A Ripon refugee charity has joined calls to pause plans to house 1,500 asylum seekers at a former RAF base in Linton-on-Ouse.

Nicola David, chair of Ripon City of Sanctuary, attended a public meeting in the village last night which saw Home Office officials jeered on arrival.

The government is pushing forward with its plan to house 1,500 asylum seekers for up to six months in a ‘reception centre’ on the site, which is four miles from Great Ouseburn and Little Ousburn in the Harrogate district and not far from Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.

At the meeting, Ms David described Priti Patel, the home secretary, as a “hypocrite” because she comes from a Ugandan refugee family but shows little compassion for other refugees.

She said the Home Secretary had “pulled up the ladder” behind other refugees.

Ms David told the Stray Ferret:

“How can you put people fleeing war on a military base?”

“It’s a troubling thing to do to asylum seekers.”

Read more:

• Stunning Green win in Ouseburn sets blueprint for future collaborations
• Village on fringes of Harrogate district to house asylum seekers

Ms David, who discussed the issue on BBC Breakfast today, added that it was only the Home Office which wanted the scheme to go-ahead. She pointed out that there would be too many asylum seekers to residents at the site.

She said:

“Everybody is in agreement. Everybody is saying it is completely unsuitable.

“The only people who are saying it is [a good idea] is the Home Office.”

Home Office were not living their best life last night – from the moment they arrived, they took a pounding. I put it to them that Priti & Rishi are hypocrites who, as children of immigrants, have had every opportunity in this country but have pulled up the ladder behind them. https://t.co/t8hygkNlRY pic.twitter.com/jdjmgXL5iT

— Ripon City of Sanctuary (@RiponCoS) May 20, 2022

Residents at last night’s meeting were told that 60 asylum seekers will arrive at the site by the end of the month and will be mostly men.

Home Office officials also said Ms Patel planned to visit the village to speak with residents about the centre.

The controversial proposal for Linton-on-Ouse comes as part of a wider plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to have their claims processed.

Before potentially being flown out to the African country, asylum seekers will be held in ‘reception centres’ across the UK for up to six months, with the first announced being at Linton-on-Ouse.

Ms Patel said:

“The global migration crisis and how we tackle illegal migration requires new world-leading solutions. There are an estimated 80 million people displaced in the world and the global approach to asylum and migration is broken.

“Existing approaches have failed and there is no single solution to tackle these problems. Change is needed because people are dying attempting to come to the UK illegally.”

A plan to demolish Harrogate’s former Debenhams store on Parliament Street has been withdrawn.

Wetherby-based property company Stirling Prescient submitted a proposal to demolish the three buildings that Debenhams was situated in and replace them with 50 flats and two commercial units.

The site on Parliament Street has been home to different retailers for more than a century. Before Debenhams, it housed the Buckley’s and Busby’s stores.

However, according to Harrogate Borough Council’s online planning portal, the application has now been withdrawn.

It follows an objection from Emma Gibbens, the council’s conservation officer, who raised concerns that the demolition of the building would harm the local area.

She said:

“The loss of the traditional building form and architectural detail would be harmful to the street scene and character and special interest of the conservation area, the building forming part of the designated heritage asset in a manner that contributes positively to its character.”

A CGI view of the planned apartments at Debenhams on Parliament Street.

Ms Gibbens added that the developer needed to prove that the demolition was justified.

The objection followed similar concerns from campaign group Save Britain’s Heritage, which said the developer had failed to provide “clear or adequate justification” for demolishing the building.

Read more:

• Heritage groups say ‘no justification’ for Harrogate Debenhams demolition
• Plans submitted to demolish former Harrogate Debenhams
• Harrogate council conservation officer ‘cannot support’ Debenhams demolition

However, Historic England said it supported regeneration of the site but added that there should be a “sensitive conversion” of the two older department store buildings.

Stirling Prescient said in documents submitted to the council:

“The proposals as a whole will strengthen the town’s vitality and viability, increasing footfall and contributing to the local economy.

“The proposal represents a sustainable form of development and therefore benefits from the presumption in favour of sustainable development, meaning planning permission should be granted without delay.”

The Stray Ferret contacted Leeds-based planning consultants Quod, which were the agent for the developer, to ask why the application was withdrawn.

However, we did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The new chair of North Yorkshire County Council said she is a “tough cookie” as she was sworn in for the final year of the authority.

Conservative councillor Margaret Atkinson, who represents Masham and Fountains division, was yesterday appointed as the last ever chair of the county council before it is replaced by a new unitary authority next year.

She takes over from Ripon councillor Stuart Martin, who served as chair for the previous 12 months.

Cllr Atkinson at yesterday’s meeting.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Atkinson said it was a “great honour” to take on the role.

She said: 

“I’m quite excited – it is the last year of the county council so there is a lot of work to do and a lot of effort to be put in by everybody.

“I want to say many thanks to Cllr Martin for everything he did.

