Harrogate council to pay Leon developer £25,000 in appeal costs

Harrogate Borough Council has agreed to pay developers behind a planned Leon drive-thru on Wetherby Road £25,000 for appeal costs.

The authority had been in discussions with Blackburn-based Euro Garages after it took the council to appeal over its decision to refuse the proposal.

In July 2021, a government planning inspector granted permission for the new drive-thru, which was initially proposed to be a Starbucks.

Helen Hockenhull, the inspector who approved the plan, awarded costs against the council after it “demonstrated unreasonable behaviour”.

A spokesperson for the council confirmed that it had agreed to pay Euro Garages £25,000 as part of the appeal cost.

The spokesman said:

“Officer recommendations are always taken with a balanced approach and are based on careful consideration of a wide range of issues, including local and national planning policy, case law, consultation responses and anything else considered to be ‘material’ to the decision, including the comments of local residents.

“In this case, the officer recommendation of approval was overturned by the planning committee and permission was refused, which has led to an appeal by the applicant.

“The council lost at appeal as it was unable to substantiate the committee’s grounds for refusal. The planning committee was therefore found to have acted unreasonably in taking this decision and the council is required to pay costs to the sum of £25,000.”

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The council turned down the development back in 2019 on air quality and highways grounds, but later withdrew its objection and did not defend itself at the appeal hearing.

Speaking in May 2021, John Worthington, the council’s executive officer for development management, said officers could not stand successfully at appeal because their previous recommendation would “undermine” their case and that losing also risked legal costs of over £50,000.

The move forced residents fighting the proposal to defend the authority’s reasons for refusal themselves at the hearing.

Ms Hockenhull said she understood concerns from residents, but added that she was not convinced that the development would cause “significant harm”.

In a decision notice last year, she said:

“I recognise that my findings will be disappointing to the local residents and ward councillor who gave evidence at the hearing.

“However, based on the technical evidence before me and all that I have seen and heard, with the proposed mitigation measures secured by planning conditions, I am not persuaded that the development would cause significant harm.”

Man denies causing death by dangerous driving near Boroughbridge

A Harrogate man has denied causing death by dangerous driving on the A168 near Boroughbridge.

Andrew Jackson, 36, from Hunsingore near Wetherby, died on A168 northbound between Allerton Park and Boroughbridge on May 10, 2020.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

James Bryan, 36, of St Mary’s Avenue in Harrogate, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

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He appeared at York Crown Court yesterday where he entered a not guilty plea.

A trial will be held at the court on September 19, 2022.

Harrogate council officers earning more than £100,000 named on rich list

Four Harrogate Borough Council officers earning more than £100,000 have been named in an annual public sector “rich list” published by the TaxPayers’ Alliance.

The pressure group, which claims to speak for ‘ordinary taxpayers fed up with government waste’, published its Town Hall Rich List 2022 report today.

The list covers authority officials across the country who earn in total more than £100,000 as part of their renumeration for the last financial year.

Paula Lorimer, director of Harrogate Convention Centre, was named the top earner in Harrogate with a total pay package of £121,536.

Meanwhile, Wallace Sampson, chief executive of the borough council, earned £118,505.

The Harrogate officers in the report are:

Elsewhere, 10 North Yorkshire County Council officials were included on the list.

Richard Flinton, chief executive, was the top earner at the county council with a total pay package of £212,667.

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Others included Stuart Carlton, director of children and young people’s services, with £161,776 and Gary Fielding, director of strategic resources, with £157,078.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:

“Taxpayers facing a cost of living crisis want to know they are getting value for money from their local authority leadership.

“With households having suffered through the pandemic and now struggling under colossal tax bills, the country needs councils to prioritise key services without resorting to punishing tax hikes.

“These figures will allow residents to judge town hall bosses for themselves and hold their local councils to account.”

Harrogate Borough Council has been approached for comment.

‘Serious concerns’ over 770 homes planned for Harrogate’s Otley Road

Plans for a huge housing development and new primary school on Harrogate’s Otley Road have been met with “serious concerns” over how the town’s struggling infrastructure and services will be able to cope.

There are also questions over the environmental impact of the proposals, which include 770 homes, a sports pitch, shop and community hub.

The Windmill Farm site is included in the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, meaning development will go ahead.

But Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association said it had concerns over several issues, including climate change measures, transport infrastructure, housing density and design standards, which all needed to be addressed before planning permission is granted.

David Siddans, group secretary, said:

“This is an enormous development.

“Although the application is for 770 dwellings, it omits a large area of the site which remains subject to further applications which could bring the total to nearer 1,000.

“Altogether, the west side of Harrogate is expected to cope with around 4,000 new houses.

“The pressure this places on infrastructure has always been one of our greatest concerns, especially given the poor nature of the current roads, public transport, school services, drainage systems and so on.”

Parameters Plan

Mr Siddans also said no decision should be taken on the proposals by Harrogate Borough Council until its West Harrogate Parameters Plan is completed in full.

This is the key document which sets out what infrastructure is required to support rapid population growth in the area.

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It was criticised as “inadequate” when it was approved by the council in February, and a delivery strategy and schedule are now being prepared.

