Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic roundup

Roadworks continue to cause delays on Harrogate’s Skipton Road this morning.

North Yorkshire County Council has also scheduled some work to begin on roads in Harrogate next week.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Northern Gas is continuing work on Harrogate’s Grove Road where temporary lights will be in place until tomorrow.

The work is causing queueing traffic on Skipton Road and drivers are urged to allow more time for their journeys.

On Monday, drivers should be aware of roadworks on Wedderburn Road in Harrogate as North Yorkshire County Council refreshes double yellow lines on the street.

A road closure is also expected to be put in place from Tuesday on Knapping Hill as the county council resurfaces the footpath. This work is scheduled to last until August 16.

Temporary lights remain on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road as Northern Gas Networks carries out replacement work to gas pipes in the area.

The lights will remain in place for seven weeks.

Temporary lights are also in place on the A661 Park Road in Spofforth as Northern Powergrid carries out repair work. Drivers should expect delays.

Meanwhile, long term roadworks are in place on Station Road in Goldsborough. The road will be closed until September 19, 2022, as Stonebridge Homes installs a foul water and surface water pipes to connect to the sewer system.

A diversion route is in place in the village.

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 the 1, 1A, 1B, 1D and the 7 morning services.

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

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Starbeck KFC withdraws expansion plan

KFC has withdrawn plans to expand its premises in Starbeck.

Under proposals submitted to Harrogate Borough Council, the fast-food chain planned to take over and convert the former Age UK shop next door to create more space for seating.

An area for 14 seats would have been created and a new disabled and unisex toilet installed.

The conversion of the unit would also have seen a new main entrance built.

While the current KFC is mainly used as a takeaway, the fast-food chain said the plan would help it function as a restaurant.

Pegasus Group, which submitted the plans on behalf of KFC to the council, said in planning documents:

“The proposal seeks to utilise it as a seating area directly associated with the existing KFC premises next door. The existing KFC is a Sui Generis takeaway use.

“The proposal will allow for a seating area to be introduced meaning that the existing KFC could operate more as a restaurant.”

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Now, the fast-food chain has withdrawn the plan. No reason has been given in planning documents for the decision.

In a letter to the council, local resident Peter Walker said the High Street already had enough takeaways.

He said:

“Starbeck High Street has more than enough takeaways at this time. Expanding the current provision detracts further from the character of the area, increases the risks due to vermin and drives away other businesses who would suffer further from queues of delivery drivers. 

“We already have rubbish dumped in the area by customers of this business. The number of occasions I have had to clear away half eaten chicken from this shop is growing. 

“The waste attracts rats and we are seeing more of those in the area this summer. Chicken bones are a health risk to dogs and I have to exercise vigilance just to take my dog for a walk.”

The Stray Ferret has approached KFC for comment, but has not received a response by the time of publication.

Liberal Democrats call for public vote over North Yorkshire devolution deal

Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats have called for a public vote over a £540 million devolution deal which was announced this week.

The historic deal for North Yorkshire and York was signed by government and county council officials on Monday and comes with an elected mayor for the region.

But opposition Liberal Democrat councillors have said residents should be “allowed to make their own decision” over whether to accept the deal.

Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the party on Harrogate Borough Council, said the agreement concentrated “too much power into the hands of one person”.

She said:

“I have serious reservations about this deal. It’s being framed as devolution – but it is just not. Harrogate and Knaresborough residents lose out. 

“We are not even guaranteed any investment towards the renovation of Harrogate Convention Centre as part of the deal. I do not see how anyone can think the concentration of power into the hands of one person is devolution – the government have created North Yorkshire unitary authority, that is not even up and running yet and they are already pushing for a mayor. 

“We’ve moved from smaller district and borough councils to one enormous unitary authority, and now we’re set to get a mayor ruling over all of us and the City Of York, with more power and less local accountability and scrutiny than any of our councillors or MPs. 

“The mayor will have the authority to impose an additional council tax precept on households and to raise business rates.”

The deal, which was signed by Greg Clark, secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, will see the county given £540 million over 30 years.

It will also see a combined authority set up and the creation of a mayor, who is expected to be elected in May 2024.

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Cllr Carl Les, Conservative leader of the county council, described the deal as a “huge opportunity” for North Yorkshire.

He said:

“The chance to secure a wide range of decision-making powers as well as bringing in millions of pounds of investment for North Yorkshire is a huge opportunity for us all to shape our own future for many years to come.

“It will make a real difference to the hundreds of thousands of people who live and work in North Yorkshire, driving future prosperity and much better opportunities that are so important to everyone.

“Whether it is improving skills and education, bringing in more investment to the region or helping improve transport links and providing much-needed affordable housing, the proposed deal would enable us to take far greater control of our own destinies.

“An elected mayor representing both York and North Yorkshire would be a powerful figure to have a seat at the table for further negotiations with the Government, bringing real and tangible benefits to the region.”

