Traffic and Travel Alert: Road and public transport roundup for the Harrogate district

Roads and trains are running as normal this morning, but there are some early morning bus cancellations.

Here is your Harrogate district traffic and travel roundup.

Roads

This morning, rush hour is expected to bring the usual delays on Wetherby Road and Knaresborough Road.

Maintenance work on Skipton Road today by CityFibre near to Regent Grove is due to continue until June 15.

Meanwhile, roadworks are still in place in Knaresborough at the junction between Wetherby Road and York Road which will cause delays this morning.

The works are expected to continue until August 15.

Trains and buses

Train services are running as normal from Harrogate to Leeds and York this morning.

However, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting some early morning cancellations on the 36 from Leeds to Harrogate at 7.40am, 8.55am and 9.55am.

There is also cancellations from Harrogate to Leeds at 7.35am, 9am and 9.25am. 

There are also early morning cancellations to the 1A, 1B and 1C services. You can find out more here.

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Why Elderflower Homecare is a great place for carers

This advertorial is sponsored by Elderflower Homecare.

Three years ago, Katie Livesley was working as a nanny but, after looking after her auntie who had early-onset dementia, she decided to change tack and she is now building her career at Elderflower Homecare.

Starting out as a homecare and rehabilitation assistant in August 2019, Katie has worked her way up to care co-ordinator. Now, she not only cares for clients in their own homes, but she also spends part of her time working in the office, supporting clients and staff. 

Elderflower Homecare is a care provider covering Boroughbridge, Ripon and local villages and supporting people in their own homes. 

Despite having no previous experience in health and social care, Katie was given the support and training to develop.

Elderflower offered her in-house training and the opportunity to undertake a National Vocational Qualification in health and social care.

The company also supports its carers through paid mileage and providing uniforms and PPE.

Katie said the team has helped her feel at home.

She said:

“It’s just nice to be part of a big family.

“Everybody helps each other out and every day is totally different.”

At Elderflower, she helps a range of clients including people with disabilities and dementia.

But her responsibilities do not stop there, Katie also looks after marketing, social media and publishes a monthly newsletter.

Part of a team of around 40 staff, she said carers at Elderflower are given the space to build a rapport with their clients.

Katie said:

“We are provided with our uniform and a work phone. We get paid our mileage as we all need to drive to see our clients.

“It’s a really worthwhile job and I feel we’re helping our clients lead the lives they want in their own homes.”

For more information on how you can join Elderflower Homecare as a carer, visit their website.

Reduction in Knaresborough retirement flats ‘unviable’, says developer

Developers behind plans for 61 retirement flats in Knaresborough have said reducing the size of the scheme would be “unviable”.

Adlington Retirement Living, part of the Gladman group, wants to build the flats with additional care facilities on land adjacent to the single-track Grimbald Bridge on Wetherby Road, alongside the River Nidd.

Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee have twice delayed making a decision on the proposals after concern over its size, flooding and impact on local health services.

Now, the developer has said reducing the scheme’s size and moving it further away to reduce flooding fears would not be “necessary or indeed achievable”.

In a letter to the council responding to its deferral, Robert Gaskell, planning manager at Gladman Retirement Living Ltd, said:

“The applicant has investigated both of these requests and concluded that neither are necessary or indeed achievable.

“A further reduction in the number of units (bearing in mind the loss of over 11,000 sq ft to date) would make the scheme unviable, mean care and support cannot be provided as efficiently, and lead to unaffordable service and well‐being charges.”

Mr Gaskell added:

“The applicant asks that the council decide on the application as it stands‐ which has been assessed to accord with every single relevant development plan policy and relevant elements of national policy, has no objections from any statutory consultee, has significant material benefits, and has continuously been recommended for approval.”

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The response follows concern at a planning committee meeting in May that the apartments amounted to “overdevelopment”.

Cllr Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat member of the committee, said at the time:

“It is the numbers that are being asked for on this site which are problematic.

“It is too large. If they want to do it, I would like to see them cut the numbers down considerably and move that building further away from the river.”

