the council, said in a letter to the authority’s planners that the move would help to enhance the area.

She said:

“We are keen to see the opportunity for four new retail units to be developed within this vacant space, to improve the active frontage, attract new businesses into a key town centre location, enhance the quality of the retail offer of the Montpellier Quarter and support the high street economy.

“The introduction of upper floor residential seems to be appropriate at this location and will add to the vibrancy of the town centre, supporting both its daytime and evening economy.”

New monthly market coming to Ripley

A new monthly food, drink and craft market is set to be held in Ripley.

Real Food Markets, which runs events in Ilkely, will host the new venture on the last Sunday of each month from April until November.

An additional Christmas market will be held on December 10.

The markets will take place in Ripley Castle courtyard. Entry is free and also includes access to the grounds of the castle and the castle gardens on market days. Entry to the castle is still subject to a charge.

Ripley Castle grounds, where the market will be held.

Ripley Castle courtyard, where the market will be held.

Rebecca Riordan, from Ripley Castle Estate, said:

“We are pleased to welcome Real Markets to Ripley Castle this year. We are looking forward to the castle courtyard being full of amazing local talent and produce.

“We are pleased to confirm on Real Market days access to the castle’s gardens and grounds will be free of charge.

“Well behaved dogs on leads will also be welcomed into the courtyard, if you wish to enjoy a castle guided tour a small supplement will be charged. We have chosen to work with Real Markets because of the lovely atmosphere of their markets, and the high quality of the stallholders.”

Lucy Allen, director of Real Markets, added:

“Real Markets’ remit has always been to work hard on behalf of our stallholders and the community and bring people together over great produce and fabulous products in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

“We’re very proud of the range and quality of the stallholders at our markets and these two new venues will be wonderful opportunities for small traders to meet new customers.

“We’re happy to hear from producers who would like to work with us and also charities and community groups local to Ripley or Grassington who would like a free space at our markets to promote their work.”

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly scores twice as England beat Italy

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly scored twice as England beat Italy in the Arnold Clark Cup.

Daly, who made her first start up front, secured the Lionesses their second win of the competition with two headers in a 2-1 victory.

The tournament is hosted by the Football Association and sees four teams play against each other during the February international break.

The 31-year-old was given the start up front after scoring 10 goals in 13 appearances for Aston Villa this season.

Daly’s performance will prove a headache for head coach Sarina Weigman ahead of the final game of the Arnold Clark Cup on Wednesday.

Sunday’s victory over Italy sees England top the tournament table on six points.

The Lionesses will play Belgium for the Arnold Clark Cup at Ashton Gate, Bristol, on Wednesday at 7.45pm.

Petition set up against Masham pub ‘cashless’ trial

A petition has been set up after a Masham pub started accepting card only payments.

The King’s Head, which is run by Greene King, has gone “cashless” as part of a trial led by the brewery.

However, punters at the pub have argued that the move has put off some customers who may only carry cash.

Arthur Plumpton told the Stray Ferret that he set up the petition because local customers had stopped going to the pub as they do not possess or use cards.

He said:

“Greene King have introduced this, supposedly as a trial. Many locals do not use cards.

“They have cash they want to spend cash. Some do not even have a card. Greene King seem to forget that Masham is a rural town with many cash based businesses.

“Due to rising prices, many people use cash to budget and keep a check on spending.”

Mr Plumpton added that many customers had only been informed a few days before it was implemented and that some believe a decision to go cashless “has already been made”.

Greene King told the Stray Ferret that a “small number” of pubs, which includes the King’s Head, had been chosen to trial card only payments as “a significant majority of payments are already by card”.

The company added that going “cashless” would allow it to provide a more efficient service.

A spokesperson for the King’s Head said:

“We’re trialling card-only payments at the moment, as nine out of every ten payments made in our pub before our trial were by card already.

“Going cashless entirely helps to reduce the amount of cash we need to secure at the pub, and means less time spent cashing up, helping us provide a more efficient service for our customers.

“With fewer banking facilities in our communities as well this can make securely and efficiently managing cash more difficult. This is just a trial at this stage and we are learning new things every day so people’s feedback is much appreciated.”