Councillors on both North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council will be given a vote over whether to accept the deal in the coming months.

North Yorkshire’s devolution deal: What’s in it and how will it work?

The historic devolution deal struck between North Yorkshire and the government on Monday will bring millions of pounds into the county — but it could have been more.

Signed off by Greg Clark, secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, the 32-page document promises £540 million over 30 years.

It will also see North Yorkshire and York join other major counties and cities in getting its own mayor and a combined authority to oversee the funding.

Local leaders have lauded the deal as an opportunity not to be missed, but analysis of the document shows it could have offered more.

Guaranteed funding

In 2020, officials at North Yorkshire County Council started discussions with government over the potential for a devolution deal for the county and City of York Council.

This culminated in a 140-page document being drawn up listing the requests for new powers and funding from Whitehall.

It was formally submitted in January 2021 and included proposals such as a £750 million mayoral funding pot over 25 years and more powers over skills, transport and energy.

The funding pot, known as “gainshare”, is guaranteed annual funding from central government.

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Fast-forward 18 months and the fruits of the negotiations between ministers and council bosses have produced something slightly different.

Instead of the requested £750 million funding pot over 25 years, £540 million over 30 years has been agreed.

The initial proposal tabled by council bosses would have seen £25 million a year come into North Yorkshire and York – instead it will be £18 million.

North Yorkshire County Council's offices in Northallerton.

North Yorkshire County Council’s offices in Northallerton.

However, more power over skills and transport will be devolved.

It will see whoever is elected mayor and the new combined authority have control over the adult education budget and the ability to draw up its own transport strategy.

Control over bus franchising has also been granted to the county and the power to set up Mayoral Development Corporations, which have the power to buy land for housing or employment to regenerate a defined area.

Much of the deal echoes what was given to Tees Valley in 2015, whose Conservative mayor Ben Houchen has since exercised his economic development powers to buy Teesside International Airport and Redcar Steelworks.

Extra funding for homes 

Aside from the £540 million over three decades, funding has also been allocated for specific areas.

For example, ministers have awarded £12.7 million towards building homes on brownfield sites over the first two financial years of its existence.

A further £2.65 million has been allocated specifically for low carbon and affordable housing.

It suggests that ministers were more happy to part with cash on housing schemes under the deal than in other areas.

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The only other area in the deal awarded specific funding was £7 million to “drive green economic growth” towards the ambition of creating a carbon negative county.

However, this cash is subject to a business case being submitted to government.

No Harrogate Convention Centre money

While the deal offers funding for the wider county, much of the detail on specific towns and areas amounts to “commitments to engage” or mentions already announced cash for schemes.

Harrogate itself is mentioned four times in the document. Three of those mentions are for the A59 Kex Gill realignment and Station Gateway projects, which are underway. Ripon, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge, Boroughbridge and Masham are not mentioned.

The fourth time Harrogate is mentioned is for Harrogate Convention Centre.

As previously reported, funding for a £47 million upgrade of the centre was requested. But although the centre is mentioned in the devolution document, funding was not pledged.

However, the deal is a provisional agreement and it remains to be seen where the funding will go when the mayor and combined authority is established.

‘Very relieved’

Much of the deal is years in the making for those who have sat around the negotiating table with ministers.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said he was relieved to have signed off on the provisional agreement with ministers.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I’m very relieved that we have got to this point. We have now got to explain it to the public.”

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council.

A glance at the main points of the deal shows the government willing to part with millions of pounds worth of funding on the condition that a new layer of governance is set up to oversee it.

For the IPPR North think tank, the new money is welcomed and “should be seized”.

However, Rosie Lockwood, head of advocacy at the think tank, pointed out that cuts due to austerity meant North Yorkshire still faced a difficult future.

She said:

“A devolution deal which unlocks funding and transfers powers from Whitehall to North Yorkshire and York is good news for communities across the area. This is an opportunity to be seized.

“But North Yorkshire and York will face challenges as it moves forward, not least because local government has already been eroded by austerity. We can’t forget that the north saw a £413 per person drop in annual council service spending over the austerity decade.”

What happens now?

Despite the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, putting his signature to the deal, it will still require approval from both North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council.

A public consultation will also be carried out on the devolution deal in the coming months.

From there, the councils can then undertake a governance review to set up the combined authority and mayor, should councillors back the deal.

If all goes ahead, a combined authority for North Yorkshire and York could be in place by autumn next year and a mayor elected in May 2024.

Police find missing Masham teenager

UPDATE: This article has been amended after the girl was found.

Police have found a missing teenager from Masham.

The girl failed to return home on Tuesday night, prompting officers to issue and appeal the following morning.

They said they were concerned for her welfare and urged the public to share any information on her whereabouts.

Police said on August 5 the girl has been found so we have removed her name from the article.

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Developer granted time extension over 30-home plan in Ripon

Councillors have handed extra time to a developer to draw up a ground stability report for 30 homes in Ripon.

