No. 13: The swift downfall of crime commissioner Philip Allott

In this article, which is part of a series on the 15 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2021, we look at the resignation and subsequent fallout of former North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Philip Allott.

The spotlight shone more intensely than ever in 2021 on one of the district’s lesser known political positions.

Elections for North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner are characterised by low turnout, with many voters questioning the value of the role.

The commissioner is paid £74,000 to hold the county’s chief constable and chief fire officer to account, and receives a budget of £1.1 million. But the level of scrutiny towards the role elevated dramatically this year.

It all started routinely enough when Knaresborough man Philip Allott was elected to succeed fellow Conservative Julia Mulligan in May.

Mr Allott made an energetic start, pledging action on issues such as pet theft and antisocial driving. But his downfall would be swift.

In an interview on BBC Radio York in September, he said Sarah Everard, who had been murdered by police officer Wayne Couzens, should not have “submitted” to arrest and that women “need to be streetwise” about arrest powers.

Keir Starmer calls for resignation

Hundreds of complaints were sent to the commissioner’s office, which found itself under more scrutiny than it ever had in its nine-year existence.

On a near daily basis, politicians lined up to condemn Mr Allott, with Labour leader Keir Starmer among those calling for his resignation.

Lucy Arnold, from campaign group Reclaim The Streets, said Mr Allott’s comments were “horrifically offensive”.

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Mr Allott apologised but resigned days later as the storm continued. The time span from his comments on-air to his stepping down was just 13 days.

Mr Allott acknowledged that his position was untenable because of the confidence he lost from both the public and by his fellow politicians.

Weeks later Zoe Metcalfe, a Conservative councillor on Harrogate Borough Council and of North Yorkshire County Council who lives at Aldborough, was elected as the new commissioner. Turnout was just 14%.

Harrogate council reveals drop in car parking income during covid

Harrogate Borough Council has revealed a significant drop in car parking income during the covid pandemic.

Recently published figures show the council made £1,412,579 this past year in Harrogate from off-street parking.

The figure is in stark contrast with the previous 12 months when the authority made £3,284,221

The borough council is responsible for setting charges for off-street parking. Included in the figures are income from pay and display parking and fines.

Council officials said previously that part of its drop in income during the pandemic was due to car parking.

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During the national lockdowns, the nation was instructed to stay at home and retail, leisure and hospitality were all forced to close.

It left fewer people needing to pay to park in the district.

A range of ‘lost revenues’

The loss in car parking income was among a range of areas which contributed to the council’s £10 million shortfall due to covid.

Cllr Graham Swift, cabinet member for resources, told the council during the first lockdown that car parking would be just one area of “lost revenues” for the authority.

He said:

“We are going to be impacted by a variety of lost revenues in car parks, pools and other things that generate money for us.”

The borough council has since benefited from a range of government grants aimed at supporting local authorities with deficits due to the covid pandemic.

Council taxpayers also saw a hike in their bills by £5 last year – something which looks set to happen again in 2022/23.

Harrogate district records record number of covid infections

The Harrogate district has reported a record 236 covid cases, according to the latest daily government figures.

The number is the highest recorded in the district since the UK Health Security Agency started reporting figures in March 2020.

Nationally, the UK has also reported a record number of infections. Figures show 122,186 cases have been recorded as the Omicron variant continues to surge.

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Meanwhile, UK Health Security Agency figures show that a total of 100,026 booster and third vaccines have been given in the Harrogate district so far.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show 13 covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital – an increase from eight last week.

Five weeks of gas works to start on Harrogate’s Skipton Road in New Year

Traffic lights will be in place at busy junctions on Skipton Road in Harrogate at the start of the New Year.

Northern Gas Networks will install temporary lights at the junctions with Knox Avenue, Bilton Grange Close and Skipton Crescent while it replaces metal pipes with plastic ones.

The company will begin the upgrade at January 4 at the junction with Knox Avenue. This will see three-way temporary traffic lights in place for two weeks.

From January 17, the lights will be moved to Bilton Grange Close where two-way lights will be placed at the junction of Skipton Road for a further week.

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For the final two weeks of the project, the two-way temporary traffic lights will be moved along Skipton Road, to the junction with Skipton Crescent.

Northern Gas Networks said in a statement that although most work will be carried out on the road, engineers will need access to customer properties to complete the project and ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas.

Scott Kitchingman, business operations lead for Northern Gas Networks, said:

 “We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these essential works.

“We greatly appreciated the patience that Harrogate customers showed us when we carried out work at Skipton Road earlier this year, and we’ll be doing our very best to minimise any disruption during this project at Knox Avenue and Bilton Grange Close.

