Calvin Robinson Chief Reporter, Author at The Stray Ferret

Two men arrested on suspicion of conspiring to steal vehicles in Harrogate

Police have arrested two men on suspicion of conspiring to steal vehicles in Harrogate.

Officers acting on intelligence stopped a grey Seat Leon on Leeds Road near Pannal on Friday (February 24) at about 8pm after observing the men behaving suspiciously, North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today.

The statement said the suspects, both in their 30s, were getting out of the car and approaching other vehicles in Harrogate.

It added:

“Both occupants and the car itself were searched by officers, and a number of tools including pliers and screwdrivers were located.

“As a result, both men – aged in their 30s and from Leeds – were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles.”

Both men have been released on bail pending police enquiries.

Police reassure Harrogate councillors over knife crime concerns

North Yorkshire Police has sought to reassure people that Harrogate does not have a worse problem with knife crime than other places.

Councillors questioned police about the issue last night after 17-year-old Seb Mitchell lost his life on Claro Road following an incident on February 19.

Rich Ogden, chief inspector at the force, told Harrogate Borough Council‘s overview and scrutiny commission the county was one of the safest in England. However, he added that the force continued to work with young people to educate them not to carry knives.

The meeting heard 98 knives have been dropped off at an amnesty bin in Dragon Road car park at Asda in Harrogate since it was installed in January.

When asked by Cllr Chris Aldred, chair of the committee, whether Harrogate had a problem with knife crime, Ch Insp Ogden said:

“We are living in one of the safest counties in England and we must not forget that.

“Any incident involving a knife can end in tragedy.”

He added:

“I don’t see that Harrogate has a problem more than anywhere else.

“But it would be wrong of me to say that knives are prevalent on the streets. We’ve got to encourage people not to use knives and carry knives at any point. Particularly those who take knives out for their own protection.”

Ch Insp Ogden added that a large amount of the knives that have been dropped off in the amnesty bin were household kitchen knives and that the facility helped the public to dispose of them safely.

Superintendent Teresa Lam told the committee:

“Even though we are considered the safest force area, we continually liaise with our counterparts across the country including London so that we are continually understanding what the trends and patterns are.”

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was initially charged with attempted murder on February 20. He is due to appear in court on March 14. Ch Insp Ogden told the meeting it was now a murder investigation.

Pateley Bridge Cemetery set for expansion

Harrogate Borough Council looks set to buy land near Pateley Bridge Cemetery to increase burial space for the next 300 years.

Graham Swift, cabinet member for resources at the authority, will be asked next week to approve spending £32,500 to purchase 2.5 acres of land in the town.

James Bean, estates surveyor at the council, said in a report that the cemetery is expected to reach capacity for burials in the next two years.

He added that land next to the current cemetery, which is owned by Pateley Bridge Town Council, would be suitable to expand the site.

Mr Bean said:

“The cemetery at Pateley Bridge is soon to reach capacity and a solution for its longer term use needs to be established.

“Colleagues in the bereavement services team have identified an area of land next to the cemetery for possible expansion which would provide burial space for over 300 years.”

The land earmarked for purchase next to Pateley Bridge Cemetery.

Mr Bean added that the site would require planning consent following the purchase in order for the cemetery to expand.

A decision to acquire the land will be made at a cabinet member for resources meeting on March 7, 2023.

Council spending on agency staff rises sevenfold to £5m

North Yorkshire County Council is set to spend nearly £5 million on agency staff pay this year.

In a report due before the council’s overview and scrutiny committee, the authority forecasts its spend on agency workers has increased from £716,389 in 2020/21 to about £5 million in 2022/23.

Spending reached £4,282,458 in the first three quarters of this year.

Justine Brooksbank, assistant chief executive for business support at the council, said in the report:

“Agency staff are used only in circumstances when all other options have been exhausted, however increasingly scarce labours markets has resulted in the increased use of agency solutions.”

Ms Brooksbank added:

“While this is a significant increase, agency spend remains low compared to other local authorities.