Wetherby firm Newett Homes received planning permission in February to build 30 homes at Springfield Close. Its previous bid to build 38 homes was refused.

But Harrogate Borough Council‘s decision was conditional on the company producing a satisfactory ground stability report within four months. Ripon is a notorious area for sink holes.

The borough council’s planning committee yesterday awarded a four month extension for Newett Homes to produce the report.

Council officers told the committee that refusing the scheme at this point would be “counterproductive”.

Gerard Walsh, planning officers, told councillors that the developer had made progress with the report.

He said:

“We have had a look at the information submitted and the progress that has been made and think it would be counterproductive to refuse the application at this point.”

Becky Lomas, planning agent for the developer, told the committee that delays with the report had been caused by delays in resourcing and workloads.

She said:

“We are committed to bringing this site forward.

“Unfortunately, like a lot of the industry at the moment, we have been caught up in delays due to resourcing, capacity and high workloads and as such the contractors could not get on site as quickly as anticipated.”

She added that she felt the report could be provided to the council “sooner rather than later”, but that the extension had been requested to account for any further delay.

Councillors approved the extension, which will see a deadline set for October 2022 for a ground stability report to be submitted to the council.

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Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update

Roadworks remain in place across the Harrogate district this morning causing some delays for motorists.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Northern Gas is continuing work on Harrogate’s Grove Road where temporary lights will be in place until tomorrow.

The work is causing queueing traffic on Skipton Road and drivers are urged to allow more time for their journeys.

Motorists should also be aware of ongoing resurfacing work on Claro Road in Harrogate, which will continue until August 9.

Temporary lights are also on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road are still in place as Northern Gas Networks carries out replacement work to gas pipes in the area.

The lights will remain in place for seven weeks.

Meanwhile, long term roadworks are in place on Station Road in Goldsborough. The road will be closed until September 19, 2022, as Stonebridge Homes installs a foul water and surface water pipes to connect to the sewer system.

A diversion route is in place in the village.

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 the 36 morning services.

The 6 is also unable to reach its stop on Queen’s Road due to temporary lights in the area.

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

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Police release CCTV image after Ripon nightclub assault

North Yorkshire Police has released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to after an assault outside a Ripon nightclub.

The incident happened outside Wonderland nightclub, North Street, at 2.30am on Friday, July 15.

The victim suffered facial injuries which required hospital treatment.

Officers have asked the public to get in touch if the recognise the man (pictured above) as they believe he may have information which can help with an investigation.

A police statement added:

“Anyone with any information is asked to email sarah.hargreaves@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Sarah Hargreaves.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote reference number 12220122919 when passing on information.”

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Council set to carry out ground stability work at Ripon Leisure Centre

Ground stability work is set to start underneath Ripon Leisure Centre and could take a year to complete.

The project comes as an investigation was carried out following the discovery of a void beneath the original leisure centre in 2020.

Harrogate Borough Council said the void is understood to have been “present for a number of years and was only discovered when the reinforced concrete slab, which provides the foundation for the new swimming pool, was cast”.

Senior Harrogate borough councillors will be recommended to approve the stability work at a cabinet meeting on August 17.

If approved, work will start on the project in the autumn but could take a year to complete – meaning it will be finished after the council is abolished.

The first floor of the original leisure centre will reopen once the work is complete.

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A temporary gym has been proposed for Ripon Leisure Centre while the stabilisation work is carried out.

Cllr Stanley Lumley, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of the board of directors at Brimhams Active, said:

“By addressing these historic issues it allows us the opportunity to further invest in the facility and ensure future generations will be able to access modern sport and leisure facilities in their city for many years to come.

“And by providing a temporary gym, while the ground stabilisation works take place, we can minimise the disruption to current and potential customers and ensure they can continue to maintain their health and wellbeing goals.”

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update

Traffic is moving as normal in the Harrogate district this morning.

However, roadworks on Skipton Road and Grove Road appear to be causing disruption.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Drivers should be aware of the usual rush hour traffic on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road, Skipton Road and Knaresborough Road this morning.

Motorists should also be aware of ongoing resurfacing work on Claro Road in Harrogate.

As previously reported, work in the area is expected to continue until August 9. Resurfacing will also be carried out on Devonshire Place and Coach Road during that time.

Northern Gas is also continuing work on Harrogate’s Grove Road where temporary lights will be in place until Friday.

The work is causing queueing traffic on Skipton Road and drivers are urged to allow more time for their journeys.

Read more:

Temporary lights are also on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road are still in place as Northern Gas Networks carries out replacement work to gas pipes in the area.

The lights will remain in place for seven weeks.

Meanwhile, long term roadworks are in place on Station Road in Goldsborough. The road will be closed until September 19, 2022, as Stonebridge Homes installs a foul water and surface water pipes to connect to the sewer system.

A diversion route is in place in the village.

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 the 1A and 1B morning services.

The 6 is also unable to reach its stop on Queen’s Road due to temporary lights in the area.

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