Fellbeck bridge to be closed for repairs for six weeks

Drivers are set for six weeks of delays near Pateley Bridge when a road closure is put in place at Fellbeck bridge.

North Yorkshire County Council is set to carry out repairs at the bridge on the B6265 from Monday, September 26.

The work on the bridge, which is next to the Half Moon Inn in Fellbeck, will include replacing the existing road with a new surface to strengthen the existing three masonry bridge arches.

The stone walls of the bridge will also be dismantled and rebuilt on both elevations.

A statement for the council added:

“A signed diversion will be in place for traffic with a temporary crossing put in place over the river for the full duration of the works to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross.

“Apologies for any inconvenience.”

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Hoard of medieval treasure discovered in Harrogate set for auction

A hoard of medieval treasure found in a field of stubble near Harrogate is set to be auctioned.

Coins and a ring believed to date back to the 1470s were found by metal detecting enthusiast Jeff Warden, 65, and his sons Michael, 41, and 42-year-old Nick.

The family discovered the treasure in July 2020 during the first covid lockdown.

The discovery included a silver hammered penny, a silver groat or fourpence of Edward IV minted in Norwich and a gold ring, engraved with images of the Holy Trinity.

Nigel Mills, consultant at Noonans auctioneers, said the hoard dates to the War of the Roses and was likely to belong to a soldier from that time.

He said:

“The hoard dates to the late 1470s and was deposited during the Wars of the Roses, a conflict fought between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists lasting for 30 years from 1455 to 1487.”

 

“The hoard is very unusual, comprising 21 coins with a face value of two shillings and threepence together with the gold ring. It is likely that the hoard represents a soldier’s valuables who died in the Wars of the Roses.”

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The ring sold for £6,500 earlier this month, but the coins are set to be auctioned by Noonans on September 28.

The coins have a guide price of £260 to £340.

Proceeds from the sale will be split equally between the landowner and Warden family.

Cost of living crisis fund launched for North Yorkshire

Two Ridings Community Foundation has launched a fund aimed at helping communities in North Yorkshire as the cost of living crisis deepens.

The charity is set to open applications for the fund next month and has already received £210,000 worth of pledges towards it.

The fund will give grants to groups who provide practical, financial and emotional support to people struggling to manage bills, with their day-to-day existence and the emotional impact of constantly worrying about finance, debt and their loved ones’ wellbeing.

It comes as people across the Harrogate district have seen energy bills increase and inflation hike the prices of goods and services.

Two Ridings Community Foundation is one of 47 community foundations in the UK which co-ordinate local charitable giving. Its new initiative will help people in north and east Yorkshire.

James Lambert, founding donor of the crisis fund and high sheriff of North Yorkshire, urged others to donate to the fund.

He said:

“As a local businessman I urge everyone who can to donate to this crucial fund.

“As high sheriff I have seen the amazing work that local charities do and know that any money donated is used wisely and well, where it is most needed.”

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The fund will also ensure charities can cope with the impact of the cost of living on their own costs, so they can continue to offer support.

The fund will open for applications from North and East Yorkshire community organisations from early October 2022. Full details will be available on the Two Ridings website.

Double council tax on North Yorkshire second homes approved

Owners of second homes in North Yorkshire are set to pay a 100% premium on their council tax.

Senior councillors on North Yorkshire County Council yesterday approved the measure, which is expected to come into force within two years.

The council’s executive unanimously backed the plans, which would effectively double council tax bills for second home owners, and the proposals will now be considered at a full council meeting.

The move will see the premium introduced for homes which have been sat empty for a year or more.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of the county council, said the move would help local people access housing.

He said:

“There is no simple solution to the issue of affordable housing, second homes and the impact they have on housing for local communities.

“But we recognise that bold and decisive action needs to be taken to deal with the affordable housing crisis in North Yorkshire, and that is why the executive has decided to pursue the policy of a council tax premium.

“It may not be popular with everyone, but that is not the key factor in this decision. We need to act to try and ensure more local people have access to housing in their own communities, and the premium on council tax bills for second homes will be a significant step towards achieving that.

“Second homes and the impact they can have on the availability of housing has been a long-running problem that has affected communities not just in North Yorkshire but across the country, and this was reinforced by the findings of the independent North Yorkshire Rural Commission.”

Analysis by the county council showed the introduction of a 100% premium on council tax bills for second homes in North Yorkshire could generate in excess of £14 million a year in additional revenue.

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The research said that Richmondshire could generate about £1.8 million through the second homes premium, while the Craven, Harrogate and Ryedale districts could each provide about £1.5 million in extra revenue.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for finance, Cllr Gareth Dadd, who is also the authority’s deputy leader, said: 

“We know that there is an acute shortage of housing for local people in many communities in North Yorkshire, and this has been an issue that has long affected their opportunities to actually buy their own home.

“Places such as the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors as well as coastal towns such as Scarborough and Whitby are without question wonderful places to live.

“But with that comes the fact that these areas also see very high numbers of second homes, which affects the availability of housing for local people.

“The scheme to introduce the council tax premium will ideally see these second homes brought back into use for local people. But if not, then there will be a valuable new revenue stream created that will help fund council priorities, such as helping introduce more housing for local communities.”

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update

Traffic is moving as normal during rush hour in the Harrogate district.

