Calvin Robinson Chief Reporter, Author at The Stray Ferret

New council plans single taxi licensing for North Yorkshire

Taxi drivers in the Harrogate district could be able to operate in other areas of North Yorkshire, under plans being considered by county council officials.

A consultation is being held into vehicle licensing for the entire of the county ahead of North Yorkshire Council being set up.

As of April 1 next year, the new authority will be responsible for licensing vehicles in the Harrogate district. Harrogate Borough Council, which currently fulfils the role locally, will no longer exist.

County council officials have proposed North Yorkshire operates as one hackney carriage zone in order to offer drivers “flexibility to operate across the county”.

A review of fare rates across the county will be carried out at a later date.

The council said in a statement:

“In accordance with the Department for Transport’s best practice guidance, it is proposed that the new council will operate one hackney carriage ‘zone’ for North Yorkshire.

“Thereby providing drivers with the flexibility to operate across the county, encouraging environmental efficiencies and creating a wider distribution of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

“There are no plans to impose hackney carriage quantity restrictions on the creation of a new single zone. Hackney carriage fares and fees will also be reviewed at a later date.”

The consultation will run for 12 weeks and end on January 19, 2023.

You can take part in the survey here.

Mother Shipton’s Cave to open late for Halloween

Mother Shipton’s Cave is set to open late for the first time as part of Halloween celebrations.

The Knaresborough attraction is hosting a Hocus Pocus themed event, which includes wicked witches, a wacky wizard and a spooky woodland.

To conclude the Halloween celebrations, Mother Shipton’s will be open until 8.30pm tonight.

The last admission will be at 7pm.

A spokesperson for Mother Shipton’s Cave said:

“The team at Mother Shipton’s have decided to conclude their event with a late night opening on Halloween – visitors will have the chance to see the spooky woodland lit up after dark and cast spells with the witches and wizard on All Hallows’ Eve itself.

“So if you’re looking for a safe and family-friendly alternative to ‘Trick or Treating’ tomorrow, this Halloween adventure could be the perfect way to celebrate.”

Tickets for the Halloween event can be booked online here at the Mother Shipton’s website.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district update

Traffic is moving as normal in the Harrogate district during this morning’s rush hour.

Meanwhile, commuters are being warned of upcoming strikes on the district’s trains this weekend.

Roads

Traffic lights on the A59 York Road near the junction with the A658 in Knaresborough are due to remain in place until November 11.

Yorkshire Water has installed four-way traffic lights as it lays a new water main for a housing development.

Drivers are urged to allow extra time if using the route this morning.

Meanwhile, work to reconstruct the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley, near Pateley Bridge, is ongoing.

The road is closed and a diversion is in place via Pateley Bridge, the B6451 Dacre, Menwith Hill Road, Duck Street and Greenhow Hill village. Temporary traffic lights will be in place during the remainder of the work.

Fell Beck Bridge remains closed for works until November 6, with a diversion in place via Burnt Yates and Summerbridge.

Planned gas replacement works in Harrogate will be paused. It means five weeks of traffic lights on Cold Bath Road, which were initially due to take place in September, won’t happen until at least January.

Trains and buses

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

However, commuters are being warned of upcoming strike action on Saturday (November 5).

Northern is urging passengers not to travel on the day and to check service times on Sunday (November 6).

Further strike action is scheduled to take place on Monday (November 7) and Wednesday (November 9).

The Harrogate Bus Company is currently reporting cancellations on the 7 services this morning. You can get updates here.

There are some changes to bus timetables on the horizon, taking effect from Sunday (November 6). Most of these are minor, but in a more significant change, the 36 will no longer offer ‘neighbourhood journeys’ from Bilton and Jennyfield to Leeds.

MPs Watch: A new Prime Minister and government U-turns

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In October, Liz Truss resigned as Prime Minister after just 44 days. As a result, another Conservative leadership contest was held with Rishi Sunak beating Penny Mordaunt and Boris Johnson to enter 10 Downing Street.