“For instance, other regional council spend: Rotherham £7.47m, York £9.5m, Leeds £10m, Bradford £17m.

“The largest increases in agency use are due to increasing demand for care workers, social workers and occupational therapists in health and adult services, and for educational psychologists, social workers and children’s residential care workers in children’s services due to both recruitment challenges and increased activity.”

The report said that labour market pressures, particularly in the social care sector, had caused problems with recruiting and retaining staff – which then led to higher agency spend.

It says:

“It has been another demanding and unusual year dominated by a range of service pressures, particularly in the health and social care sector, labour market pressures causing recruitment and retention pressures and higher agency spend, covid and other causes of sickness absence.”

Harrogate and Knaresborough Lib Dems call for government to step in on energy bills

Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats have called for the government to cancel plans for a hike in the average household energy bill from April.

The call comes as the energy price cap is set to reduce from £4,279 to £3,280, but bills are still expected to rise by £500 to an average of £3,000 a year.

The government’s own energy price guarantee is expected to be less generous and a £400 winter discount is set to end.

Local Lib Dems have called on ministers to step in and offer a new support package for businesses, leisure centres, schools and hospitals across Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:

“The Conservatives’ plan to hike energy bills in April will come as a hammer blow to families in Harrogate and Knaresborough already struggling with soaring mortgages and rents, shopping bills and tax rises.

“With no plan to deal with this cost of living crisis for people or businesses, this chaotic, out-of-touch Government is instead making it much worse because they just don’t get it.

“People need real support and that’s what the Liberal Democrats are calling for. Sadly, to add insult to injury Rishi Sunak is happy for energy bosses to rake in millions of pounds in bonanza bonuses, while families struggle to put food on the table or heat their homes.”

The Lib Dems claim its plans would mean that in Harrogate and Knaresborough the average household would be £522.94 better off and would be funded by raising the rate of the windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas firms from 35% to 40%.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told the BBC this month that he believed the government did not have the “headroom to make a major new initiative to help people”.

Speaking after the latest setting of the energy price cap, Jonathan Brearley, chief executive of Ofgem, said:

“Although wholesale prices have fallen, the price cap has not yet fallen below the planned level of the energy price guarantee.

“This means, that on current policy, bills will rise again in April. I know that, for many households this news will be deeply concerning.”

The Stray Ferret approached Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Andrew Jones, for comment.

Rudding Park unveils golf and country club renovation plan

Rudding Park Hotel and Spa in Harrogate has unveiled plans to renovate its golf and country club and restore its walled garden.

The hotel has drawn up the plans with planning consultants, Carter Jonas, as part of a refurbishment of its estate.

They include proposals to replace the current golf club, upgrade its family hub and the creation of outdoor tennis courts and a pavilion.

It would also see the county’s first five-star country club created.

The plans also seek to restore the estate’s walled garden.

Masterplan of the renovations as proposed by Rudding Park.

Designs for the renovation were unveiled at a consultation event at Rudding Park on Friday (February 23).

Sarah Cox, partner at Carter Jonas, said:

“We are keen to show that you have owners here who are keen to invest in the site.”

She added that the move to restore the site would also see 10,000 trees planted and three wetland areas created.

The consultants estimate that the proposals could generate an economic benefit of £14 million a year to Harrogate and create 75 new jobs.

In its proposals, Rudding Park said:

“Over the last 50 years, Rudding Park has become the standard bearer for quality hospitality in Harrogate, and positions Harrogate as a UK wide and international tourist destination.

“To build on that legacy the business must evolve.”

An outline planning application will be submitted to Harrogate Borough Council later this month.

You can find out more information on the plans at Rudding Park here.

Harrogate Grammar School pays tribute to Seb Mitchell

Harrogate Grammar School has paid tribute to a pupil who died this past week.

Seb Mitchell, 17, died following an incident on Claro Road on February 19. He died in hospital two days later.

Paying tribute to Seb, Harrogate Grammar School said it was “impossible to find the right words”.

