Police appeal after ‘unexplained’ death of Ripon man

Police today issued an appeal for information about the death of a Ripon man at his home.

David Lupton, 50, died at his home in the city on August 27.

North Yorkshire Police is looking for witnesses and information about his last movements.

Officers said the death is being treated as unexplained.

A police statement said:

“We are particularly interested to speak to anyone who may have seen David on Thursday 26 August up until lunchtime on the Friday when he was found deceased by a family member.

“At this time the sudden death is being treated as unexplained.

“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for DC EVANS. You can also email sheree.evans@northyorkshire.police.uk.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12210190039.”

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Most daily covid infections ever in Harrogate district

The Harrogate district has reported another record high for daily covid cases.

A further 202 cases were confirmed today by Public Health England. The figure surpasses the previous high of 191 on October 11.

The district’s seven-day covid rate now stands at 637 per 100,000.

The North Yorkshire average is 504 and the England rate stands at 395.

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No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to latest NHS England figures.

Harrogate District Hospital is currently treating 18 covid patients — the most since March this year when the hospital was recovering from its busiest coronavirus period

Police commissioner Philip Allott resigns

Philip Allott, North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, has resigned from his position.

Mr Allott came under increasing pressure to step down after saying Sarah Everard “never should have submitted” to arrest by killer police officer Wayne Couzens.

His resignation comes as councillors passed a motion of no confidence in his leadership and fellow Conservative politicians, including Ripon MP Julian Smith, called for him to resign.

In a statement, Mr Allott said:

“Over the past two weeks I have tried to rebuild trust and confidence in my work as York and North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.  I needed to do that following comments I made on an interview with Radio York regarding the horrific abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard.

“I need to be clear.  I apologise unreservedly for my remarks.  They do not reflect my views.  I misspoke and I am devastated at the effect that this has had on victims of crime and the groups that support them. I have tried to say this again and again but I recognise that what I have said has not always been heard as I intended.

“I had hoped I could rebuild trust, to restore confidence.  I was pleased that so many victims groups had accepted that I was genuinely sorry and were willing to work with me to help me in the mammoth task I had ahead.

“Following this morning’s meeting of the Police and Crime Panel it seems clear to me that the task will be exceptionally difficult, if it is possible at all.  It would take a long time and a lot of resources of my office and the many groups who do excellent work supporting victims.

“This is time victims do not have.  There are women and girls in York and North Yorkshire today suffering at the hands of men.  Victims and the groups who support them need to be heard.  They cannot be heard if the airwaves are filled with discussion about my future.

“That is why I am doing the honourable thing and resigning as Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner – to restore confidence in the office which I believe will be almost impossible for me to do, and to enable victims’ voices to be heard clearly without the distraction of the continued furore which surrounds me.

“I entered public life because I wanted to make a difference.  I still do.  So, I am committing myself to doing all I can as a private individual to support victims groups.  The pledge I made as Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner was genuine.  It is one I will keep.

“I would like to thank my office and especially my Chief Executive for his help and support, especially during the last two weeks which has been a challenging time for everyone at the OPFCC.

“Whoever the new Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner will be I wish them every success in what is one of the most demanding but rewarding jobs in the UK.”

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Mr Allott was elected to the position back in May 2021 with 83,737 votes.

Simon Dennis, Chief Executive of the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, added:

“The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel will now arrange the appointment of an acting Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to be chosen in accordance with the law, from amongst the staff of the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

“Further announcements will be made by the Panel in due course.

“In the meantime, the staff of the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire and York will continue to work to protect communities, support victims and keep residents safe and feeling safe.”

Councillors pass ‘no confidence’ vote in police commissioner Philip Allott

Councillors on a police scrutiny panel have called for North Yorkshire’s crime commissioner Philip Allott to resign and passed a motion of no confidence in him.

Mr Allott has come under increasing pressure to step down after saying Sarah Everard “never should have submitted” to arrest by killer police officer Wayne Couzens.

Cllr Carl Les, Conservative chair of the panel and leader of North Yorkshire County Council, told Mr Allott “you must consider your position now”.

Mr Allott gave a statement to the panel which reiterated his apology and said he was “undertaking training” to understand violence against women and girls.