“However, it is vital we complete the work in order to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Harrogate.

“Northern Gas Networks is continuing to carry out its essential activities while following strict guidelines for safe distance working, where possible, and following good hygiene practices as we continue to live with coronavirus.

“We want to assure residents and road users that we will be working hard to complete this essential scheme as safely and as quickly as possible.”

North Yorkshire is week behind London’s covid surge, health official warns

North Yorkshire is a “week or so” behind London’s surge in covid infections and hospitalisations, a health official has warned.

Dr Victoria Turner, public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, told a meeting of the county’s Outbreak Management Advisory Board that the capital remained at the epicentre of the Omicron wave and there were still a “relatively small number” of cases in North Yorkshire.

But she added infections were likely to rise and that hospitalisations would follow as the true impact of the new variant is felt over the New Year.

She said:

“The level of hospitalisations we are seeing at the moment are predominantly reflecting where we were with the Delta variant a couple of weeks ago.

“But it is safe to say Omicron is going to be the dominant variant in North Yorkshire.”

The warning comes as early studies by researchers at the Imperial College London have found the Omicron variant may cause milder illness than Delta.

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Dr Turner said while the findings were encouraging, it was still early data and that the larger number of infections from Omicron meant a rise in hospitalisations – similar to what is being seen in London – should be expected.

She said:

“It is still not 100% certain how severe Omicron is compared to Delta and other previous variants.

“And there still remains the same lag time between becoming infected and hospitalised, so over the next week or two we are likely to see hospitalisations increase as the Omicron wave is reflected in the figures.

“There is then usually a week to two weeks lag between hospitalisations and deaths.”

13 covid patients in Harrogate hospital

Hospitalisations are the key figures which government ministers are now monitoring as they consider further restrictions to slow the spread of the virus and prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said no further measures are needed at present as he also urged people to be cautious over Christmas.

The meeting of the North Yorkshire Outbreak Management Advisory Board heard there are currently 94 covid patients in the county’s hospitals, including 39 in South Tees, 26 in York, 16 in Scarborough and 13 in Harrogate.

Sue Peckitt, chief nurse at the NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, described the situation as “fairly stable” but added health services were still feeling the strain from winter pressures.

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She also said a large number of the covid patients currently receiving treatment were over 65s and that most of those in intensive care were unvaccinated or had underlying health conditions.

She said:

“There are currently 94 inpatients across the North Yorkshire bed base, 10 of which are in intensive care.

“This is a fairly stable picture and we are preparing for any influx should we need to step up additional beds over Christmas and New Year.

“Omicron is coming into North Yorkshire and we anticipate that we may see more hospitalisations, but we are waiting to see what the trend is showing in other parts of the country.”

Fewer people at vaccine sites

Mrs Peckitt also said while the vaccination rollout was going “exceptionally well”, officials had noted a drop in attendance at vaccine sites in recent days.

She said this is thought to be due to patients concerned about feeling unwell with vaccine side effects over the festive period.

According to UK Health Security Agency figures, more than 370,060 people across North Yorkshire have now had their booster vaccine.

This represents around 64% of the county’s population.

Meanwhile, Selby has the highest weekly infection rate in the county with 716 cases per 100,000 people. This is followed by Harrogate at 643, Craven 617, Ryedale 594, Hambleton 545, Richmondshire 417 and Scarborough 352.

Harrogate district covid rate now above 600

The Harrogate district’s covid rate is now above 600 per 100,000 people as infections soar.

A further 125 cases have been confirmed in the district, according to latest government figures.

The district’s seven-day rate has climbed over the past week as the Omicron variant continues to spread across the UK.

The district’s average now stands at 644 infections per 100,000 people.

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Across the county, the average stands at 562 and the England rate has soared to 1,006.

The figures comes as 119,789 cases were reported across the UK. The number is another record day for covid infections nationally.

Meanwhile, UK Health Security Agency figures show that a total of 99,081 booster and third vaccines have been given in the Harrogate district so far.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show 13 covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital – an increase from eight last week.

Campaigners vow to fight on to save Kirkby Malzeard pub

Campaigners battling to save a historic Harrogate district pub from redevelopment have vowed to fight on despite suffering another significant setback.

The Henry Jenkins Inn at Kirkby Malzeard near Ripon dates back to the 18th century but has been closed for the last decade.

This has been much to the frustration of members of the Henry Jenkins Community Pub group who have raised £237,000 with hopes of running the pub as a community-owned venue.

They have made several attempts to buy the building and reinstate its protected status, all so far without success. Their latest setback came last month when Harrogate Borough Council rejected a third application for an Asset of Community Value (ACV) nomination.