Land promoters Anwyl Land and developers Redrow Homes are behind the Windmill Farm development.

They said the West Harrogate Parameters Plan has been used to inform the proposals, which will provide a “high quality development for Harrogate with a clear identity and will positively benefit the local area”.

They also said 40% of the homes would be classed as affordable, with a mix of one, two, three, four and five bed properties across the site.

Forty of the housing plots would be self-builds reserved for those who want to build their own homes.

Also included in the plans are bus stops, and walking and cycling routes.

‘Makes no sense’

Campaign group Zero Carbon Harrogate said it wanted to engage with the developers as it believes there is “much more” that could be done to futureproof the 770 homes – all of which would be fitted with gas boilers set to be banned in new homes in 2025.

Group chair Jemima Parker said: 

“Zero Carbon Harrogate has sought to engage productively with Anwyl Land to ensure that this large site, which will contribute to the carbon emissions of the town, is made as sustainable as possible, particularly with regard to transport and energy use.

“In particular, we note that the energy statement was compiled prior to the current energy crisis.

“It makes no sense to be building houses over the coming years with gas central heating, and without the highest standards of insulation to minimise household fuel bills.

“Furthermore, every opportunity should be taken to install solar panels on the roofs of the new homes, and apply the best passive design principles in accordance with Local Plan policies.”

Plan resubmitted to convert Sharow pub into house

Plans have been resubmitted to convert a former Sharow pub into a house.

Owner Mark Fitton has applied to Harrogate Borough Council to change the use of the Half Moon Inn into a four bedroom house.

A similar application was tabled by Mr Fitton in February 2021, but was later withdrawn.

The village pub and restaurant, on Sharow Lane, opened in 1822 but closed in 2016.

In documents submitted to the council, Mr Fitton said “all avenues” had been explored to reopen the pub but had proved unviable.

In a planing statement, the developer said:

“It could hardly be clearer that there is no reasonable prospect of the Half Moon Inn re-opening as a viable hospitality venue.

“All avenues for such an opportunity have been fully explored, over an extended period of time, by agents with strong commercial credentials, unrivalled local coverage and a national licenced-premises specialism.”

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The proposal to convert the pub into a home has long been opposed by Sharow Parish Council.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret previously, parish council clerk Nick Reed said many people in the village did not want to see the change of use granted.

The parish council set up a working group to link into the viability of using the pub for community use.

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

How the Harrogate district’s wards will change ahead of local election

When voters in the Harrogate district head to the polls on May 5, the wards they fall into will look very different.

Twenty-one of the 89 councillors elected to the new North Yorkshire Council will be from the district.

Currently, councillors elected to Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council represent 57 wards – 40 on the borough council and 17 on the county council.

So the new wards will be much bigger and there will be far fewer in total. Each one will average 6,194 residents to one representative.

The cull of councillors has led to allegations that the district will be under-represented on the new North Yorkshire Council

But ruling Conservatives on the current North Yorkshire County Council argue the new authority will be more efficient and that the new boundaries could be subject to change in five years time.

What are the new wards?

The Harrogate district will have 21 seats on the new council.

Of that number, 13 are in Harrogate and Knaresborough with the remaining eight covering Pateley Bridge, Masham and Ripon.

Harrogate itself will have nine wards, while Knaresborough will have two and Boroughbridge a single seat.

The changes to boundaries have seen seats such as Starbeck merged with Fairfax and Hookstone and Woodlands now joins the Stray to form a new ward.

Meanwhile, Bilton have two seats with Bilton and Nidd Gorge and Bilton Grange and New Park.

In Knaresborough, the town will be divided into Knaresborough East and Knaresborough West.

The full list of wards

Harrogate and Knaresborough ‘considerably underrepresented’

The proposal for the wards was signed off by the government as part of the Structural Changes Order in January.

However, Philip Broadbank, a Liberal Democrat councillor on both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council, attempted to change the boundaries after criticising them as underrepresenting Harrogate and Knaresborough.

He said:

“In my view, it makes this largest urban area in the county considerably underrepresented on the new authority.”

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Cllr Broadbank submitted a fresh proposal, which would have reduced the average resident to councillor number from 6,194 to 5,329 – which is the number seen in other districts. However, this was rejected by the government.

However, Conservative Cllr John Weighell, who led the working group on the council boundaries, told Cllr Broadbank previously:

“I do accept underrepresentation, I always have, but I think this is absolutely the only way to maintain community identity.

“Of the 18 Harrogate and Knaresborough members currently in the borough council area, 16 are twin-hatted and that says everything really.

“Some people are saying ‘we can’t represent that number of residents’ – but they are doing it already.”

The new arrangements will stay in place until 2027 when the Boundary Commission will carry out a full review.

Across North Yorkshire, there would be 89 councillors serving the county’s 600,000 population.

This would be a higher proportion of representatives than the 99 that serve Leeds’ 800,000 residents, but a lower proportion than the 126 councillors who serve County Durham’s 425,000 population.

Harrogate Railway launches £10,000 fundraiser for new marquee

A fundraiser has been set up to help Harrogate Railway Athletic Football Club buy a new outdoor marquee.