It linked to a GoFundMe page set up for Seb’s family and urged people to donate.

The school said in a post on its social media:

“Sometimes it is impossible to find the right words. Please donate, if you can, to support Seb’s family to raise funds for a memorial.

“Something to remember and never forget a special young man who loved his family & friends so very much. He will be missed.”

The fundraiser has so far raised £13,975.

The page, which has been set up by Sam Mitchell, said:

Donations will go towards a memorial for us all to remember him by. Any additional funds raised will be donated to a relevant charity (or charities) to be chosen by the family.

We would like to thank you all for all of the kind words and messages we have received and are receiving.

North Yorkshire Police has launched a murder inquiry following Seb’s death.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was initially charged with attempted murder on February 20. He is due to appear in court on March 14.

Teachers in Harrogate district set to strike for second time

Teachers in the Harrogate district are set to go on strike tomorrow.

Members of the National Education Union will walk out on Tuesday in a dispute over pay and conditions.

The union argues a 5% pay rise in 2022 was insufficient to combat the impact of inflation at 10%, leaving many teachers effectively facing a pay cut.

The move will affect education across the district, with some pupils taking lessons remotely.

How Harrogate district schools are affected

Harrogate Grammar School pupils in years 10, 11 and 13 will be asked to attend school as normal.

However, those in years 7, 8, 9 and 12 will take lessons remotely where a teacher is not on strike.

Meanwhile, St Aidan’s Church of England High School has told parents it will “endeavour to provide their usual suite of lessons” for those who are required to attend school.

Years 8, 10 and 11 have been told they should take lessons at home, while years 7 and 9 should attend as normal.

The school has told year 12 pupils that while they are not “obliged to attend school”, a study area will be provided if they notify school that they wish to attend.

In a letter to parents, it added:

“These arrangements apply to both St Aidan’s and St John Fisher students in the Associated Sixth Form. Year 12 students should inform their home school of their intention to attend, should that be the case.”

Elsewhere, Rossett School has informed parents that it intends to repeat the same arrangements as the last teachers strike.

The school said:

“As a leadership team, we have decided to repeat the arrangements from the last strike day of Year 7, 11, 12 & 13 in school and Year 8, 9, and 10 working remotely.”

St John Fisher Catholic High School in Harrogate will remain open to year 7 and 13 only.

In Knaresborough, King James’s School has advised that school will be closed to all students, apart from year 11 and sixth form who should continue to attend.

Outwood Academy in Ripon will remain open to year 11 and vulnerable students. Other year groups will be expected to complete work from home.

Details of how other secondary schools are affected will be posted as we get them.

New chairman of North Yorkshire Council appointed

A new chairman has been appointed ahead of the launch of North Yorkshire Council.

Cllr David Ireton, a self-employed butcher and farmer, was elected as the county council’s chair at the full council meeting this week. He has served as the interim chair following the death of his predecessor, Cllr Margaret Atkinson, in November last year.

The new council will launch on April 1, when it replaces Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the remaining district authorities.

Cllr Ireton, who represents Bentham & Ingleton, said:

“I was lucky enough to serve as deputy chair alongside Margaret and her passing came as a huge shock and with great sadness to everybody who had the pleasure of working with her over the years.

“I am honoured to be taking on this role as we launch the new council in April which will deliver many benefits. We now have just one set of councillors who will be accountable for all services, so it’s clear who represents each area.

“There’s also the prospect of a devolution deal in the coming year, which represents a huge opportunity to take on more decision-making powers. It is certainly a time of change for North Yorkshire and I’m proud to be part of it.”

Cllr Ireton was first elected to the county council in 1999 and has been a Craven district councillor since May 1998. He also sits on the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

Meanwhile, Cllr Roberta Swiers, who represents Clayton, was appointed vice chair of the council.

Both will be in post until May this year.

Kex Gill: A project seven years in the making

After being beset by delays and hiking in cost due to soaring inflation, the realignment of the A59 at Kex Gill is finally set to be built.