“I probably have some big boots to fill, but I haven’t got very big feet.”

Cllr Atkinson, who described herself as “Yorkshire through and through”, has served nine years on the county council and 20 years on Harrogate Borough Council.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Independents vow to stand again
• North Yorkshire’s new top politicians named

She is a semi-retired farmer and also secretary of the Yorkshire and North East branch of the British Charolais Cattle Society.

At a full county council meeting yesterday, Bentham and Ingleton councillor David Ireton became the new deputy chairman.

The Conservative councillor will take on the chairmanship of the new North Yorkshire Council next year when the county council and seven district and borough councils are abolished.

Also at yesterday’s meeting, Conservative county council leader Carl Les was re-elected into the role.

He appointed a new 10-person executive, which faces the challenge of mapping out the creation of the new North Yorkshire Council before it takes over control of all council services across England’s largest county from April next year.

North Yorkshire County Council bosses have said they hope to start work on phase two of Harrogate’s Otley Road cycle route in the Autumn.

The first phase of the route, which runs from Harlow Moor Road to Cold Bath Road, was completed in January.

However, residents raised concerns over its design and the length of time it took to complete the project.

As a result, county council officials delayed progress on the second phase to review its designs.

Now, the authority is expected to begin procurement for a contractor in June to start work on the second section of the route.

The new cycle lane will run from Arthurs Avenue to Beech Grove.

Read more:

• Next phase of Otley Road cycle path delayed and reviewed
• Harrogate residents group raises concerns over ‘dangerous’ cycle path
• Long-awaited Otley Road cycle lane opens to safety concerns

Costs have yet to be revealed for the next section of the route, but Hull-based PBS Construction was awarded a contract worth £827,000 for the first phase.

When asked whether residents had been consulted on the next section of the cycle path, a county council spokesperson said:

“The phase two design was consulted on in 2019 but we will be engaging with local stakeholders to update them of progress to date and next steps.”

Meanwhile, phase three of the scheme, which would run from Harlow Moor Road to Cardale Park, is expected to be funded via contributions from housing developers.

Kevin Douglas, chair of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said previously that lessons needed to be learned from the first phase of the project.

He said:

“The higher quality cycle path we get, the more people will use it – that has always been our view as we want a scheme that delivers facilities which everyone can use.

“We also want lessons to be learnt from the first phase, and hopefully there is a genuine willingness to take on board the points we made.”

Plans have been approved to build 33 homes in Kirkby Malzeard.

Mulberry Homes Yorkshire submitted the proposal to Harrogate Borough Council to construct the scheme off Back Lane in the village.

The development will see a mixture of one, two, three and four bedroom houses built at the site.

A total of 40% of the homes will be allocated for affordable housing.

In a letter to the council, Kirkby Malzeard, Laverton and Dallowgill Parish Council said it welcomed the reduction in homes for the site.

Initially, outline planning permission was granted for 37 homes.

Victoria Preston, clerk at the parish council, said:

“We note that the total number of units proposed is to be 33, rather than the maximum permitted under the outline consent of 37, and we feel that this is a useful reduction, given the concerns of residents in respect of the increased flow of traffic which the development will create through the village.”

Read more:

• Wall repair costs to Harrogate council double to nearly £500,000
• Homes England submits 480-home Otley Road plan

The developer said in documents submitted to the council that the scheme would respect the local area and its characteristics.

It said:

“The result of this design process is a proposed development of 33 dwellings, which would be delivered through a variety of house types that promote local distinctiveness.

“The development would be designed to respect the site location, the physical characteristics of the site and the positive architectural elements of existing development which contribute to its sense of place.”

Police are appealing for information following a robbery on Hookstone Chase in Harrogate.

The incident happened yesterday close to the double mini roundabouts at 6pm and involved two teenage boys threatening violence to steal a man’s bag and wallet.

The suspects are described as teenage white males and were both wearing a grey tracksuits. Officers say one of the boys may have had dark coloured hair

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, we are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this incident to come forward. We are asking that local residents check any CCTV or dashcam footage that may have captured the suspects around the time of the incident.”

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email Paul.Griffiths@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC 741 Griffiths.

Read more:

• Three men arrested after theft of trailer near Boroughbridge
• Prolific offender jailed for threatening man with knife in Ripon

Police have arrested three men after reports of a trailer theft from a compound near Boroughbridge.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police were called at 9.20pm last night after suspects were seen breaking into the compound and making off with the trailer.

The force used number plate recognition to locate the Land Rover Discovery off the A1(M).

The car was stopped by police off junction 45 after it attempted to make a U-turn.

A North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“Security cameras at the premises picked up a partial registration number of the vehicle, a Land Rover Discovery, and within minutes it was located by police on the A1(M) heading south. The Land Rover began to make a u-turn in the carriageway, but officers quickly managed to bring it to a stop just after junction 45.

“Three occupants, all men in their 30s, were arrested at the scene, on suspicion of theft, dangerous driving, and failing to stop for police. They remain in custody at this time. The trailer will be returned to its rightful owner.”

Read more:

• Unprovoked attack on Ripon teenager
• Policing in Ripon comes under a barrage of fire
• Prolific offender jailed for threatening man with knife in Ripon

North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner looks set to sell Masham Police House as a community asset.

Known locally as “the old police house”, the building was initially used to house the local police constable.

However, since 2003 it has been leased to Mashamshire Community Office, a charity that provides community services, such as tourist information, the community library and arts and crafts.

Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe has revealed the plans as part of a move to relocate police to Masham Fire Station.

Ms Metcalfe said:

“Co-locating services at Masham Fire Station aligns our police and fire service in this area, making effective use of our estate to ultimately maximise investment in frontline services as detailed in my police and crime plan.

“North Yorkshire Police will continue to have a place of touchdown for local officers when needed, and they will continue as usual to work out of Ripon and Pateley Bridge police stations.

“Mashamshire Community Office is a fantastic local asset which has been providing benefit to the public for nearly two decades. I recognise this value on the community and I hope our sale will afford them the opportunity to purchase the property, with a supportive timeline and value agreed for this process.”

Read more:

• Pateley Bridge police station to be sold
• Policing in Ripon comes under a barrage of fire

Mashamshire Community Office will now have the opportunity to raise funds to purchase the police house prior to the building being put up for sale.

The commissioner expects to sell the property next year.

Paul Theakston, chair of trustees at Mashamshire Community Office, said:

“We are very grateful for the opportunity to purchase the old police house, from which the community office has been delivering an ever-expanding range of services into our community for the past twenty years.

“Actually, owning the building will secure our position literally at the heart of the community and ensure that we will be able to provide community services long into the future.”

This is the moment that a First World War bomb was detonated in Knaresborough.

The unexploded bomb was found in the River Nidd during a weekly litter pick by Simon Briscombe, whose partner Rachel Wills owns the Watermill cafe.

The couple wrapped the bomb, which they initially thought to be a gas canister, in sandbags at their home and dialled 101. The bomb squad, police and firefighters rushed to their home at The Chase.

Their house, along with about 30 others on the estate, was immediately evacuated while the bomb was taken to a nearby field and a controlled explosion carried out. The A59 was closed for about two hours.

Local resident Piers Ballance shot the footage below of the detonation in his friend Sam Darnbook’s field off the A59, opposite the Toyota garage.

Mr Ballance said the road was closed from Goldsborough roundabout to Manse Lane while the controlled explosion was carried out.

He said:

“We saw several police officers and army personnel at the site of the detonation.

“The explosion surprised us all as we did not expect it to be as loud. We felt the shockwave go through us.”

Read more:

• Bomb squad detonates First World War bomb in Knaresborough
• Knaresborough daredevil, 70, performs 50th skydive

Meanwhile, Ms Wills said her and her partner were left in shock after finding the bomb.

She said:

“We’re still in shock. If Simon had known what it was he wouldn’t have moved it.

“The police were horrified because he brought it home in the car and there are a lot of speed bumps in Knaresborough. But we didn’t know what it was.”

Homes England has submitted formal plans for 480 homes at Bluecoat Wood opposite Cardale Park.

The government housing agency bought the site on Otley Road last year after a previous scheme stalled.

The plans follow a public consultation which was held in December 2021.

Documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council show that the site is set to be called Bluecoat Park.

The site covers 28 hectares of largely green fields and the homes would wrap around Horticap.

The proposals include plans for a new cricket pitch, which would also act as a village green. The pitch would be used by Pannal Ash Cricket Club.

The site layout for the homes at Bluecoat Wood.

A “football hub” would also be created, which would include changing rooms, a full-size pitch, a youth pitch and two mini pitches, along with car parking.

A new community woodland would also be planted.

As part of the plans, a mixture of one, two, three, four and five-bedroom houses are proposed for the site. Homes England says in its plans that 40% of the houses will be allocated as affordable.

Read more:

• Harlow Hill and Pannal Ash residents bracing themselves for ’15 years of disruption’
• Government to build 800 homes in Harrogate and Ripon

The housing agency said in its planning documents:

“The proposed development at Bluecoat Park provides a most important opportunity to deliver a new sustainable and thriving community which will form part of the proposed new urban extension to west Harrogate.”

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

To view the full details, click here and search using reference 22/01558/EIAMAJ.

Site history

Housing has been mooted at Bluecoat Wood for many years.

In February 2016, the borough council granted planning permission to a partnership of developers called HTH Harrogate LLP to build 450 homes.

It followed an earlier refusal of permission on the grounds of road safety and traffic flow problems.

However, Homes England bought the site in February 2021 after the developer pulled out.

That summer, Homes England submitted an environmental impact assessment for 530 homes on the site. The number has now been reduced to 480.