Parents and staff object to closure of Harrogate district school

Parents, staff and governors have objected to a planned closure of a Harrogate district school.

Baldersby St James Church of England Primary School has announced it will close in August 2022.

Hope Sentamu Learning Trust, the Church of England trust that runs the school, announced the closure, saying low pupil numbers “show no prospect of improving for many years ahead”.

However, parents, staff and members of the community have set up a campaign group called Save Baldersby St James Primary School, to fight the move.

Campaigners argue that the decision was “carried out in secret, without open discussion” and that the school was not “given an adequate chance to build numbers”.

Sally Muir, a spokesperson for Save Baldersby St James Primary School, said: 

“The Hope Sentamu Learning Trust clearly fails to see the benefits of a small rural school.

“In an era where running costs are elevated above all other criteria, it is a shame that a school with both history and potential that has long served the community is now earmarked for closure.

“In their letter to parents and carers the trust claimed that they ‘have comprehensively researched and considered all potential options available to support the continued operation of the school. As there is good quality church and non-church education in the local area with capacity this provides us with limited options’.

“As parents we are yet to be provided with any data by the trust and this also suggests that the so-called Christian trust is prioritising short-term costs over long-term rural community effects.”

Meanwhile, Stuart Carver, a school governor, said the trust had “limited interest in a small rural school and has no inclination to help it thrive or continue”.

The trust has said the reason for its decision was that the school currently had 22 pupils in two classes, one for key stage one and the other for key stage two. Some year groups have just one student.

Read more:

The school, which is a grade II listed building, has a maximum capacity of 60 students.

Helen Winn, chief executive of the academy trust, said in a statement:

“This has not been an easy decision, but after a great deal of consideration, we came to the conclusion that this is the best resolution for the children concerned and their education.

“As part of the process, we have carefully looked at potential options, including speaking to other local multi-academy trusts, looking at the possibility of sharing the delivery of the curriculum with schools within and outside Hope Sentamu, and changing the nature of provision at the school but ultimately none of the options were practically viable.”

She added that the low numbers has “proved impossible to deliver the broad, balanced curriculum that the children deserve”.

Carlton Miniott Primary Academy, Dishforth Church of England Primary School and Topcliffe Church of England Academy would take up the catchment areas left by the school closure.

Meanwhile, senior councillors at North Yorkshire County Council look set to offer no objection to the decision at a meeting on Tuesday.

The county council, which is the local education authority, has been consulted on the closure.

Baldersby St James school was built by Lord Downe following the establishment of the village in 1850. The school has served generations of pupils in Baldersby St James, Rainton and the surrounding areas.

Man sentenced for possessing knife in Harrogate church

A man has been given a suspended sentence for possessing a knife in a Harrogate church.

Christopher Earle, 46, was charged under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 with having a yellow kitchen knife without good reason or lawful authority in St John’s Church, Bilton Lane, on September 17.

Earle, of Dragon Avenue, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court for sentencing on Thursday.

He was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 18 months.

Read more:

He was also ordered to pay a victims’ surcharge of £128 and £40 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

The court took into account Earle’s guilty plea when imposing the sentence.

Rev Simon Dowson, rector of the church, told the Stray Ferret he wasn’t aware of anyone having a knife in the church but the incident may have happened in the church grounds.

Tories ‘letting public down’ over meeting attendance, says councillor

A Liberal Democrat councillor has accused Harrogate Borough Council’s Conservative ruling party of “letting the public down” by failing to find substitutes for meetings.

Cllr Chris Aldred claimed Tory members had failed to find substitutes on 32 occasions since April – something he said “really upsets me”.

He told a full council meeting on Wednesday: 

“The main purpose of being elected is to represent the public and if we have a place on a committee then we should do our damned hardest to fill it.

“You are letting the side down and you are letting the public down.”

Cllr Aldred also said Lib Dem members had not failed to find a substitute on a single occasion during the same period from April.

Read more:

However, council leader Richard Cooper hit back saying there were “various” reasons why members could not attend and that he could not “apologise for there being so many Conservatives on the council”.

The council is made up of 30 Tory councillors, eight Lib Dems and two Ripon Independents.

Cllr Cooper said:

“This is just primarily the product of winning so many elections.

“There is a reason why we win so many elections and have so many committee places to fill, and a reason why you win so few elections and have so few places to fill.”

Cllr Cooper also said illness was a factor that needed to be considered when it came to members missing meetings.

He said: 

“I didn’t really want to go into this, but some individuals on this council aren’t well.”

He also told Cllr Aldred: 

“You say you are speaking for the public. I don’t know quite what mandate you think you have to speak for all the public of the Harrogate district.

“The mandate comes when we have elections. And the last time that mandate was put to the test, this administration secured the highest percentage of seats on this council that have ever been secured.”