North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group also raised concern over the impact on local health services.

However, this objection was later withdrawn after a £40,000 developer contribution was agreed.

The scheme will now be considered by the borough council’s planning committee at a meeting on Tuesday, June 21.

Council officers have recommended that the development be approved.

Man arrested on suspicion of indecent exposure in Valley Gardens

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of indecent exposure in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.

Officers were alerted to the incident, which happened in the gardens on Sunday (June 12).

A 67-year-old man from Bradford was arrested on suspicion of outraging public decency and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

North Yorkshire Police added in a statement:

“Officers would like to thank the quick-thinking members of the public who alerted us to the man and helped detain him.

“He remains in police custody whilst enquiries continue.”

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Traffic and Travel Alert: Roadworks and traffic update across the Harrogate district

Traffic is moving as normal this morning in the Harrogate district, but some disruption remains in place in Knaresborough.

Here is your traffic roundup.

Roads

Rush hour is expected to bring the usual delays on Wetherby Road and Knaresborough Road.

Those travelling through Spofforth should be aware of roadworks on the A661 Harrogate Road coming into and out of the village.

Planned maintenance work is expected to start on Skipton Road today by CityFibre near to Regent Grove.

Meanwhile, roadworks are still in place in Knaresborough at the junction between Wetherby Road and York Road which will cause delays this morning.

The works are expected to continue until August 15.

Trains and buses

Train services are running as normal from Harrogate to Leeds and York this morning.

However, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting some early morning cancellations on the 36 from Leeds to Harrogate at 7.40am, 8.55am and 9.55am.

There is also cancellations from Harrogate to Leeds at 7.35am, 9am and 9.25am. You can find out more here.

Harrogate Bus Company still has a diversion in place on its 21 service meaning it is unable to reach Ashbourne Road due to a road closure.

The nearest alternative stop is Morrisons in Boroughbridge. This diversion will be in place until June 30.

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Knaresborough scuba diving facility ‘woefully misunderstood’, says businessman

A scuba diving business owner has said plans for a deep diving facility in Knaresborough have been “woefully misunderstood” after the proposals were rejected.

Tim Yarrow, who owns Harrogate-based Diveshack, had planned to build the training pool facility on Thistle Hill.

However, Harrogate Borough Council rejected the plan on the grounds that the proposal would “result in harm to the visual and spatial openness of the green belt”.

Mr Yarrow, who has been a scuba instructor around the world for 30 years, said his facility would have offered an opportunity for “potential local investment”.

He said:

“It is my opinion that the necessity and requirements of a specific training facility for scuba and all it brings with regards to potential further local investment, employment and potential career paths has been woefully misunderstood.”

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The plan would have seen the site at Thistle Hill changed from agricultural land to a deep water diving centre.

Mr Yarrow said that his club, which has been open since 2018, currently trains young and upcoming divers. He said the facility would help to expand this.

However, the council said in its decision notice that the facility was also outside the development limit of any village or settlement.

It said:

“The proposal is for a new tourism and recreational use however the application fails to demonstrate that there is a local need for the facility in this location, that the facility is of a scale and nature appropriate to its location and intended purpose, and that the facility is accessible to the community or catchment population it is intended to serve.”

Council starts legal proceedings against Travellers in Knaresborough

Harrogate Borough Council has commenced legal proceedings against a group of Travellers in Knaresborough.

The group set up camp on the rugby field on Hay-a-Park Lane last week.

It is thought that the Travellers were on their way to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria. However, the fair started yesterday and Travellers still remained in Knaresborough today.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police have been at the site this morning.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“We have commenced legal proceedings and notices have been served.”

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Travellers also parked on the Stray in Harrogate last week.

Six caravans and several cars arrived on the parkland near to Oatlands Drive on Saturday.

However, the group left the area on Monday.

Oliver Bonas to open in Harrogate in September

Oliver Bonas has confirmed it will open a new store on Harrogate’s James Street in September.

