Nearly half of Harrogate council meetings cancelled in November

A lack of Harrogate Borough Council business has led to nearly half of meetings being cancelled this past month.

The authority will be abolished in four months time and replaced by North Yorkshire Council.

The cancellation of so many meetings raises questions over how effective the council will be in its final days.

It had been due to hold 13 meetings in November — not including informal meetings — which included senior cabinet member meetings and a planning committee.

However, five of those meetings were cancelled. Last week the council did not hold a single meeting.

Just three public meetings were streamed live onto the council’s YouTube in November.

This included a cabinet meeting, where senior councillors made a key decision over the progress of three strategic housing sites.

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The Stray Ferret asked the borough council why so many meetings had been cancelled and why so few meetings had been streamed for the public to watch.

A council spokesperson said:

“Provisional dates for meetings are added to the calendar at the start of the municipal year. 

“Should these not be required, as there are no items to bring to said meeting, then they are cancelled.”

The authority is due to hold 12 meetings in December—- one of which has already been cancelled.

 

 

New book reveals history behind Valley Gardens trees

A Harrogate woman has co-authored a guide to trees in the town’s Valley Gardens.

The book, by Jane Blayney and Simon Hill, documents 30 species of trees in the gardens and looks at how they make the area special.

The authors describe the shape, bark, leaves, flowers and fruit of each species and reveal how they were introduced to the British Isles. They also highlight some of the pests and diseases that threaten survival.

Among the trees included in the book are Horse Chestnut, Weeping Willow and Atlas Cedar.

Ms Blayney, who co-authored the book with president of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, Mr Hill, said the book was a labour of love during the pandemic.

She said:

“I have lived many decades in the Valley Gardens area.

“However, until I became chair of the Friends of Valley Gardens I did not realise the wealth and variety of the trees within the gardens.”

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Ms Blayney added she hoped the book will help more people to “realise the enormous importance of trees” and allow them to explore Valley Gardens with greater insight.

She said she was also grateful to Cllr Jim Clark, former chairman of North Yorkshire County Council, who helped to fund the book.

The 72-page guide also includes a foreword from Martin Fish, president of the Friends of Valley Gardens.

The book is currently available for £7.50 at the Valley Gardens website. You can find out more information on how to order a copy here.

Harrogate hospital pledges ‘minimal disruption’ as nurses’ strike looms

People who need care at Harrogate hospital should continue to come forward despite the threat of industrial action, health officials have said.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said it has yet to be notified officially that its nursing staff will strike next month.

It comes as the Royal College of Nursing confirmed a national walkout will take place on December 15 and 20 over a pay dispute with the government.

A spokesperson for the RCN told the Stray Ferret exact locations for the strikes will be revealed next week and that next month will be the first phase of industrial action.

They added:

“Not all members at employers where there is a mandate to strike will be called to strike on these first two dates. 

“Phase one could be just the beginning of a longer period of strike action.”

Despite the threat of a walkout, officials at Harrogate hospital have urged people to continue to come forward for care if they require it.

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The trust said that those who have an operation on the planned strike days will be notified if their treatment is affected.

A Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said:

“While pay is a matter for government and the trade unions, we value our staff and want to see a resolution as soon as possible to ensure we can continue to focus on delivering world class patient care to all those who need it.

“We understand the importance of good pay and conditions for individuals and their families, as well as wider NHS staff retention and recruitment.

“We are working to ensure there is minimal disruption to patient care and that emergency services continue to operate as normal should any strike action take place, and have tried and tested plans in place to manage any disruption.

“We are committed to keeping disruption to services to a minimum, and any members of the public that need care should continue to come forward as normal.

“If you have an appointment or operation that is scheduled on a proposed strike day we would kindly ask you to be patient and we will notify you as soon as possible if strike action at HDFT is confirmed and your treatment will be affected.”

1,300 people waiting a year for operations at Harrogate hospital, says chief executive

Harrogate District Hospital has 1,300 people waiting more than a year for an operation.

Jonathan Coulter, chief executive at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said the number of patients waiting was a legacy from the covid pandemic.

The trust estimates that it currently has a total waiting list of 25,000 people – an increase of 7,000 before covid.

Mr Coulter said part of the reason for the increase is because the hospital halted some operations during the pandemic.

He told a Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency meeting of North Yorkshire County Council yesterday:

“We never ever had people waiting over a year for planned care at all in Harrogate.

“Most people were seen within four months. That was the majority.

“We now have 1,300 people waiting over a year for their operation or their treatment. We did go over two years in some cases, but that has now come down.”

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Mr Coulter told the meeting that the hospital expected to have no patient waiting more than a year for an operation by the end of 2023.

He added that the trust board had approved an increase in capacity at the hospital to help deal with the long waiting list.

The £14 million project will see two additional operating theatres, two procedure rooms and a 12-bed ward for patients who require extended stays in care built on the site.

The trust also hopes the project will help to “future proof” the hospital for a growth in population and changes in demographic in the district.

Mr Coulter said:

“We will be going through that process next year to get us some more capacity on the site.”