The project, which is North Yorkshire County Council’s most expensive and ambitious, will reroute a landslip-blighted road between Harrogate and Skipton.

For councillors and government officials, the route is a key east to west link.

As such, the money set aside – some £69 million – is justified and for ministers the deal they struck with the county council is seen as sensible financially.

Richard Holden, the roads minister in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government, echoed the sentiment on a visit to Kex Gill this week.

The site on Thursday morning had yet to have a spade hit the ground, but Mr Holden was confident that in two years’ time it would be a justified expense.

He said:

“It’s an important route here between Skipton and Harrogate on a local level. But, actually, it’s more significant for the north of England really.

“I grew up in east Lancashire, the A59 goes all the way through to York. It is a really important road. It’s one which we want to see thrive and it is an important tourist route as well during the summer.

“It’s also important for heavy goods vehicles.”

(Left to right) Cllr Carl Les, leader of county council, Richard Holden, minister for roads, and Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways.

Part of the reasoning behind the reroute is the number of landslips on the road.

According to council documents published in 2021, the cost to taxpayers for maintaining the road has been “increasing over the last ten-year period”.

Between October 2000 and May 2019, five landslides were recorded at the site and the retaining wall failed four times.

In January 2016, the road was closed for eight weeks and traffic diverted through Ilkley and Otley after heavy rain caused a landslide.

Meanwhile, an instability issue in May 2018 caused road closures for several months, which council officials said led to a “complex repair scheme” being carried out at a cost of £1.42 million.

Following numerous landslips and millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money spent on the A59, the county council decided in 2016 to do something about the problem.

How the new road will look

The reroute itself will see the existing road, which has blighted motorists for decades, returned back to moorland.

Richard Binks, head of major projects at the county council, explained that the scheme will be built in two phases.

The road to the west of Blubberhouses will be built first and include a climbing road at the junction near to Fewston reservoir car park.

The proposed reroute of the A59 at Kex Gill which has been proposed by North Yorkshire County Council.

The reroute of the A59 at Kex Gill which has been proposed by North Yorkshire County Council.

The second junction will be built at the bottom of what is now a single track road and will exit near to Kex Gill.

Mr Binks said the idea is to get the new road ready for traffic before moving cars from the existing A59 onto it.

He said:

“We want to build the new road first and then move traffic onto the new highway. Then we will focus on the old road to downgrade it and plant it up.”

Once the junctions are ready to be connected to the old road, temporary traffic lights will be put in place.

Meanwhile, as part of the realignment, new wetlands will be created near to one of the junctions and biodiversity will be returned to the moorland.

While it is unclear when the lights will be in place to connect the junctions, Mr Binks said it is expected the project will be nearing completion in summer 2025.

The council intends to enter into its contract with John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd, which is an Irish civil engineering and construction company, in April to start the scheme.

Tackling inflation

One concern over the future of the scheme is the rate of inflation in the construction industry.

Mr Holden acknowledged that soaring costs were an issue, but remained confident that funding offered by the government was “sensible”.

The scheme has faced numerous delays and, following tender returns, the estimated cost of the scheme increased by £7.2 million to £68.8 million, which the council attributed to inflation affecting constructions costs.

The project will be funded by a £56.1 million grant from the Department for Transport, with the council covering the rest from its reserves.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways at the county council, told the Stray Ferret that the authority had put “built in” funding into the contract to cover inflation.

The council has set aside £11 million to be factored into the budget to cover any issues with ground conditions or bad weather.

Cllr Duncan said:

“We have built in inflation, we know that that is a risk and that is something that is built into the contract.

“It is something that we are now hoping will not be an issue for us looking ahead.”

All major projects come with risks and barriers which need to be overcome.

But county council officials will take brief comfort that they can now finally put spades in the ground on the multi-million pound scheme before before tackling those hurdles over the next two years.

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How Harrogate district schools are affected

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How the new road will look

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Tackling inflation