Determined to continue their campaign, pub group chairman Richard Sadler said residents believe the case to reopen the Henry Jenkins is “stronger than ever” and that they are now planning their next move to submit a fourth ACV application.

He said: 

“The pandemic has taught us that community hubs – places where local people can meet up, socialise and make friends or do business – are more important than ever.

“Our legal advisers have scrutinised the official report justifying the council’s decision and found contradictions and inconsistencies.

“We can’t appeal against the decision but we’re entitled to reapply – and we believe there is a very strong case for doing so.

“It’s ridiculous that we have laws and planning policies to protect community facilities – yet the local authority that’s supposed to be helping us is still siding with a private developer.”

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If approved, the ACV status would mean part of the pub is protected from a change of use or demolition and has to be considered for community bids.

But following the latest refusal, it will now remain in the ownership of developers who have planning permission to redevelop the pub which is steeped in history.

The Henry Jenkins pictured when it closed in 2011. Photo: Google.

The Henry Jenkins pictured when it closed in 2011. Photo: Google.

The Henry Jenkins is one of the oldest inns in the Harrogate district and named after the Yorkshire super-centenarian that legend states lived to be 169-years-old.

The pub was first granted ACV status in 2017 but was then delisted by the council after it was partly sold to the developer.

Mr Salder said this decision made “no sense” and that the campaign group are now also considering making a request for the council to carry out a compulsory purchase order on the building.

He said: 

“It is within the council’s powers to restore the Asset of Community Value listing and if we can get the whole pub put back the ACV, that will put us in a much stronger position – because the owners will be forced to reconsider community bids.

“Our members have been helping support vulnerable people during the pandemic and several are working as volunteers at local vaccination centres.

“So we are already active in the community – but we have exciting plans to engage more supporters and increase our profile as we step up the campaign.”

Plan to convert former Harrogate working men’s club into apartments

Plans have been submitted to convert a former Harrogate working men’s club into apartments.

The National Reserve Club, East Parade, formally closed in July following an unanimous resolution from its members last year.

The organisation had been registered as a working men’s club since July 11, 1913, when it was known as the Harrogate Battalion National Reserve of the West Riding of York Club.

Now, documents submitted by ID Planning to Harrogate Borough Council propose converting the building into two apartments.

According to the proposals, a three bedroom and two bedroom apartment would be built.

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ID Planning, which has submitted the plan on behalf of Ashleigh and Caroline Wells, said in its plans that the scheme would help a viable use for the building.

It said:

“The proposed development offers an opportunity to secure a long-term, viable use for the building while delivering two dwellings in a highly sustainable, brownfield location.”

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

Although the closure of the National Reserve Club represented the end of an era, the district is still served by working men’s clubs.

Clubs are registered with the Club and Institute Union, which represents more than 1,600 societies across the country.

According to the CIU website, nine clubs are affiliated with the union in the Harrogate district.

You can read an in-depth history on working men’s clubs in Harrogate written by historian Malcolm Ness for the Stray Ferret here.

Harrogate district covid rate climbs as UK records 100,000 infections

The Harrogate district’s covid rate continues to climb on the day that the UK recorded 100,000 cases for the first time.

The district’s seven-day average has now increased to 597 infections per 100,000 people.

Across the county, the average stands at 525 and the England rate has soared to 953.

The figures comes as a record 106,122 covid cases were reported across the UK as Omicron infections continue to surge.

Meanwhile, UK Health Security Agency figures show that a total of 97,718 booster and third vaccines have been given in the Harrogate district so far.

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No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show eight covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

Hospital bosses announced today that visiting on wards will be restricted from tomorrow (December 23) due to concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant.

Developer appeals Boroughbridge 260 homes refusal

Developers have lodged an appeal over a council decision to refuse 260 homes in Boroughbridge.

Barrat and David Wilson Homes already has outline approval as part of the first phase of a larger 450-home development at Stump Cross.

However, councillors rejected the scheme back in June over concerns that it “crammed as many houses in as possible” into an area.

One councillor, Cllr Nigel Simms, a Conservative who represents Masham and Kirkby Malzeard, described it as “like a sink development from Lancashire, not something that we should be having in North Yorkshire”.

Cllr Simms later apologised for any offence caused by his comment.

Now, developers have submitted an appeal over the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

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This proposal forms part of the first phase of housing at the Boroughbridge site.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes already have outline approval to build on the site and are seeking final permission. 

In documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council, the developers said:

“The development will respect Boroughbridge’s local character but also move the area towards a more sustainable future, through a significant increase in housing choice and mixed-use approach.”

A government planning inspector will make a decision on the appeal at a later date.