Five take aways from Harrogate Tesco approval

Planners this week approved a new Tesco supermarket for Harrogate.

The proposal will see the new store, a petrol station and 209 car parking spaces built on the site of the former gasworks off Skipton Road.

But, the scheme also brought up wider issues over the supermarket.

Here are five takeaways from this week’s decision.

‘No guarantee’ over Jennyfields centre

One major concern raised since the plans for Tesco were first tabled was its impact on the Jennyfields local centre, which includes a Co-op, medical centre and Post Office.

Residents and councillors on Harrogate Borough Council fear that the new supermarket will impact on the areas viability.

The Co-op even submitted its own objection and said it would cut takings at the store by 15%.

The local centre in Jennyfields, Harrogate.

Tesco has suggested it will make “reason endeavours” to replace the Jennyfields store should it be closed – though councillors described the term as “vague”.

However, Martin Robeson, Tesco’s planning consultant at the meeting on Tuesday, said he felt the centre acted more as a “community centre” than retail.

He added:

“This is an interesting local centre because it has a community centre, it has a medical centre and it has a large and popular public house.

“It is a community hub more than it is a retail hub. At the moment, the other retail units are a charity shop, two takeaways and a gentlemen’s barbers. I don’t believe the Co-op acts as an anchor to those other shops.”

Mr Robeson added that a “Tesco Express offer” or “OneStop offer” could be set up in its place.

Meanwhile, when asked how the pharmacy and Post Office would be replaced, Andy Boucher, of Tesco, said the company could make “no absolute guarantee” as they did not know what the “health of the Post Office” would be in five years time.

Gas pipe and the petrol station

One technical issue raised by Cllr Tom Watson was the prospect of building a petrol station on a gas main.

Cllr Watson said he did not feel the plan was “acceptable”.

However, Tesco said it had spent “several months” in discussions with Northern Gas Networks last year over the pipeline.

Mr Robeson said the concerns raised were “important”, but Tesco had always been aware of the issue since acquiring the former gas site.

He added that detailed risk assessments will be carried out to ensure the site is safe.

Replanting miles away

Some concern has been raised that replacement trees from the site would be planted seven miles away.

Mr Robeson said at the meeting that Tesco had been put to “extreme task to tick all the boxes” in order to replace the trees.

However, the answer was not sufficient for Cllr Stuart Martin who questioned why it had to be so far away.

He said:

“My question was why does it have to be around 10 miles away? Why can’t that biodiversity gain be nearer to the site where it is lost?

“Nobody is going to tell the animals using the habitat that it’s 10 miles away, are they?”

The gates at the former gasworks site off Skipton Road.

Cllr Martin asked whether a condition could be imposed to require it to be closer than 10 miles away. However, a council officer says it would be difficult because of land availability issues.

The site being considered is near Stainburn, just outside Beckwithshaw, and is provided by a company called the Environment Bank under agreement with landowners.

Tesco congestion

Unsurprisingly, traffic was also raised during this week’s meeting.

The move to build the Tesco off Skipton Road is feared to increase congestion on one of Harrogate’s busiest roads.

There is also a plan to create a new roundabout at the site entrance, where the A61 Ripon Road and A59 Skipton Road meet at New Park.

Cllr Pat Marsh, a committee member, raised the issue over congestion on Tuesday.

She said:

“This is not the best site for this supermarket at all. If you were on that road today all you heard was a constant movement of traffic.

“You put a roundabout in there and it backs up to the one at Skipton and Ripon Road.

“The impact this is going to have on the people on Electric Avenue is huge.”

Layout for the new Tesco site, as published in January 2022.

Cllr Marsh pointed to the Lidl on Knaresborough Road as an example of people driving to supermarkets, rather than walking.

“The car park is full all the time.”

Cllr Tom Watson pointed out that heavy goods vehicles already use the nearby New Park roundabout due to a weight limit through Killinghall village.

‘Lack of public consultation’

Tesco officials were asked how and when consultation had been held with local residents over the matter.

The question came as objectors claimed that there was “a lack of public consultation” over the new supermarket.

But, Mr Robeson said that the supermarket giant had carried out sufficient consultation with both residents and council officials.

He said:

“Consultation directly with local residents took place through a process during lockdown, unfortunately, so it could not be like we are today.

