Calvin Robinson Chief Reporter, Author at The Stray Ferret

New unitary councillor proposals leave Harrogate ‘short changed’

New proposals outlining the number of Harrogate district councillors for the new super authority leave voters “short changed”, says a county councillor.

Liberal Democrat cllr Philip Broadbank, who represents Harrogate Starbeck on North Yorkshire County Council, is to submit an alternative proposal to government so the borough is “better represented”.

Under current proposals, 89 councillors would sit on the new authority – of which 20 would be in Harrogate district.

This means that each councillor in Harrogate would represent on average 6,194 voters, compared with 5,329 across the county.

Cllr Broadbank said the plan was “not right” and that he will be submitting an alternative which will reduce the average number of people per ward.

He said:

“I’m proposing a new arrangement for Harrogate and Knaresborough. It will affect nowhere else.

“It feels like Harrogate is getting short changed. I’m just trying to get better representation for Harrogate and Knaresborough.”

Some of the wards proposed by North Yorkshire County Council for the new unitary authority.

Under his proposal, the number of councillors in Harrogate and Knaresborough would increase by one but reduce the average people in a ward to below 6,000.

It would also bring the total number of members on the unitary authority to the government’s maximum of 90.

Cllr Broadbank will put his proposal to senior county councillors on the executive on Tuesday. However, he said he intends to submit it to the government as well.

Ministers at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government will have the final say on how many new councillors are elected to the new authority.

‘Tinkering too much’ with the proposal

Meanwhile, Conservative Cllr Gareth Dadd, executive county councillor for finance, agreed that the district was “slightly underrepresented”.

However, he warned against “tinkering too much” with the proposal.

Cllr Dadd told a meeting of the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency committee that he had been lobbied by other “interested groups in the county” to also change the number of councillors.

He said:

“If we succumb to the other two or three ‘lobby groups’, we could end up with 92 or 93 councillors. Where do you stop?

“It’s a debate to be had.”

Image gallery: Harrogate Autumn Flower Show blossoms at Newby Hall

Thousands flocked to this years Harrogate Autumn Flower Show.

The sun beamed down on the show this weekend, which was held at a new location at Newby Hall, near Ripon.

The event featured favourites like garden installations, plant nurseries, a world-famous giant veg competition, live theatre and Britain’s biggest display of autumn blooms.

It was also the first of its kind where ticket holders had access to the gardens at the stately home.

Ahead of the show, Nick Smith, show director, said:

“It has been an incredibly tough year for everyone and there can be no better way to welcome our visitors and exhibitors back to the autumn flower show than re-opening at a spectacular new location like Newby Hall.”

Take a look at our image gallery from the show below.

Harrogate district records 77 covid infections

The Harrogate district has reported 77 covid infections, according to today’s Pubic Health England figures.

The district’s weekly infection rate now stands at 274 per 100,000 people, while the North Yorkshire rate is 258 and the England average stands at 259.

NHS England statistics no longer report deaths from patients who tested positive for covid on a weekend.

The death toll at Harrogate District Hospital from covid since March 2020 stands at 186.

Meanwhile, the hospital is currently treating eight patients for covid according to the latest government figures.

Elsewhere, 127,624 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 119,328 have had a second dose.

Plaque unveiled in Harrogate for Hungarian artist

A new brown plaque was unveiled in Harrogate today to commemorate Hungarian artist Jean-Georges Simon.

Simon studied art in Budapest before the Great War. He left Hungary in 1920 to develop his style of post-impressionism in Italy, Switzerland and France, before marrying in London in 1937.

In 1941, Simon moved to Ramsgill before later moving to Harrogate where he lived for most of his life on 4 Park Road.

The Hungarian artist taught at Harrogate School of Art and a 2005 monograph by Robert Waterhouse, who was at today’s unveiling, brought his life and work to a wider audience.

Mayor of Harrogate Borough, Trevor Chapman, unveiled the plaque today alongside Consul General of Hungary, Krisztina Katai-Nagy at Simon’s former home on Park Road. Robin Sutcliffe, who is involved in Simon’s archive, was also in attendance.

A self-portrait of the Hungarian artist, Jean-Georges Simon. Credit: Robert Waterhouse.

Mr Waterhouse said at the unveiling today that they had planned to recognise Simon three years ago at an exhibition called Their Safe Haven.

The 2018 exhibition would have showcased 14 Hungarian artists, including Simon, who established themselves in Britain before the Second World War. Another planned showcase a few years later fell through due to the covid pandemic.

He said:

“Unfortunately, it [the 2018 exhibition] did not go to plan because there was no money for it.

“It’s very important to Robin and I that there is finally public recognition for Simon.”

Financed by a grant from the Jean-Georges Simon Trust and co-ordinated by Harrogate Civic Society, the plaque becomes the 88th in the town to be commissioned.

Another 60 covid cases in Harrogate district

Another 60 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Pubic Health England figures.

The district’s weekly infection rate now stands at 299 per 100,000 people, while the North Yorkshire rate is 267 and the England average stands at 264.

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

It means the death toll at the hospital since March 2020 currently stands at 186.

Meanwhile, the hospital is currently treating eight patients for covid according to the latest government figures.

Elsewhere, 127,636 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 119,305 have had a second dose.