The government also U-turned on most of its planned tax cuts amid mounting pressure from MPs and financial markets.

We asked our three Conservative MPs, Harrogate & Knaresborough’s Andrew Jones, Skipton and Ripon’s Julian Smith, and Selby and Ainsty’s Nigel Adams if they would like to highlight anything in particular that they have been doing this month, but, as usual, we did not receive a response from any of them.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found out on Mr Jones:

Mr Jones backed Rishi Sunak to be leader of the Conservative party. He said the former Chancellor “has the experience, ability and energy to tackle the problems facing our country”.
On October 19, Mr Jones voted with the government on an opposition motion to introduce a bill to ban fracking in the UK. The vote proved controversial amid allegations of Conservative whips being aggressive with MPs in the voting lobby.
Mr Jones announced he was launching a “non-political” fact checking service. He said his videos on Instagram will be ‘an occasional series where we just present facts — no politics’. His first video was on investment zones.
In the second of his Instagram videos on October 21, Mr Jones denied he had voted in favour of fracking following the controversial vote in the House of Commons.
On October 17, Mr Jones spoke in the House of Commons on investment zones where he said it was “far from the case” that the measure would harm the environment.
On October 13, Mr Jones called for a debate on designated bathing areas in rivers. It came amid a campaign by Nidd Catchment Anglers Group to create designated areas on the River Nidd.
On October 24, Mr Jones asked transport minister Kevin Foster MP to consider the role of the private sector in rail reform and to make York the headquarters of Great British Railways.
On October 27, Mr Jones supported a Dogs Trust campaign to end puppy smuggling.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Skipton and Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

Mr Smith also threw his support behind Richmond MP, Rishi Sunak, to become the next Prime Minister.
On October 11, Mr Smith asked ministers to confirm that they would not “balance the forthcoming tax cuts on the backs of the poorest”.
Mr Smith was a critic of the government’s plan to cut taxes earlier this month. On October 2, he tweeted that MPs “cannot clap for carers one month and cut tax for millionaires months later”.
He later welcomed the government’s decision to backtrack on most of its tax cut pledges.
He voted along with the government on the controversial fracking vote on October 19.
On October 25, an article on Bloomberg said ‘dark arts specialist’ Mr Smith could be in line for a role in Mr Sunak’s government. As yet, nothing has transpired.

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate.

In rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Adams:

Mr Adams, who is a close ally of Boris Johnson, backed the former Prime Minister in the Conservative leadership contest.
Mr Adams has kept a low profile since Mr Johnson stepped down as Prime Minister. He made no spoken contributions in the House of Commons in October and only voted on two occasions.
On October 18, Mr Adams tweeted his support for the Foreign Secretary’s decision to summon the Chinese Chargé d’Affaires to demand an explanation for scenes outside the Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester.

Plan to convert Edwardian chapel near Masham into home approved

Plans to convert a disused Methodist chapel near Masham into a house have been approved.

The Old Chapel at Breary Banks, Healey, was built in 1911 for workers building reservoirs that served people in Leeds. Breary Banks was later used as a prisoner of war camp during the First World War.

The slate roof chapel is not a listed building but is considered to be a non-designated heritage asset located within the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The proposal, submitted by Fred Collin Architect on behalf of Clementine Isabella Godwin, will see the historic chapel converted into a one-bedroom house.

Harrogate Borough Council has approved the application.

Documents submitted to the authority said:

“The proposal is to convert the redundant former chapel into a single dwelling unit. This will be open plan and the sleeping area will be on an upper mezzanine level.”

Masham Parish Council supported the application.

Breary Banks village was constructed in 1900 by the Leeds Corporation, which had commissioned the creation of two nearby reservoirs to supply Leeds with water.

The village was designed to house the navvies working on the construction of the reservoirs and their families. By spring 1904 the settlement accommodated 400 men with more huts being built, according to planning documents.

Sixteen men lived lived in each hut.