The next elections will take place in March 2022 when a new North Yorkshire council is created to replace the county council and seven district councils including Harrogate.

It is likely that the number of councillors in the Harrogate district will be cut by around two-third with possibly just 20 seats up for grabs.

In total, there could be around 89 councillors covering the whole of North Yorkshire.

Harrogate district covid rate reaches another record high

The Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate has reached another record high.

The average now stands at 591 infections per 100,000 peoples and surpasses the last high of 585, which was reported in September.

North Yorkshire’s rate stands at 444 and the England average is 341.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate district has reported another 114 daily covid infections, according to Public Health England figures.

Read more:

Hospitalisations have increased at Harrogate District Hospital, with 13 covid-positive patients receiving treatment – a rise of three on last week.

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

Elsewhere, 129,376 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 120,863 have had a second dose.

Highways boss: No ‘exact date’ for completion of Otley Road cycle path

The transport boss for Harrogate has said there is still no completion date for the Otley Road cycle path, despite construction finally starting after nearly three years of delays.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, said he was unable to give any “exact dates” for the completion of the project, which started last month with work on a first phase between Harlow Moor Road and Arthur’s Avenue.

This phase will be completed in late November but covers only a small section of the entire route, which is designed to connect the town centre with Cardale Park.

Cllr Mackenzie said the uncertainties over the end date were due to negotiations with the government and the Duchy of Lancaster – the landowners of the Stray – over the use of grass verges protected by law.

There are also ongoing talks with housebuilders that have promised to contribute cash – and the outcomes will depend on the publication of the West Harrogate Parameters Plan, a major planning document that has also been long delayed.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Mackenzie said: 

“The bylaws required to complete phase one and two have been submitted to the Secretary of State for confirmation, who has agreed the new bylaws in principle.

“Phase three – from Harlow Moor Road to Cardale Park – relies on developer funding from the west of Harrogate urban extension. Plans are currently being worked on which will then lead to more detailed planning, including a feasibility study.

“Since the timescale for the construction of the western end of the cycle path between Harlow Moor Road and Cardale Park depends on developer funding and further work on the parameters plan for the west of Harrogate, we cannot yet provide exact dates.”

Read more:

Frustration among cyclists

The cycle path is part of a package of sustainable transport measures for the west of Harrogate, which were first announced in 2018 and will cost £4.6m once completed.

But three years on – and after the delays caused by consultations and utility works – campaigners who have supported the project have now expressed frustration at still not knowing any kind of target completion date.

Kevin Douglas, chairman of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said it was “great news” that the works were finally underway, but added he was “disappointed” that the public could not be told when they will be finished.

He said: 

“The worry is that only a small part of the project will be completed and people will look at it and think it is not doing the job we wanted.

“The idea was that the cycle path will link Cardale Park with the town centre.

“That is the council’s ambition, but it needs to be done in one go to make it effective and so people can use it, rather than it looking like it is not going to be of any benefit.

“I am pleased it has started and hopefully it is going to run smoothly, but not being able to say when it is all going to be finished is disappointing.

“There is going to be a huge number of houses on Otley Road and having a complete cycle lane when these new residents move in would be a big plus.

“Whereas now, it may be that the cycle lane comes sometime later.”

Man jailed for murder of 22-year-old Harrogate woman

A man has been jailed for the murder of Harrogate woman Anna Reed.

Ms Reed, 22, a former Ashville College student, was found strangled in her bed in a hotel in Switzerland in 2019.

Marc Shatzle, 32, was jailed for 18 years at a court in Lugano.

Schatzle, a German traveller, denied murdering Ms Reed.

Judge Mauro Ermani rejected Schätzle’s claim that Reed died during a sex game that went wrong, The Times reported.

It is believed Mr Schatzle met Ms Reed when she was travelling around the world as a 21st birthday present from her father, Clive, a Harrogate racehorse breeder.

Read more:

 

Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Show to remain four-day event

The Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate is to remain a four-day event next year.

Event organisers Yorkshire Agricultural Society confirmed today next year’s show will be held from July 12 to July 15.

The event was first held over four days for the first time ever this year in order to comply with covid regulations.

It meant a significantly reduced capacity each day but the format proved popular with tickets selling out. Prince Charles paid a surprise visit in glorious sunshine.

Next year’s show will follow the same measures, including limits on attendance and tickets being purchased in advance.

Read more:

The daily programme of events will be finalised early next year.

Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the society said: 

“The pandemic forced us to change the way we did things at the show and there was not one section of the Great Yorkshire Show that was unchanged. This pressed a reset button on our whole operations and some of these changes were so successful, they are here to stay.