“That was well advertised and well attended.”

The response that the public consultation was held during the covid lockdowns was met with groans from the public gallery.

However, Mr Robeson added that he felt that a wide consultation process had been held.

“There has been engagement with the officers and the technical officers here who perhaps you might say indirectly represent the community.”

The results of the consultation held by Tesco were revealed by the Stray Ferret in January last year.

According to documents submitted by the company to the council, 187 people responded. Of those, 74% said they wanted to see the derelict site gasworks brought back into use.

A total of 62% said they supported proposals for a new Tesco supermarket at the site.

Sixteen respondents “expressed concern that providing access via a roundabout was inappropriate due to the existing roundabout at Skipton Road / Ripon Road”.

A total of 43 respondents also raised the issue of highways and traffic on the local area.

Government rejects yurts plan for Kirkby Malzeard

The government has refused plans to build three yurts in Kirkby Malzeard.

The proposal would have seen the yurts created on Back Lane North, to the west of Pipistrelle Barn, in a field previously used for grazing sheep.

The application was submitted by Frederick Atkinson to create the yurts, each on raised decking and with its own hot tub along with a ‘services area’ of toilet, sink and shower in a wooden hut.

Harrogate Borough Council turned down the proposal in September.

The authority said the plan would have “an adverse impact upon the character and appearance of the Nidderdale Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty”.

Mr Atkinson argued that the plan would help to create a “peaceful, low impact and eco-friendly retreat” and took the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

But Adrian Caines, a government planning inspector, rejected the challenge.

He said the plan would give rise to “significant conflict” with the council’s development plan, in particular the area of outstanding natural beauty.

Mr Caines said:

“The proposal would give rise to significant conflict with the contents of the development plan relating to the landscape and scenic beauty of the AONB, and in relation to the living conditions of neighbouring residents.”

In pictures: The day Storm Otto battered the Harrogate district

Storm Otto caused widespread disruption across the Harrogate district this morning.

By the time strong winds forecast by the Met Office had eased off by midday, at least 20 trees had fallen across the district.

The A1 was closed after three vehicles overturned; homes suffered power cuts and a Porsche driver discovered a tree had smashed into the rook of his vehicle.

Here are some pictures from this morning’s storm.

Firefighters deal with a perilous sign in Knaresborough.

A fallen tree blocks almost all of Leeds Road near M&S.

An overturned vehicle on the A1 during the strong winds

A fallen tree on Montpellier in Harrogate crashed onto the picture frame.

North Yorkshire County Council's highways teams arrived to deal with the tree this morning.

North Yorkshire County Council’s highways teams arrive to deal with a tree that crashed onto a Porsche in Harrogate.

Tree down outside Harrogate police station.

Harrogate couple’s dismay after tree crashes on Porsche for second time

A Harrogate couple have been left dismayed after a large branch from a tree crashed onto their Porsche during Storm Otto today.

Zenya Dunn, who lives on Granby Road, told the Stray Ferret that her partner Michael woke this morning to go to work, only to find his car underneath the fallen tree.

She said it’s the second time this has happened to the couple and that the council had been informed about the dangerous tree numerous times.

Ms Dunn said:

“I woke up and he asked me if he could borrow my car. It was the car he always wanted.

“It’s the second time something like this has happened. My partner has rung the council about the tree before.”

Ms Dunn added that the tree had almost hit the front window of their house.

It also narrowly missed her Range Rover, which was parked next to the Porsche 911.

North Yorkshire County Council’s highways teams arrived to deal with the tree this morning.

Workers from North Yorkshire County Council’s highways team were on scene this morning to deal with the tree.

It comes as Storm Otto caused widespread disruption across Harrogate this morning.

On Montpellier, a tree fell onto a picture frame where tourists pose for pictures. However, the frame appeared to have withstood the impact.

Meanwhile, fallen trees caused disruption for motorists on Leeds Road, Ripon Road and on the A61 near Pannal.

You can recap all of today’s storm news in the Harrogate district here.

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‘No guarantee’ over Jennyfields centre

Gas pipe and the petrol station

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Replanting miles away

Tesco congestion

‘Lack of public consultation’

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