Harrogate Town to host first fans forum

Harrogate Town is set to host its first fans forum this month.

Taking place at the Cedar Court Hotel, fans will be invited to hear updates from club officials and manager Simon Weaver as well as ask questions.

Doors will open at 6.30pm and the forum will start at 7pm. The forum will be held on Wednesday, September 29.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Town said:

“The forum will provide attendees the chance to hear all the upcoming news from club representatives, the Community Foundation, the Independent Supporters Club, the Supporters Trust, and first team manager Simon Weaver, who will be discussing a wide range of topics and will be available to answer any questions you may have.”

Town currently sit second in League Two with 14 points from six matches and have a game in hand.

Fans wishing to attend the forum must email Phill Holdsworth, supporter liaison officer, on phillholdsworth@harrogatetownafc.com to reserve a seat and submit questions.

Festival of wellbeing to be held in Harrogate

A free wellness event is to be held in Harrogate tomorrow in an effort to improve peoples’ health.

Onewellness, a fitness club which is based in the town, will host a “festival of wellbeing” at its facilities in Mowbray Square.

The event includes classes in various fitness disciplines, such as Pilates, HIIT, Yoga, and Barre, to guided meditation and mindfulness sessions.

There will also be prenatal and postnatal fitness classes, offers designed for people over the age of 50, group running, family gym sessions and a nutrition workshop.

Stalls will also be set up at the event with healthy food and snacks, juices and drinks, as well as a sportswear pop-up shop.

Alasdair Everest-Ford, Head of OneWellness in Harrogate, said:

“We have created The Festival of Wellbeing as an opportunity to bring our community together, and so people can make the most of and enjoy their health.”

For more information on the festival, visit the Onewellness website here.

Knaresborough trekking centre fined after 11-year-old bitten by horse

A Knaresborough trekking centre has been fined after an 11-year-old girl was bitten on the arm by a horse.

Owners of the Little Pastures Trekking Centre pleaded guilty to a health and safety offence at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday, September 10.

The prosecution was brought by Harrogate Borough Council after the 11-year-old suffered a serious bite to the arm from a horse as she walked past a stable door.

During the investigation by the borough council, the owners of the trekking centre accepted that the horse was ‘grumpy’ and it was revealed that the horse “gets territorial around her stable and snaps when people are too close”.

The young girl required reconstructive surgery as a result of the bite.

After viewing CCTV footage of the bite, the court found that while the defendant had made some attempts to rope off the horse, the precautions were not sufficient to prevent the bite.

Following a guilty plea from both Mrs Jocelyn Fletcher-Bryan and Mr Roy Bryan – owners of Little Pastures Trekking Centre – the judge sentenced them both to a £3,000 fine, £170 victim surcharge and costs of £2,500 to the borough council. In total, they have been fined £11,340.

Cllr Mike Chambers, the council’s cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said:

“Customers of Little Pastures Trekking Centre should be safe in the knowledge that by visiting the trekking centre they will not be subject to injury or trauma.

“This incident, that has physically harmed an 11-year-old, should never have happened and it is only right that we investigate thoroughly and take appropriate action to ensure it never happens again.

“The result should come as a reminder for all businesses that engage with the public that health and safety is paramount.”

Another 82 covid cases in Harrogate district as rate falls

The Harrogate district has reported 82 covid cases, according to today’s Pubic Health England figures.

The district’s weekly infection rate now stands at 322 per 100,000 people, while the North Yorkshire rate is 289 and the England average stands at 273.

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

It means the death toll at the hospital since March 2020 currently stands at 186.

Meanwhile, the hospital is currently treating eight patients for covid according to the latest government figures.

Elsewhere, 127,505 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 119,115 have had a second dose.

Beech Grove closure to remain in place, despite petition objecting

Harrogate’s low traffic neighbourhood on Beech Grove will remain in place, despite a 770-signature petition calling for it to be removed being lodged.

Councillors on North Yorkshire County Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee heard the petition today, which was set up by Harrogate Residents’ Association.

It called for the planters, which the county council put in place to encourage walking and cycling, to be removed from both Beech Grove and Lancaster Road junction.

However, councillors voted to keep the scheme in place on the grounds that the council had committed to improving cycling and walking infrastructure in Harrogate town centre.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, said that the measure was a small part of a wider scheme.

He said:

“The Beech Grove LTN is a very modest step to what this area constituency committee asked officers to do.

“Namely, to introduce a better system of walking and cycling in Harrogate town centre and also to encourage people out of their cars onto their feet and public transport.”

He added that the scheme was “under constant review” and had a maximum term to be in place until August 2022.

‘Lack of consultation’

Anna McIntee and Lucy Gardner, of Harrogate Residents Association, told the committee that the county council had “failed to consult the community” on the scheme.

They added that the council was “reactive and not proactive” when engaging with people.

Mrs McIntee said:

“The priority [for consultation] should have been the residents on Lancaster Road and Beech Grove and the many residents who do not really use social media.”

But, Kevin Douglas, chair of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said that the scheme had “transformed the experience of cycling” in the town and had a benefit for pedestrians, such as dog walkers.

He added that the scheme would become part of a wider cycle network and help connect Otley Road to Victoria Avenue.

Councillors on the committee voted to note the petition, but continue with the experimental scheme until its conclusion next year.

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‘Lack of consultation’