“Spreading the event over four days was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from our exhibitors, visitors and staff. Visitors felt that more space to navigate the showground made their whole show experience more enjoyable, while for exhibitors, four days and shorter hours meant they felt less pressurised.”

Tickets will be on sale from November 1.

County council claimed £3.9m in furlough during pandemic

North Yorkshire County Council has revealed it claimed £3.9million of government cash to furlough staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

The authority – which is the largest employer in the county – said a total of 1,288 jobs were supported by the scheme, which came to an end last Thursday after 18 months.

According to government guidance, public sector organisations were not expected to furlough their workforce and staff whose work was no longer possible had to be considered for redeployment.

However, where councils had arms-length organisations which rely on income and not public money, then furloughing staff was allowed.

A county council spokesperson said: 

“The county council has claimed furlough payments for staff within its traded services

“Traded services staff are those who work within commercial companies created by the county council, sometimes with partners.

“The furloughed posts would normally be funded by income to these companies, but this stopped, or was greatly reduced during the pandemic.

“These traded services areas include such things as elements of waste management, building design consultancy, commercial property development, and high-speed broadband provision.”

Read more:

Furlough payments were claimed for school catering staff during lockdown closures, as well as staff in the county council’s outdoor learning service which it said could not operate due to covid restrictions.

The spokesperson added: 

“We furloughed 1,288 posts since its introduction, affecting 1,132 individual employees. This figure includes many who rolled on and off furlough and others furloughed only for a short time.

“This has to be seen in the context of a package of government support to deal with the financial impacts of covid across the council.

“It has, therefore, helped in the council’s response to support business, communities, residents and staff.”

No furlough claims by Harrogate Borough Council

Meanwhile, Harrogate Borough Council did not claim any money from the furlough scheme.

Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the authority, this week made calls for the scheme to be extended in order to avoid what she fears will be a “tidal wave of job losses” at businesses.

She said: 

“Although many may find work in recovering sectors such as hospitality and travel, there is also likely to be a rise in unemployment due to new redundancies as businesses fail without the support of furlough.”

The furlough scheme saw the government pay towards the wages of employees who could not work, or whose employers could no longer afford to pay them, up to a monthly limit of £2,500.

At first it paid 80% of their usual wage, but in August and September it paid 60%, with employers paying 20%.

In total, the scheme cost around £70billion – and Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones said now was the right time for it to end.

He said: 

“The furlough scheme is estimated to have cost £70 billion and this will need repaying. But the human and financial cost of letting industries, businesses and jobs go to the wall during lockdown would have been catastrophic.

“It is going to be a bumpy road ahead even so but without the actions that were taken it is difficult to imagine what the situation would have been.”

‘Public needs to know’ Ripon pool opening date, says councillor

A Ripon councillor has called for greater clarity over the opening date of the city’s delayed new swimming pool.

Cllr Pauline McHardy said “the public need to know” when the centre will be opened after she sought clarification from senior councillors this week.

The project, which the Stray Ferret revealed last week is more than £3 million over budget, was due to open in November.

But, Harrogate Borough Council said in an update last month that it would now be opened “before the end of the year”.

At a meeting of the council, Cllr Stan Lumley, cabinet member for leisure, told councillors that there were “lots of unknowns” with the project..

Cllr Stan Lumley, cabinet member for leisure at Harrogate Borough Council.

Cllr Stan Lumley, cabinet member for leisure at Harrogate Borough Council.

When asked by Cllr McHardy if the centre would open in November, he said:

“I would very much hope it will be open in November, but there are lots of unknowns.

“Until we occupy the new space and we have staff using the new facility, there will clearly be, as with any building project, there is likely to be teething troubles that need to be ironed out and a snag list to be addressed.

“I very much hope it will be November, but certainly by the end of the year.”

Read more:

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Cllr McHardy said she felt the answer was not sufficient.

She said:

“I would have preferred him to say ‘no’. The public need to know [about the opening].

“I do understand that when it has been commissioned there are sometimes teething problems.

“But surely that is built into their estimations?”

Construction of the facility is being carried out by Willmott Dixon, which was granted a £10.2 million contract by the council. Work started on the scheme in November 2019.

The 17-month contact was for delivery of a six-lane pool, along with refurbishment of the existing Ripon Leisure Centre.

169 covid cases recorded in Harrogate district

The Harrogate district has reported another 169 daily covid infections, according to Public Health England figures.

The district’s seven-day average currently stands at 575 cases per 100,000 people. The rate has increased slightly since dropping earlier this week.

Meanwhile, the North Yorkshire rate stands at 437 and the England average is 337.

Read more:

Hospitalisations have increased at Harrogate District Hospital, with 13 covid-positive patients receiving treatment – a rise of three on last week.

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

Elsewhere, 129,353 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 120,845 have had a second dose.