The club in Starbeck has football and rugby teams.

Anne Mitchell, who set up the gofundme page, said the marquee was purchased during the covid pandemic for people to meet outside safely.

The marquee was used for birthday parties and other special occasions outside.

However, it was damaged during Storm Arwen in November and has since not been replaced.

The club aims to raise £10,000 to buy a new marquee to host events outside safely.

In a post on its Facebook page, Harrogate Railway said:

“During the covid pandemic, the club purchased a large marquee to provide an outdoor facility. It has been widely utilised during that time for local people to host a variety of events including  celebrations, group meetings, local events, social or family gatherings and much more. 

“Sadly during one of the storms this winter the marquee has been completely destroyed

“We want to be able to offer that same fantastic facility this year but we need your help to raise funds to purchase a new marquee.”

For more information on the fundraiser and to donate, visit the gofundme page here.

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Two PCSOs seriously injured after attack in Harrogate McDonald’s

Two police community support officers were left seriously injured following an attack in McDonald’s in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and mobile phone footage of the incident which took place at around 7pm on Friday evening on Cambridge Road.

Three girls, aged 13, 14 and 15-years-old, have been arrested in connection with the attack and remain in custody for questioning.

The officers attended the McDonald’s after reports that the girls had entered the restaurant despite being banned due to anti-social behaviour earlier in the evening.

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The group refused to leave when asked by officers and an altercation took place.

One of the PCSOs suffered a suspected broken nose and the other had tissue damage to the cheek. Both remain in hospital for treatment for their injuries.

Neighbourhood Delivery Inspector Phoebe Southall said:

“No one deserves to go to work and be assaulted, especially as they work to protect the public and keep our communities safe. It is not just ‘part of the job’ and we will investigate any incidents of violence towards our staff thoroughly.

“We would urge anyone who either witnessed the attack or has any information or mobile phone footage that may have captured something to please get in touch.”

Anyone with any information should contact police on 101 or investigationhubcounty@northyorkshire.police.uk and quote reference number 12220055279.

NSPCC concern over North Yorkshire police child protection report

The NSPCC has described a report detailing failings into child protection investigations at North Yorkshire Police as “concerning”.

The highly critical report published this week by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services found that the force does not prioritise safeguarding and child protection highly enough.

It said standards of investigation in relation to child protection were poor and arrangements were not “consistently providing either the quality of service or a good enough response”.

The report said in some cases “highly vulnerable” children went missing from children’s homes, but officers would record those incidents as “cause for concern” rather than missing — which meant officers did not look for them.

Now, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said the force should “act quickly” to address the recommendations in the report.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: 

“Protecting children must be of utmost priority for law enforcement agencies, and so it is concerning that HMICFRS found this was not the case for North Yorkshire Police.

“The inspection’s findings included an inconsistent approach by the force to the risk of those suspected of sexually exploiting children and officers not always understanding their primary role was to protect children.

“Putting children at the heart of these investigations is paramount, and it is promising that the force recognises it needs to do more to safeguard children and is committed to providing better outcomes for them. To do this, it is crucial that it acts quickly to implement the Inspectorates recommendations.”

Critical report

The report was particularly critical of the force’s approach to children considered to be at risk.

Inspectors, who conducted the assessment from November 1 to 12 last year, examined 73 cases where children had been at risk. The report said:

“We assessed the force’s child protection practice as good in 13 cases, requiring improvement in 34 cases, and as inadequate in 26 cases. This shows the force needs to do more to give a consistently good service for all children.”

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Another criticism was that the force doesn’t share information with safeguarding partners early enough.

HMIC made a number of recommendations, which included:

Chief constable apology

Following the report’s publication, Lisa Winward, chief constable of North Yorkshire Police, apologised and said the force “fully accepted” the inspector’s findings.

She said:

“It is extremely disappointing that while the Inspectorate found examples of good practice during their inspection in November 2021, they also found a lack of consistency in our treatment of children across the cases that they examined. 

“We fully accept the findings of the Inspectorate and I offer my deepest apologies to any child that we have let down or could have protected more effectively. We haven’t always got it right and we know that is not good enough for the children of North Yorkshire. 

“We have been working at a pace to address the issues that were identified in the Inspectorate’s report. Our plan for improvement in our performance has already been submitted to the Inspectorate. We are tracking our plan and will publicly report on our progress.

“We welcome the recognition by the Inspectorate that our officers and staff, who manage child abuse investigations, are committed and dedicated despite working in difficult circumstances. 

“I can assure all our communities that we absolutely recognise that protecting children is one of the most important things that we do. We are working to ensure that we have the right systems and processes in place to support our officers and staff to protect and safeguard every child.”

Traffic and Travel Alert: North Park Road temporary lights to be in place until Monday

Motorists should expect delays on North Park Road in Harrogate as temporary traffic lights will be in place over the weekend.

The lights, which are in place at the junction with Harcourt Drive, have been put in place as telecommunications company CityFibre carries out work on the street.

It means drivers using North Park Road to get into and out of the town centre should expect delays.

The temporary lights will be in place until April 4, according to North Yorkshire County Council.

The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.

We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.

The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.