However, he said he wanted to “see through” his position.

The panel, which met today, unanimously passed a motion of no confidence in Mr Allott.

‘You must consider your position now’

Cllr Les said a letter from Mr Allott’s own staff raised concern over his comments and his behaviour was handed to the panel.

He added:

“in my opinion you do not say how it addresses the issues, the anger and the hurt.

“I have been taking soundings in our council before the letter from your staff was received. We have lost confidence in you now and that is frustrating.

“You must consider your position now.”

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Meanwhile, Cllr Helen Grant, the only female panel member present, told Mr Allott:

“I am shocked that despite the public outcry, despite the petition and despite the crass comments, you are still sitting in your position.”

Commissioner confident he can ‘win back confidence’

Mr Allott told the panel that he had “some shortcomings in terms of my understanding in terms of violence against women and girls”.

He said that he had started training “at his own expense” to understand the issue and admitted that his answer during the BBC Radio York interview was “a car crash”.

Mr Allott went onto say that his answer “did not represent” his view and pointed to a list of measures that he had commissioned, including victims support services.

But, Mr Allott said he would not resign and wanted to continue in his role.

He said:

“The issue is whether I can regain trust. If I cannot regain trust, then I will do the honourable thing.”

Mr Allott went on to tell the panel that he believed he “could win back confidence”.

The police, fire and crime panel has no legal power to remove Mr Allott from his position.

Cllr Les expressed frustration at the panel’s lack of power and said he intended to write to government to ask for a “right of recall” for police commissioners.

Bar and restaurant planned for former Knaresborough bank

The former Natwest bank in Knaresborough could be turned into a bar and restaurant.

Under licensing plans submitted to Harrogate Borough Council, the Claro Chambers building on the town’s High Street would be converted into a “casual eating and drinking destination”.

Harrogate’s Major Tom’s Social and Knaresborough-based Turning Point Brewing Co have submitted the application as part of a collaboration between the two businesses.

The building has been vacant since NatWest bank moved out in October 2017.

In a statement, Major Tom’s and Turning Point said the project was in its early stages.

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They added that they had been working together for five years and took the opportunity to create the bar when the building became available.

Major Tom’s and Turning Point said:

“This project is currently in the early stages; we do not yet have a premises license for the venue, so we wanted to wait until we had that and the keys before officially announcing anything.

“We (Major Tom’s Social and Turning Point Brew Co.) are looking to collaborate on a bar in Knaresborough town centre. 

“Our aim is to create a casual eating and drinking destination in the Claro Chambers bank building on High Street, bringing the best of each business to the table. 

“We have an established relationship of working together for almost five years, and when the opportunity to create a unique venue in Knaresborough presented itself, we couldn’t wait to get to started. 

“We fell in love with the building at first sight and saw its potential to be restored into a thriving and well utilised space, and a great addition to the town for locals and tourists alike.”

The borough council granted planning permission to change the use of the building from a bank to a bar and restaurant in August last year.

If approved by the council’s licensing committee next week, the proposal would see the bar open from midday until 12.30am.

The application also seeks permission for recorded music and films.

Improving county bus services an ‘enormous challenge’, says transport boss

Improving bus services with more regular and reliable journeys across Harrogate and North Yorkshire will be an “enormous challenge”, the county’s transport boss has said.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, made the statement on Tuesday when the authority approved its £116 million Bus Service Improvement Plan, which aims to boost passenger numbers and cut car use.

The plan asks for £116 million of government cash over the next eight years to fund support for existing and new services, a simpler ticketing system, better information on journeys and other measures.

The aim is for services to cover the whole of England’s largest county – something Cllr Mackenzie said will be an “enormous challenge”.

He said: 

“Bus services are very important to us – we as a council spend over £24 million on buses to get our pupils to schools.

“We spend £1.5 million every year subsidising rural bus services, which are not commercially viable and would not run without us.

“We also spend over £7 million a year on providing 127,000 bus passes for free travel for people because of age or disability, or because they are carers.

“But the challenge we have today to provide regular and sustainable bus services throughout the vast geography that North Yorkshire County Council covers with its sparse population is enormous.

“That is why I welcome the national bus strategy.”