Less than a month to get jabbed at Harrogate’s showground

Autumn covid booster vaccination clinics are only available at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground for less than a month.

Tim Yarrow, operations manager at Yorkshire Health Network, which is overseeing the vaccination programme, today urged anyone eligible to book now.

Those showground site, which is currently seeing 1,400 patients a day, is due to close on November 23 and there are currently no plans to re-open it.

It means people will have to seek appointments at local pharmacies when the showground site closes.

People aged 50 and over, pregnant women, carers, frontline health and care workers, care home residents and people of all ages who are vulnerable are eligible for a covid booster jab now.

Those who are able to book their vaccinations can do so via the NHS website.

The showground is not accepting walk-in appointments. Access to the site is available by car from the road alongside Sainsbury’s.

The NHS is ramping up its winter vaccination campaign.

Health bosses in Harrogate previously said that they expect to see more covid patients in hospitals in the coming weeks.

Dr Bruce Willoughby, Harrogate GP and part of the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, said:

“Health and care services in North Yorkshire and York, like everywhere, are already extremely busy. We do expect to see more cases of covid in the coming weeks as people mix freely again and spend more time indoors as the weather gets colder. The risk of catching covid is highest indoors and in crowded places.

“More people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the pandemic. The best time to have the flu vaccine is in the autumn or early winter before it starts spreading.”

Health officials are also urging people to book a flu vaccine this winter. People can book their jab via their GP surgery.

Is Ripon MP set for a role in Rishi Sunak’s government?

Julian Smith could be in line for a role in Rishi Sunak’s government, according to reports.

The Skipton and Ripon MP supported the new Prime Minister during the last two Conservative leadership contests.

According to an article on Bloomberg, the former Northern Ireland secretary could now be in line for a role in Mr Sunak’s government.

Bloomberg journalist Alex Whickham tweeted that ‘dark arts specialists’ Mr Smith and Gavin Williamson were set for jobs.

— big role certain for top ally Dowden

— Badenoch tipped for promotion after not fancying DIT

— rising star Claire Coutinho in line for decent job

— talk of Jenrick, Raab return

— and jobs for dark arts specialists Gavin Williamson and Julian Smith…https://t.co/C5F2nHpxa3

— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) October 24, 2022

Mr Sunak was confirmed as Prime Minister this morning and is in the process of forming his first cabinet.

If appointed, it would be Mr Smith’s first job in government since Boris Johnson was in 10 Downing Street.

He served as Northern Ireland secretary from 2019 until 2020 and was a chief whip under Theresa May.

Yesterday, after Mr Sunak was confirmed as the Conservative party’s choice for leader, he tweeted that he was the “best possible person to deal with the current challenges we face”.

In @RishiSunak as Prime Minister the United Kingdom has the best possible person to deal with the current challenges we face. Finally.

— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) October 24, 2022

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP denies voting in favour of fracking

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has denied voting in favour of fracking in the House of Commons last week.

An opposition Labour motion was put to the house which would have forced a vote on a bill to ban the controversial practice in the UK.

Mr Jones voted with the government on the night against the motion.

In his latest ‘Fact Check Friday’ video on Instagram, Mr Jones denied he voted in favour of fracking.

He said:

“Contrary to what some people would have you believe, I didn’t vote in favour of fracking during the debate in parliament this week.

“In fact, the vote wasn’t even directly about fracking at all. The vote was about changing the scheduled timetable of parliamentary business to allow the Labour Party to bring in a bill about fracking.

“A bill that hasn’t even been published.”

The government won by 319 votes to 228 – however the night descended into chaos amid allegations Tory MPs were “bullied and manhandled” into supporting former Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Mr Jones goes on to say in the video he is “relaxed” about the government’s position on fracking as there is “little possibility of any successful applications to frack”.

He adds that he has “always been skeptical about fracking” and that the UK’s future energy should be in renewables.