However, drivers are warned to expect some delays for roadworks which remain in place in areas.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

On Skipton Road in Harrogate, three way traffic lights are in still place at the junction with Dragon Road which are causing delays. Northern Gas Networks is carrying out maintenance work in the area until September 23.

The work could cause delays for drivers during this morning’s rush hour.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Water is due to put temporary lights in place on the A59 Harrogate Road in Knaresborough according to North Yorkshire County Council’s roadworks map.

Northern Gas Networks is undertaking work at Oakdale in Harrogate to replace a gas main, which has seen a road closure put in place. The closure will remain until September 23.

The company is also set to implement a road closure on Montpellier Road until September 30 as part of maintenance work.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting cancellations on its 1, 1A, 7 and 36 services this morning.

You can find out more on the disruption to services here.

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Business Breakfast: Knaresborough company to build solar farm

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A Knaresborough-based energy company has been given the green light to develop New Zealand’s largest solar farm in Waikato.

Harmony Energy will create the development, which will generate enough electricity to power 30,000 homes.

The country’s Environmental Protection Authority has approved Harmony’s proposal for the 147-megawatt solar farm to be installed on 182 hectares of a 260-hectare site at Te Aroha West, 140 kilometres south of Auckland.

Harmony Energy director, Pete Grogan, who is based in New Zealand, said: 

“We are thrilled this important renewable development can now proceed. Renewable energy is critical to mitigate the negative impact of climate change and help support New Zealand’s net zero ambition.

“One of the great advantages of solar power is that it accommodates dual use of land, allowing for energy generation alongside continued farming production, as will happen at Tauhei.

“This proposal creates opportunities for local businesses and employment and creates significant biodiversity gains. We will deliver an exceptional project that Waikato can be proud of.”

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Yorkshire estate agent introduces online auction

Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacre, Son & Hartley.

Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacre, Son & Hartley.

Harrogate district estate agents Dacre, Son & Hartley has introduced a new online auction service.

The service allows people to buy and sell land and property online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The company, which has offices in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Pateley Bridge, partnered with Bamboo Auctions to launch the service.

Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacre, Son & Hartley, said:

“This new service is specifically designed to make it quick, easy and straightforward to list and sell properties and vendors don’t have to wait to join other sellers in a collective auction catalogue.

“Buying and selling a property through this method provides each party with an additional degree of certainty, because once the auction ends, both the buyer and seller are legally bound to proceed with the transaction, in accordance with the published terms and conditions.”

Man to appear in court charged with arson at Knaresborough pub

A 45-year-old man will appear before York Crown Court this week charged with arson at a pub in Knaresborough.

Stephen John Pearson, of Nutwell Court Road in Lympstone, Devon, is charged with committing arson that damaged Blind Jack’s pub on Market Place in the town on August 21 last year.

He appeared before York Magistrates Court on August 25 for the alleged offence, when the case was referred to York Crown Court.

Mr Pearson is due to appear before the crown court on Friday.

The Grade II pub is named after Knaresborough’s John Metcalf, the first professional road builder to emerge in the Industrial Revolution.

Blind Jack's on Market Place, Knaresborough.

Blind Jack’s on Market Place, Knaresborough.

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Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update

Motorists should be aware that ongoing roadworks on Skipton Road continue this week which could cause delays during rush hour.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

On Skipton Road in Harrogate, three way traffic lights are in place at the junction with Dragon Road which are causing delays. Northern Gas Networks is carrying out maintenance work in the area until September 23.

The work could cause delays for drivers during this morning’s rush hour.

Northern Gas Networks is undertaking work at Oakdale in Harrogate to replace a gas main, which has seen a road closure put in place. The closure will remain until September 23.

The company is also set to implement a road closure on Montpellier Road until September 30 as part of maintenance work.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting no cancellations on its services this morning.

You can find out more on the disruption to services here.

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The Queen’s funeral: Harrogate district arrangements for Monday

Events across the Harrogate district are being cancelled or rearranged on Monday when the state funeral for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is held.

The service at Westminster Abbey will be broadcast at Ripon Cathedral and the day has been declared a national bank holiday.

Our list below, which is continually updated, details how the district is affected. If you have any news for inclusion, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate

Ripon

Transport

Supermarkets

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More Harrogate district covid booster clinics in coming weeks

People in the Harrogate district are urged to book their covid booster vaccines as more clinics are set to open.

Currently, appointments are being offered at the Yorkshire Events Centre and Chain Lane vaccination centre in Knaresborough as well as some local surgeries.

The autumn booster campaign began across most of the UK last week, with care home residents being vaccinated first.

Those aged 65 and over are now being invited to have their booster vaccine.

In Harrogate, some appointments will be available at the Great Yorkshire Showground’s Event Centre, although booking is advised via the NHS website or by calling 119.

A clinic was held from Monday to Thursday this week and another will take place in three weeks’ time.

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In Knaresborough, Homecare Pharmacy Services are offering a clinic at Chain Lane on Wednesday (September 21) and Saturday (September 24). Both clinics will be held from 9am until 4pm.

Other sites delivering autumn vaccinations in the Harrogate district include Ripon Spa Surgery, Kingswood Medical Centre and East Parade Surgery.

Appointments at the site must be booked through the NHS. Patients are urged not to call surgeries to book their vaccines.

Steve Russell, NHS director of vaccinations and screening, said: 

“There is no room for complacency in keeping covid-19 on the backfoot, and this autumn booster will help protect those most at risk.”