Under the government’s bus strategy, £3 billion is to be made available to make buses across the country cheaper and easier to use.

It is hoped these targets will be also met through so-called enhanced partnerships where councils agree to infrastructure improvements in return for better services from bus companies.

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Other proposals in North Yorkshire County Council’s improvement plan include half-price fares for job seekers and apprentices, a new website with information on services and more zero-emission buses.

Pannal park and ride

There is also talk of a park and ride scheme in Harrogate, which officials are looking into but have yet to bring forward any detailed proposals for.

There are two potential sites for this: land near Pannal Golf Club and another site near Buttersyke Bar roundabout, south of the village.

The Harrogate district has more zero tail-pipe emission buses than most places in North Yorkshire and it is hoped more will be provided through a £20m bid for government cash.

If approved, the cash will be used to make all of Harrogate Bus Company’s fleet zero-emissions, with 39 new buses coming to the district.

Alex Hornby, chief executive of Transdev in the north of England, which owns Harrogate Bus Company, has expressed his support for the bid, saying it comes at a time when he believes Harrogate is “ready to embrace more sustainable forms of travel”.

Mr Hornby is also one of several business leaders who will speak at a net-zero conference at Harrogate Convention Centre on Friday when the vision of a greener transport future will be high on the agenda.

Another aim of the improvement plan is to expand the rollout of the council’s on-demand bus service, YorBus, which allows app users to book and track services in Ripon, Bedale and Masham.

There have, however, been questions over why the service has been hailed a “success” after it emerged it has only attracted about three passengers per hour.

In response to this, Cllr Mackenzie said the council would listen to all feedback, but added the number of those praising the service exceeded the number of critics.

He said:

“We may or may not introduce it elsewhere, but so far the signs are very good.”

Harrogate hospital treating most covid patients since March

There has been an increase in covid patients at Harrogate hospital as the district’s infection rate remains the highest in Yorkshire.

The hospital was treating 18 patients yesterday, compared with 13 last week.

It is the highest total since March 12 when the hospital was recovering from peak pressure.

The Harrogate district today reported another 189 daily covid infections, according to Public Health England figures.

The district’s seven-day average currently stands at 639 cases per 100,000 people and is the highest rate in Yorkshire.

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The North Yorkshire rate is 486 and the England rate is 382.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital.

Elsewhere, 129,518 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 121,126 have had a second dose.

‘Lancashire sink estate’ plans resubmitted in Boroughbridge

A proposal for hundreds of new homes in Boroughbridge that a councillor likened to ‘a sink development from Lancashire’ has been resubmitted.

Cllr Nigel Simms, a Conservative who represents Masham and Kirkby Malzeard on Harrogate Borough Council, apologised for any offence caused after he described the plans for 260 homes as “like a sink development from Lancashire, not something that we should be having in North Yorkshire”.

The council’s planning committee rejected the plans in June over concerns that too many terraced properties had been concentrated in a small area, and that residents would also not get enough garden or storage space.

Cllr Andrew Paraskos, a Conservative who represents Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale who also sits on the planning committee, said at the time “it looks like they have crammed as many houses in as possible”.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes have now lodged new plans for 256 homes — four fewer than its previous application — at Stump Cross, as part of a wider 450-home development.

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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.

The site layout for the planned 256 homes in Boroughbridge.

The site layout for the planned 256 homes in Boroughbridge.

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.”

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

Terminally ill man takes on 100-mile trek in wheelchair

A Green Hammerton man with motor neurone disease is to embark on a 100-mile trek in aid of a Leeds hospital charity.

Ian Flatt, 56, was diagnosed with the disease two years ago and is to take on the challenge despite needing a respirator for 16 hours a day.

He is fundraising for a Leeds Hospitals Charity appeal to raise £5 million to build the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds.

Ian will complete the 100-mile challenge in a series of 18 walks, which include some of his favourite trails around the Hole of Horcum, Rievaulx Moor, Thixendale and finishing with a trek around the dramatic Sutton Bank escarpment.

He said:

“I was inspired to take on another 100-mile challenge to support this important appeal, spearheaded by Rob and his family. 

“Such a facility would make a vital difference to people like me and our loved ones. A bespoke care centre that meets the needs of MND sufferers and their families is so needed as MND is such a cruel disease.”