The video, which Mr Jones says includes “no politics”, goes onto show a clip of the then Liberal Democrat energy secretary, Sir Ed Davey, saying that the government had to find a “commercially viable way” to get shale gas out of the ground.

The clip then cuts to an image of Mr Jones and the hashtag ‘awks’, suggesting it reveals an awkward truth for the Lib Dems.

Harrogate council sees increase in complaints in last five years, says study

Harrogate Borough Council has seen a rise in complaints over the last five years, according to an analysis of local government data.

A study by legal firm claims.co.uk shows that the authority has seen an 18.97% increase in complaints since 2017.

The analysis used figures from the Local Government Ombudsman and showed the most improved council’s across the Yorkshire and Humber region.

According to the study, Harrogate came 19th, below Kirklees Borough Council and City of York Council, out of 19 council where full data was available.

The figures show that the council received on average 3.6 complaints per 10,000 people across the district between 2017 and 2019.

This increased to 4.3 between 2019 and 2022.

Scarborough Borough Council was the most improved with a decrease in complaints of 38.95%, followed by North Lincolnshire Council with 34.62%.

George Patton from Claims.co.uk said:

“Council tax has increased by an average of £67 for Band D properties this year amid the cost of living squeeze.

“Along with the tax hike are residents’ rising expectations towards their local authorities to provide better services.

“Hence, although taking on your council might seem daunting, it’s vital to know your right as a resident and speak out if you feel that your council has failed to deliver a service.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“Harrogate Borough Council aims to provide an excellent service to our customers. If we get something wrong, we want to try to put it right quickly and learn from the mistake to help improve services in the future.

“We are generally able to resolve the complaints we receive but sometimes our customers are not satisfied with our response to their complaint and we signpost them to refer their complaint to the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO).

“The data published by the LGSCO shows that it has received 103 enquiries or complaints relating to Harrogate Borough Council over the last 5 years and made 101 decisions on these referrals.

“Many of these cases were closed after initial enquiries (43), referred back for local resolution (29), or not upheld (11).

“In only nine cases was the complaint against the council upheld.”

In June, the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed that in 2020/21 13 complaints were made against councillors alone.

There were 11 complaints where a monitoring officer and independent person ruled that investigations were not needed. This included allegations of bullying by a parish councillor.

Volunteers step in to run Conyngham Hall leisure facilities

Facilities at Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough are set to reopen after community volunteers stepped in.

Chain Lane Community Hub is set to run the kiosk, 18-hole pitch and putt, tennis courts and crazy golf as part of an agreement with Harrogate Borough Council.

The borough council has offered the management of the facilities to volunteers as part of a peppercorn lease.

It will see the kiosk and other attractions open every day of the October half term holidays from 10am until 3.30pm.

Sue Vasey of Chain Lane Community Hub said:

“This is such a positive step for Knaresborough and we are delighted with the support we are receiving from all parts of the community.

“We have already recruited 12 volunteers who are working alongside the Chain Lane team to make this happen. We are still looking for more, so please get in touch if you would like to be involved.

“Over half term, as well as the usual facilities, there will be autumn themed family craft activities which includes a nature trail with small prizes for the children.

“The kiosk will be providing light refreshments at reasonable prices – an opportunity for families to come together in a fun and affordable environment.

“Equipment for the golf and tennis facilities will be available for a donation towards the upkeep and future development of the facilities and supporting our local community sector.

“We hope as many people as possible will come along and support us and we are really looking forward to welcoming everyone.”

The move has been backed by Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, Knaresborough Connectors, local businesses, North Yorkshire County Council and Knaresborough Town Council.

The leisure facilities at Conyngham Hall were forced to close due to staffing shortages in June.

Cllr Sam Gibbs, Harrogate Borough Council cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“We are delighted that the community has stepped forward to bring the Games in the Park at Conyngham Hall back into use.

“It demonstrates what can be done when local authorities and community groups work together with one vision”

Read more:

Read more:

Roads

Trains and buses

Read more:

Read More:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read More:

Read more: