Wathvale by-election: Candidates set out pledges

People in the Wathvale ward near Ripon are set to head to the polls on 5 May to elect a new Harrogate borough councillor.

The vote follows the resignation of Conservative councillor Bernard Bateman who held the seat since 2016.

The by-election to the borough council is separate from the elections to the new North Yorkshire Council.

These are the three candidates, listed alphabetically, who are standing to replace him:

Hannah Corlett, Green Party

Hannah Corlett lives in the village of Melmebry and works as a communications officer for the Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust.

She joined the Green Party in 2020 in what she described as a “turning point” in her life.

She said: 

“I got involved with their activism straight away, fighting Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion into Rotary Wood. It opened my eyes to the damage to our planet and the part we play in it, driven by poor ideological policies in the UK and globally.

“I want to see a change in direction that people lead, and I believe we can do this from the ground up with grassroots activism.

“If chosen as an elected representative on Harrogate District Council, even for one year, I will push to make sure funding and support goes to where it’s needed.

“I will also ensure decisions consider the environmental impact and the lives of those who live in this area.

“I am passionate about making positive shifts to protect the natural environment and supporting others in this fight. I desire to see changes, and I hope those who want the same will choose Green.”

Sam Green, Conservatives 

Sam Green is a former Harrogate Grammar School student who owns a financial and real estate company in the town.

He said: 

“My ambition to be a councillor is not for money, status, or benefits. It simply stems from my desire to help people in whatever way I can to achieve their ambitions, be successful and to hopefully make the world a better place.

“While still a young man (26) and recently married to my wife Maya, I feel that I bring a fresh perspective and energy, balanced by the traditional values I was raised and instilled with, together with proven entrepreneurial skills and people experience.

“As an industrious individual with a proven track record of success in the private sector, my promise to the electorate in Wathvale is simple.

“Local elections are about local issues and if elected, I will serve to the best of my ability to achieve the best possible services and value for money from our council.

“Whilst I will proudly serve as a councillor for all, it will also be my mission to encourage engagement by younger voters and to help address fundamental issues affecting our future generations, such as affordable housing.”

Chris Knight, Liberal Democrats

Chris Knight is a semi-retired business consultant. He joined the Liberal Democrats in 2016 and supported the party’s Skipton and Ripon parliamentary candidate, Andrew Murday, during the 2019 General Election.

Mr Knight said he is a “passionate believer in strong local representation, as well as collaborative politics at a regional, national and international level.”

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He also said the sale of Ripon Spa Baths and the troubled construction of the city’s new swimming pool are two examples of why change is needed in local government.

He said: 

“Ripon’s new swimming pool finally opened last month after repeated delays and some £4 million over budget.

“The council has been warned repeatedly that the area has active ground instability, but went ahead with the development anyway.

“But the whole story gets worse. Harrogate Borough Council have announced that the listed building containing the old pool is going up for sale.

“After getting the old pool onto the community asset register, the independents on Ripon City Council then sat on their hands for the next six months whilst there was a moratorium on the sale.

“Despite their bluster, they failed to come up with a plan which could have retained the building for the benefit of Ripon residents.

“So, thanks to a combination of Ripon Independents and Conservative councillors, a golden opportunity to enhance our lives has been wasted.”

The Wathvale ward vote will take place on the same day as elections to the new North Yorkshire Council on 5 May.

The successful by-election candidate will serve one year on Harrogate Borough Council before the authority – along with North Yorkshire County Council and the other six district councils – are scrapped and replaced by the new council in April 2023.

Green Party’s Hannah Corlett and Liberal Democrat Chris Knight are also standing for the Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division on the new council.

The deadline to register to vote has passed and those on the electoral register should have received a polling card or letter during the last two weeks in March.

Polling stations will open from 7am to 10pm on election day.

Those who are unable to vote in person can apply to vote by post or proxy.

Sharow residents to carry out pub viability study

Residents behind a bid to save a Sharow pub are set to carry out their own viability study into taking on the building for community use.

The Half Moon Inn pub on Sharow Lane was opened in 1822 but closed down back in 2016.

Since then, a long running saga has unfolded over how best to put the building to use.

Mark Fitton, owner of the building, has applied to change the use of the former pub into a home.

However, the Half Moon pub group, which is made up of residents who object to the loss of the pub, has launched a campaign to save the building for community use.

The group is set to commission a viability study and valuation from York-based commercial property specialists MJD Hughes.

Dan Robinson, one of the volunteers at the pub group, said:

“Our proposed model is community ownership with free-of-ties lease or purchase.

“We’ll conduct business for the benefit of our community. Our next step is to look at a community share offer, to raise funds and to give locals a chance to own a stake in their pub and a say in its future. We know it’s possible.”

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The campaign comes as Mr Futon lodged an application to Harrogate Borough Council to turn the pub into a four-bedroom house.

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

In a planning 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.”

However, proposals to convert the pub have been long opposed by the parish council.

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

Minskip Farm Shop plans dog walking area

A farm shop in Minskip has lodged plans to create a dog walking field next to its premises.

Minskip Farm Shop, on Minskip Road, has submitted the plans to Harrogate Borough Council which would see agricultural land next to the store changed to create a walking and activity area.

The area, which is south west of the farm shop, would be fenced off and be open during daylight hours, such as 5am until 10pm in the summer.

The farm said in a statement to the borough council that the proposal represent another expansion of the business, which includes the shop and cafe known as Yolk Farm Kitchen.

In a planning statement, the developer said:

“The growth in popularity and demand at Minskip farm, alongside the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, has led to a growing need to increase and diversify their commercial offering to continue meeting local needs and employing more local people. 

“The proposed dog walking/activity field will contribute a new revenue stream for a nationally recognised and locally cherished business, whilst providing local people with a safe and secure area to walk and train their dogs.”

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

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Developers lodge plan for 49 homes at Kingsley Farm

Developers have lodged plans to build 49 homes on Kingsley Farm in Harrogate.

Quarterly Kingsley Ltd has submitted the plan for the north and north east of the site off Kingsley Road.

It comes as the area has seen multiple planning applications lodged to build houses on Kingsley Farm, including a proposal for 181 homes by Persimmon Homes.

The latest proposal would include 20 homes allocated as affordable housing.

The developer said in a planning statement submitted to Harrogate Borough Council that the scheme would help to offer a “sense of place”.

It said:

“Kingsley Farm brings together complex ideas of identity, community, ownership sensibilities, public spaces and landscape into a singular harmonious place for the residents and neighbours, creating a sense of place and identity.”

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The borough council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

The latest proposal comes as residents in Kingsley have voiced their objection to more housing developments in the area.

In February, 100 residents packed into St Andrew’s Church in Starbeck for a meeting on a scheme to build 181 homes off Kingsley Road.

Three Persimmon employees attended, as did two highways consultants and a planning consultant, Paul Butler, who spoke on behalf of the developer.

Mr Butler told residents that the site is allocated for development in the Harrogate district Local Plan, a council document that outlines where new housing schemes can be built until 2034.

However, John Hansard, from Kingsley Ward Action Group, said residents “will fight tooth and nail” to stop it from happening.

He said:

“People lived here for decades and have had this beautiful view, how do you think they will feel [when it’s gone]?”

Harrogate election hustings: three parties confirmed already

Three parties have confirmed candidates already for the Stray Ferret election hustings in Harrogate.

The hustings will be held at the Wesley Centre, Oxford Street, on Tuesday, April 26, from 7pm until 9pm and is free for people to attend.

It will give local residents the chance to quiz candidates ahead of local elections on May 5.

The elections will be the last before North Yorkshire Council replaces North Yorkshire County Council and seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council.

The hustings was announced yesterday and so far Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Independents have said they will send representatives to take questions.

The event will focus on the future of Harrogate.

The candidates confirmed so far are:

The Green Party has also indicated it will be sending a candidate — the Conservatives have yet to respond.

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You can book your free ticket here.

If you would like to submit a question to the candidates, send it to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk with the subject heading ‘hustings question’.

We will also invite questions on the night from the audience.

Rodent droppings found in kitchen of Harrogate care home

A Harrogate care home has been put in special measures after inspectors found rodent droppings in the kitchen and some medicine practices were found to be “unsafe”.

The Care Quality Commission inspected Mary Fisher House care home on Cold Bath Road in February.

In a report published yesterday, the care regulator rated the home as “inadequate” and placed it into special measures.

The inspection found that parts of the home, which provides personal and nursing care for up to 24 people, had “not been well maintained and were unsafe”.

Bedrooms “smelt strongly of urine” and there was evidence of rodent droppings in the kitchen.

On occasions, residents had either been given medication late or had not been given any.

It said:

“Medicines practices were unsafe.

“There were occasions whereby people who used the service had received their medicines late or had not been given them, as there were none left. Sufficient and timely actions were not taken to address this.

“A medicines policy was in place, but staff practice was not always in line with this. Staff who administered medicines had not always been trained.”

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Inspectors also found that staffing levels at the home were unsafe, with some reporting that there “wasn’t always enough staff to meet their needs in a timely manner”.

However, the report did find that staff were polite with people at the home and “worked hard to try and meet there needs”.

‘Fallen below standards’

In a statement, the home said it regretted that it had “fallen below the standards expected of us”.

The home, which is run by Svivekcaregroup Limited, said:

“Areas for improvement were identified in the recent inspection and we are committed to working closely with the CQC and North Yorkshire County Council to ensure changes are made quickly to redress this situation.”

Rachel Bowes, North Yorkshire’s assistant director of adult social care, said: 

“The CQC inspection identified some serious failings but we are confident management at Mary Fisher House want to take swift and meaningful action to improve the service they offer.

“We fully intend to support them in that and look forward to seeing progress. We were also pleased to see the CQC report highlighted the fact that staff at Mary Fisher House worked hard to meet the needs of people in their care and people were able to speak freely when the inspection took place.”

Harrogate bookshop Imagined Things set to move

An independent Harrogate bookshop is set to move this year in an effort to improve business.

Imagined Things, in Westminster Arcade, will move to new premises on Montpellier Parade.

Georgia Eckert, owner of the business, said she felt it was time for a change.

Ms Eckert said the new premises will be more visible, have more storage space and also be more accessible for disabled customers.

She said:

“I’m hoping that it will mean that a lot more people will find us.

“It is quite a popular area.”

The current store on Westminster Arcade.

The current store in Westminster Arcade.

The Montpellier outlet has a better layout, Ms Eckert added, and will be easier for customers to find.

She said:

“We are quite tucked away at the moment.

“We often have to explain to people how to find us.”

Ms Eckert hopes the move will also allow her to give staff more hours in an effort to grow the business.

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The bookshop has been in Westminster Arcade for five years and has acquired a loyal customer base.

Ms Eckert and her three members of staff are set to pick up the keys this month and are aiming to open the new store in June.

A crowdfunding campaign has also been set up to help fund the move, which has so far reached £3,000 of its £30,000 target.

Mrs Eckert said she was grateful for all the people that have helped and has offered rewards, such as merchandise bundles, in return.

Review into how Harrogate’s ‘underused’ Stray can be better used for events

A review is to be launched into how Harrogate’s “vastly underused” Stray can better be used for events.

The town’s popular Valley Gardens and other green spaces will also be included in the review, which aims to ensure the district “is gaining maximum social and economic benefit from these assets.”

As one of Harrogate’s best known landmarks, the Stray is 200 acres of parkland that sits on the edge of the town centre.

Despite its prime location, it is rarely used for large events as it is protected by legislation.

The Stray Act 1985 states that the parkland can only be used for events on 35 days a year, and it is Harrogate Borough Council that decides which events can go ahead.

The council, which will be abolished next year, is now planning to launch a review this year into how the Stray can be better used, although this won’t include a change in legislation.

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Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Chris Aldred said the Stray is “vastly underused” by people in Harrogate and that they should be encouraged to use it more often through events.

Cllr Aldred said:

“A lot of people do not use it for more than dog walking.

“It is a vast space in the centre of town.”

The Stray is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, and Harrogate Borough Council has responsibility for protecting and managing the parkland.

Damage during cycling event

It was infamously used during the UCI Road World Championships in 2019 when parts of the Stray used as a spectator area for the cycling event were badly damaged during heavy rain.

The race organisers Yorkshire 2019 later contributed £35,500 towards the repair costs, with an extra £95,000 of council cash being spent on upgrades.

Before the event could be held, the government had to grant permission for the Stray to be used for events beyond the permitted 35 days a year.

This was also the case for the Tour de Yorkshire in 2016 when Harrogate hosted part of the cycle race.

The new review into how the Stray can be better used will be led by the council’s tourism body Destination Harrogate, which has an overall aim to position the district as a “first choice destination for tourism, large-scale events and investment”.

Gemma Rio, head of Destination Harrogate, told Tuesday’s meeting: 

“There are so many beautiful spaces across the district that we want to make sure we are working with our partners to utilise effectively.

“Some of our actions are already well underway, but we haven’t begun this review yet.”

John McGivern, events manager at Destination Harrogate, also said: 

“When we do take this work action forward, it will be based on what we can do within the existing parameters.

“There is legislation in place that we have to work within, so it will be about making sure within that legislation we are making the best use of those spaces in the most commercial and beneficial ways.”

Harrogate Election Hustings: your chance to quiz the candidates

The Stray Ferret is hosting an election hustings in Harrogate ahead of a crucial polling day for the town.

In what will prove to be the biggest change in local government in North Yorkshire since the 1970s, this is your chance to grill candidates standing in Harrogate on the future of the town.

The elections on May 5 will be the last before North Yorkshire Council replaces Harrogate Borough Council and the six districts.

It will leave Harrogate without a town council and raises questions over the future of the town itself.

Those attending the hustings will be standing for the new council and will answer questions on behalf of their party locally.

This is your chance to put questions to candidates on the issues that matter to you, whether that be housing, highways or the local economy.

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The Stray Ferret Hustings: 

The hustings will be held at the Wesley Centre, Oxford Street, on Tuesday, April 26, from 7pm until 9pm and will be free for the public to attend.

All parties including Labour, Conservative, the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and the independents have been invited to attend the event.

Four out of five of the parties have indicated their intention to take part – the Conservatives have yet to respond to the invitation.

Confirmation of the candidates attending the hustings will be made closer to the date.

If you would like to submit a question to put to the candidates, send it to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk with the subject heading “hustings question”. We will also take on the night from the audience.

To book a tickets for the hustings click here.

Harrogate tourism boss questioned over £6,000 spend on snow globe and social media influencer

The head of Harrogate’s tourism body says it will continue to use social media influencers and new marketing campaigns after facing questions over the spending of almost £6,000 of taxpayers’ money.

Gemma Rio, head of Destination Harrogate, was quizzed by members of Harrogate Borough Council’s overview and scrutiny commission last night.

It came after £5,220 was spent on a giant snow globe at London’s King’s Cross station and £700 was paid to a travel blogger to promote Harrogate at Christmas, as first reported by The Stray Ferret.

Ms Rio said the marketing methods were a “toe in the water” as part of a new tourism strategy and that similar campaigns would run again.

She said:

“We’re absolutely delighted with the snow globe.

“Not only was it great for us to be reaching out to new markets in the south-east, but it also generated a lot of interest from our stakeholders locally.

“Those stakeholders have since come to ask to buy into our campaigns which will further extend our reach.”

Council leader Richard Cooper also defended the snow globe, which promoted train services to Harrogate. He said one was also used in Leeds and “a number of other locations across the district”.

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This followed questions over how many visitors came to Harrogate as a result of the snow globe and if the £5,220 was well spent.

Ms Rio said the visitor numbers were “difficult to monitor” and that there was a greater focus on creating a “sustained brand profile” which would promote the district over a long period of time.

She said:

“Place marketing generally is rarely intended for immediate conversion.

“We could have very well hit our target market, for example, a woman in her 50s in King’s Cross station going to work.

“She’s seen the snow globe, interacted with the Visit Harrogate team, picked up a leaflet and been impressed, but the reality is she’s actually already booked all of her festive plans.

“So when she sees our gardens campaign in the spring, or an article we’ve placed in the travel pages of The Telegraph, she will continue to be impressed by Harrogate and she may well come in Christmas 2022 or have a summer holiday in 2023.

“That’s how we manage all of our place marketing.”

Bristol-based blogger Heather Cowper, who runs Heather on Her Travels, was the social media influencer paid £700.

Heather on her travels

One of the Instagram posts.

After visiting Harrogate, she published an article listing “11 fun things to do” in the district and there have since been questions over how many people actually saw the content online.

Defending the £700 spends, Ms Rio said: 

“We chose Heather Cowper because her following is largely made up of women in their over 50s, which is a key target market for us.

“£700 does sound like a lot of money when it’s reported that it only got two shares. The reality is that the campaign actually got over 10,000 views on Instagram.”

Ms Rio added: 

“We will continue to look for digital influences that align with our target markets and we will monitor their return on investment.

“We have to ask our residents, business and councils to have a little faith that everything we’re doing is resulting in those visitor numbers.”