Ian, who has already completed a 100-mile trek with his family this year, was diagnosed with MND in March 2019.

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Speaking to the Stray Ferret in May ahead of his fundraising for Saint Michael’s Hospice, he said news of his diagnosis took its toll on his family at first.

However, despite being told not to plan beyond Christmas that year, he was determined not to let his condition stop him being in the great outdoors.

With the help of Saint Michael’s, he got an off-road wheelchair that allows him to continue enjoying walks with his family.

‘My sense of adventure remains intact’

Now, with the support of his wife Racheal and their two daughters, he began his latest trek yesterday.

He said:

“Motor neurone disease is a disease for which there is no treatment or cure, with 50% of sufferers sadly dying within the first two years of diagnosis. 

“Thanks to the critical help, compassion, expertise and kindness provided by the specialist MND team in Leeds, my family and I have maintained our sense of fun, and our wonderful ability to laugh with each other. 

“Whilst my mobility, dexterity and respiratory functions are failing, my sense of adventure remains intact.”

You can donate to Ian’s fundraising effort for the Leeds Hospital Charity appeal here.

Harrogate town council: the Stray’s future and relationship with business

One of the Harrogate’s most prized assets is the Stray.

The 200-acre grassland is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, which manages the Queen’s estate.

But its management and upkeep lies solely with Harrogate Borough Council — which will no longer exist in April 2023.

The scrapping of the borough council also raises questions for businesses, which will need to deal with an entirely new authority in the coming years.

The key question is whether or not these important areas for the Harrogate district become the responsibility of the new unitary council or a newly formed town council.

Who will maintain the Stray?

When the borough council no longer exists, any maintenance of the Stray will be handed to the new authority.

This means that the upkeep will be carried out by the unitary authority. But, as an asset which is unique to Harrogate, a new Harrogate town council could bid for its control.

As previously reported, many of the powers which lower-tier councils in Cornwall decided to take on were the maintenance of parks and gardens.

So although a Harrogate town council might not be able to keep up with the demands of running the Harrogate Convention Centre, it may regard the Stray as a more manageable asset.

A year to forget on West Park Stray following the UCI Road World Championships.

A year to forget on West Park Stray following the UCI Road World Championships.

However, taking on control of the Stray can be complicated, as highlighted by the recent controversy over damage to the Stray caused by the UCI Road World Championships and the £130,000 cost of restoration work.

Plus, the current borough council has a parks and environment department which oversees it — something a town council would have to resource itself.

Judy D’Arcy Thompson, chairman of the Stray Defence Association, said it had been considering the Stray’s future post-Harrogate Borough Council.

She added:

“We have always worked in conjunction with the Duchy of Lancaster and Harrogate Borough Council to ensure the protection and upkeep of the Stray and are obviously concerned as to what any new council would be in a position to undertake. Clearly the Duchy of Lancaster would also be involved in any discussions and decisions about this

“Our hope is that any new authority would continue to care for the Stray and manage it in the best possible way to ensure it is maintained to a high standard for the use and enjoyment of all of Harrogate’s residents.”

Taking care of business

The loss of Harrogate Borough Council will also affect the town’s economy.

Harrogate’s traders will soon have to negotiate with a new council on matters such as planning, licensing and business rates.

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Thousands of pounds of grants were distributed through the borough council to keep traders afloat during covid.

There is also the ongoing debate over the £10.9 million Station Gateway project, which has seen battle lines drawn between some businesses and the borough and county councils, which both support the pro-cycling scheme.

David Simister, chief executive of the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, says business will continue to forge a relationship with the council, whether it is the new unitary authority or a town council.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“The chamber currently has a close working relationship with Harrogate Borough Council, and if there was to be a town council, then we would seek similar ties.

“Only by working in partnership with different organisations will Harrogate continue to thrive and prosper. Our members are drawn from the whole business spectrum, and collectively have a huge amount of knowledge which a town council can tap into.”

The future

The prospect of a Harrogate town council is already raising questions and creating uncertainties, which the new unitary council will need to address quickly.

The ball has been set rolling for devolution and the debate over where local power will reside and how assets will be run will grow ever more intense until matters are resolved.