The clothing and homeware store will be based in the former Next unit after agreeing a lease for the ground floor, which includes 3,700sqft of space.

The store agreed the lease on James Street with property owners Countrylarge, which is set to unveil proposals to convert the upper floors into serviced apartments.

Antony Rosindale, from Countrylarge, said:

“We’re very excited to be bringing a leading lifestyle brand to the heart of Harrogate town centre and our vision for the building will fully utilise all the existing space. It’s a grand building and we want to ensure that it is all used in the best way possible.”

Oliver Bonas, which was founded by Oliver Tress, opened its first store in London in 1993. It now has 75 outlets in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

This will be its first shop in the Harrogate district, adding to a number of new arrivals on James Street in recent months.

Rumours of its impending arrival began to circulate earlier this year, as reported by the Stray Ferret. Fashion retailer Jules B is also set to open in September in the former Jaeger unit on Cambridge Crescent.

Tom Limbert, Director of niche property consultants, Central Retail, who acted for Countrylarge said: 

“It’s been a pleasure working with Countrylarge and Oliver Bonas is an iconic brand who befits such a majestic building. Having acted for various landlord clients over the past 12 months, we have introduced Pret A Manger, Ebru Evrim and Carl Scarpa to the street and have also upsized Hotel Chocolat.

“James Street has been reinvigorated and its vibrancy has returned to a pre-pandemic state. There are more outstanding high-end retailers destined for the area. The good news is that all units are now fully occupied.

“Oliver Bonas will be a great addition to the existing tenant line up on James Street which truly is one of the best high streets in the north of England.”

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Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic roundup

Roadworks and bus diversions remain in place across the Harrogate district this morning.

Disruption is also expected on public transport tomorrow due to the Knaresborough Bed Race.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic roundup.

Roads

Roadworks are still in place in Knaresborough at the junction between Wetherby Road and York Road which will cause delays this morning.

The works are expected to continue until August 15.

Trains and buses

Train services are running as normal from Harrogate to Leeds and York this morning.

Harrogate Bus Company still has a diversion in place on its 21 service meaning it is unable to reach Ashbourne Road due to a road closure.

The nearest alternative stop is Morrisons in Boroughbridge. This diversion will be in place until June 30.

Meanwhile, the 1 service will be unable to reach stops between Forest Lane Head and Bond End in Knaresborough and Bond End towards the golf club going to Harrogate on June 11 between 12.30pm and 5pm.

This is due to the Knaresborough Bed Race.

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‘Unforeseen circumstances’ delays start of Oak Beck Bridge scheme

“Unforeseen circumstances” has led to the start of a £1 million project to replace Oak Beck Bridge being delayed, council officials say.

The scheme, which is planned by North Yorkshire County Council, will see the bridge on the A59 in Harrogate replaced.

Authority officials say the bridge is in poor condition and needs to be replaced.

Work was due to start in January, but a start date for the project has yet to be confirmed.

The Stray Ferret asked the county council when it expects to start work on the scheme.

Philip Richardson, bridges manager at the authority, said:

“We realise the importance of replacing Oak Beck Bridge. Unfortunately we have not been able to progress the scheme as quickly as we would have liked due to unforeseen circumstances and we cannot confirm a start date.

“At the moment our legal team are still in talks over land agreements for the widening and discussions with Yorkshire Water are ongoing in relation to apparatus close to the existing structure.

“Please be assured that we will begin work as soon as we are able and provide suitable notice.”

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Meanwhile, The Stray Ferret reported this week that the project is set to cost taxpayers £1 million.

A contract valued at £1,067,929.93 has been handed to Leeds-based Howard Civil Engineering to demolish, design and build the new bridge.

The company said on its website that work would take 24 weeks and access would be maintained over the bridge.

It said:

“Access over the bridge will be maintained throughout the project, with the exception of night works for surfacing.”

The A59 road on which the bridge is situated is heavily used by traffic, especially by people visiting Aldi, B&Q and Pets at Home on the Oak Beck retail park.

The volume would increase if Tesco is given permission to build on the former gas works site nearby.