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district update

No trains will run from Harrogate and Knaresborough to Leeds and York tomorrow amid further strike action.

Northern, which runs services from Harrogate and Knaresborough, has warned passengers not to travel as it will not be running any rail replacement services.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic and travel update.

Roads

Ongoing works on Station Road in Goldsborough may cause delays for drivers this lunchtime.

Station Road in the village is closed while a new electrical supply is installed for a new housing development.

The work is due to continue until December 16. Bus services through the village have also been diverted as a result of the roadworks.

Drivers should also be aware that National Highways is to carry out patching repairs on the southbound carriageway between junction 49 (Dishforth) and junction 51 (Leeming Bar) from Tuesday next week until mid-December.

Meanwhile, motorists should be aware that traffic lights on the A59 York Road near the junction with the A658 near Goldsborough continue to cause delays for drivers during rush hour.

The three-way lights at the junction with the A658 has seen queueing traffic for motorists over the last few weeks.

Yorkshire Water is carrying out work to lay a new water main for a housing development.

According to North Yorkshire County Council’s roadworks map, the work is due to remain until November 27.

Motorists should expect the usual traffic on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road, Knaresborough Road and Skipton Road this morning.

Trains and buses

Commuters should be aware of planned industrial action on the railways tomorrow (November 26) as the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLF) plan to walkout.

It will see no Northern services operating on the day. The train operator has warned it will not be running any rail replacement buses.

LNER, which operates services to London King’s Cross, has asked passengers to check train times before they travel.

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

Meanwhile, Harrogate Bus Company is currently reporting no cancellations on its service this morning. You can get updates here.

The bus company has announced that the 21 at Goldsborough will be diverted from today due to electrical works on Station Road in the village until December 16.

The service will miss stops towards Knaresborough at Princess Mead, War Memorial and Greystone Farm.

It will also miss stops towards Boroughbridge at Princess Mead, Midgely Land and Nr Roundabout.

Read more:

 

Concern over lack of secondary school at new Harrogate district town

Concerns have been raised about the absence of a secondary school in plans for a new Harrogate district town of up to 4,000 homes.

The proposed town, called Maltkiln, will be built in the Hammerton and Cattal area and will include a GP surgery, shops and two primary schools — but not a secondary school.

According to a North Yorkshire County Council report, the scheme proposes to expand Boroughbridge High School, which has about 600 students, to meet demand for secondary school pupils.

Land in Maltkiln has also been “safeguarded” for a high school, but this would only be built in future should it be required.

Green Party councillor Arnold Warneken, who represents Ouseburn, told a Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee meeting today that plans to expand Boroughbridge High School to meet demand would generate its own problems.

He added that local residents were surprised the development did not have its own secondary school given that thousands of homes are expected to be built.

Cllr Warneken said:

“This is a massive impact on this community and everything needs to be in place that is going to address that impact.

“The pupils are not just going to come from the Maltkiln development, they are going to come from places like Whixley, Green Hammerton and Tockwith as well. All of those have experienced big developments as well.

“I am concerned that we are asking, as a result of Maltkiln, for a school to be further developed in Boroughbridge when I believe that Boroughbridge has its own set of problems in terms of levels of development and the number of pupils that will generate.”

Boroughbridge High School.

Boroughbridge High School.

Officials at the county council said in a report that it was “not expected” that the size of the development would “generate sufficient pupils” to require a new secondary school.

Sue Turley, strategic planning officer in the county council’s children’s and young people service, said the council had forecast that Boroughbridge High School would be able to meet the demand for secondary school pupils from the new town.

She said:

“In terms of the secondary provision, it is expected that Boroughbridge High School would be expanded because there is sufficient space at the school and to grow the school, which is part of a federation with King James School.

“However, it is important to realise that there is safeguarded land within Maltkiln for secondary provision as indicated should this be required in the future. There is that provision there and I think that everybody wanted to see that there was that provision in that development plan for the site, which is now being consulted on.”

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Cllr Pat Marsh, chair of the area committee, raised concern that the move did not meet the sustainable aims of the development.

She said:

“Why are we saying this is a sustainable community and yet expecting children to travel at 11 to Boroughbridge?

“Then this joining with King James becomes problematic because Knaresborough itself has got over 1,000 new houses and where is the secondary school there? It’s King James.

“So there is going to be a major issue with secondary schools.”

Extension of consultation

Harrogate Borough Council has agreed to extend a consultation into  Maltkiln until November 25.

Council officials launched a six-week consultation on October 3 into its draft new settlement development plan document, which sets out a 30-year vision and policy framework on how the town is designed and developed.

However, Cllr Warneken, who represents Ouseburn on North Yorkshire County Council, called for an extension amid concern that the planning process was being rushed ahead of the new North Yorkshire Council coming into being.

He issued the plea after it emerged the consultation documents had been changed midway through — without people being told — and raised the prospect of a judicial review.

You can take part in the consultation over the new town here.

Police close A59 at Kirk Hammerton after serious crash

The A59 at Kirk Hammerton is closed in both directions due to serious crash.

North Yorkshire Police said the road is closed between Station Road to York Road and Maston Lane to York Road.

A police statement added:

“Motorists are advised to find an alternative route if travelling between Harrogate and York.”

We will update this story as we get more information.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district update

Motorists should be aware of ongoing works in Goldsborough which may cause delays during rush hour.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Ongoing works on Station Road in Goldsborough may cause delays for drivers this lunchtime.

Station Road in the village is closed while a new electrical supply is installed for a new housing development.

The work is due to continue until December 16. Bus services through the village have also been diverted as a result of the roadworks.

Meanwhile, motorists should be aware that traffic lights on the A59 York Road near the junction with the A658 near Goldsborough continue to cause delays for drivers during rush hour.

The three-way lights at the junction with the A658 has seen queueing traffic for motorists over the last few weeks.

Yorkshire Water is carrying out work to lay a new water main for a housing development.

According to North Yorkshire County Council’s roadworks map, the work is due to remain until November 27.

Motorists should expect the usual traffic on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road, Knaresborough Road and Skipton Road this morning.

Trains and buses

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

However, commuters should be aware of planned industrial action on the railways this Saturday (November 26) as the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLF) plan to walkout.

It will see no Northern services operating on the day. LNER, which operates services to London King’s Cross, has asked passengers to check train times before they travel.

Meanwhile, Harrogate Bus Company is currently reporting cancellations on its 36 service this morning. You can get updates here.

The bus company has announced that the 21 at Goldsborough will be diverted from today due to electrical works on Station Road in the village until December 16.

The service will miss stops towards Knaresborough at Princess Mead, War Memorial and Greystone Farm.

It will also miss stops towards Boroughbridge at Princess Mead, Midgely Land and Nr Roundabout.

Read more:

 

Business Breakfast: Harrogate marketing agency makes four appointments amid growth

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

A Harrogate marketing agency has made four new appointments after a period of growth.

Extreme, which is based at Windsor House, said it has seen an increase in enquiries from companies despite the tough economic climate.

The firm has appointed account manager Eliza Carroll and delivery executive Josh Parker to its client services team, while Rob Curtis joins as a senior digital designer and Rebecca Bailey as PPC executive.

James Brunyard, client services director at Extreme, said:

“We’re already really looking forward to 2023 and our great new hires are testament to the fact that post-pandemic recovery continues, even with the current climate.

“Brands are ready to invest in their marketing again and we’re in the perfect position to help.”

Black Sheep wins at international beer awards

Black Sheep Brewery won five awards at this year’s International Beer Challenge.

The Masham-based brewery saw its Cry Wolf IPA win a gold award in the IPA category and its Black Sheep Ale pick up silver in the British Style Pale Ales & Bitters (4.1-5%) category.

Black Sheep Brewery staff with the five beers which picked up awards.

Black Sheep Brewery staff with the five beers which picked up awards.

Meanwhile, the brewery saw its 54 Yorkshire lager, Milk Stout and its IPA Interrobang all win bronze.

The company said on its website:

“We’re over the moon with these awards, and along with other awards in the bag this year, it’s safe to say we’ve had a great 30th year.”

The International Beer Challenge is held annually and aim to “reward and promote excellent beers from around the globe”.

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Pannal man takes council to appeal for refusing to let him prune trees

A Pannal man has taken Harrogate Borough Council to appeal for refusing to let him prune willow trees which he believes hang precariously over his house.

Professor Alejandro Frangi, who is an internationally renowned expert on computational medicine, lives by Crimple Beck with his wife and eight children.

He believes the trees next to his house could fall in strong winds and threaten the safety of his young family.

But the council refused him permission to reduce the willows in 2020 and Mr Frangi has now taken the authority to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

He told a hearing this morning he decided to appeal after the council made the trees subject to a tree preservation order (TPO) following his proposal.

Mr Frangi had previously accused the council of acting “unreasonably” over the matter and made a formal complaint, which the council rejected.

No suggestion of felling

Mr Frangi said he was “not suggesting felling” the trees and that he would rather they were reduced in size.

He told today’s hearing:

“The crown reduction is the least of evils”.

But the council said it took requests for reduction in trees under TPO on a “case by case basis”.

Professor Frangi believes the trees are unsafe for his young family.

Professor Frangi believes the trees are unsafe for his young family.

Joshua Arthur, speaking on behalf of the authority, said that works to the trees was also “considered unjustified”.

He added that the work would be a “detriment to the conservation area” if felled.

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Alan Gilleard, the council’s arboriculture manager, added that work to reduce the size was not a common practice for TPO trees.

He said:

“This is not something we routinely support without strong justification.”

Mr Frangi also argues that the trees are unsafe for his family as they can fall over in strong weather conditions.

He told the Stray Ferret previously:

“These trees risk falling on to my side of the river, straight on my property, posing a risk to my family and property. The council has been acting unreasonably, dismissing the risks and putting TPOs on the trees instead of protecting us.”

William Cooper, a government planning inspector who oversaw this morning’s hearing, will make a site visit to the trees before making a final decision at a later date.