Council to pay costs over Harrogate office block conversion appeal

A developer has been awarded costs after successfully appealing a decision to convert a former Harrogate office block into flats.

Bramhope Property and Investments Limited tabled the proposal to North Yorkshire Council to convert the former office block off Clarence Drive known as Simpson House into 12 two-bedroom flats.

It would have seen the ground, first and second floors converted.

However, the authority rejected the plan in May this year on the grounds that the flats would not have enough natural light.

The developer took the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, which deals with planning disputes.

As a result, government planning inspector, N Teasdale, approved the plans after finding “no substantive evidence to demonstrate that the rear of the building would be in near constant shade/stygian gloom”.

The inspector also awarded costs against the council in a decision notice published this month.

Mr Teasdale said:

“It is not unreasonable for the council to raise concerns about the management of the trees through the prior approval process and the impact of the trees on the proposed development which informed its decision given the close proximity of the trees.

“It is also not unreasonable for the council to raise concern regarding the contents of a technical study. However, the council’s officer report fails to provide justification for this particularly taking into account the overall methodology used and findings of the study. 

“No technical critique has been made of the submitted assessment to support their concerns and inaccurate assertions about the proposals impact were therefore made.”

The inspector found that “unreasonable behaviour resulting in unnecessary or wasted expense” was demonstrated and awarded costs against the council.

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Police warning amid treacherous driving conditions after Storm Debi

North Yorkshire Police have issued a warning after heavy rain has caused some flooding in areas of the Harrogate district and treacherous driving conditions.

Storm Debi caused strong winds and rain yesterday and overnight. A yellow weather warning was in place for much of the district.

Police were called to several incidents on the district’s roads, including flooding off York Road in Boroughbridge this morning and a car crashing into safety barriers on the A59 at Goldsborough at 11.12pm last night.

However, no serious injuries have been reported.

Meanwhile, this morning Dishforth Road and Sharow Lane near Ripon has been reported as flooded.

The force’s control room recorded almost 100 incidents between 8pm last night and midnight, and a further 100 between midnight and 8am today, many of which were weather-related.

Officers have urged drivers to take care on the district’s road amid unexpected flooding and obstructions as a result of heavy rain.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: 

“It’s been a busy night with a high number of weather-related calls. We’ve worked hard to keep people safe and keep traffic moving as best we can.

“Storm Debi has passed, but she’s left flooded roads, felled trees and other dangerous debris in her wake.

“So if you’re travelling by road today, be on your guard for unexpected flooding or obstructions, and please allow that little bit of extra time to arrive safely.”

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Woman in 70s seriously injured after Harrogate collision

A woman in her 70s has been seriously injured after a collision in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police has appealed for information and dash cam footage of the incident which happened on North Park Road.

The woman, who was a pedestrian, was treated by paramedics and has been taken to hospital after being struck by a grey BMW 3-Series.

Police have also appealed for CCTV footage showing the grey BMW 3-Series in the moments before the collision, which was reported just before 4.10pm today.

A large section of North Park Road is currently closed to allow police to investigate.

Road closures are at junctions with Queen’s Parade, York Place, Harcourt Drive and other adjoining roads. 

Officers said the roads are likely to stay closed for some time and police are advising motorists to use alternative routes.

A North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has footage of the collision or the moments leading up to it, should email Traffic Sergeant Jon Moss at Jon.Moss@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Jon Moss.

“Please quote reference NYP13112023-0349 when sharing information.”

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Northern pledges to target persistent fare dodgers on its services

Northern has pledged to crackdown on persistent fare dodgers on its services.

The rail company, which operates services through Harrogate and Knaresborough to Leeds and York, issued the warning and promised to prosecute those who dodge fares for historic cases.

The move comes as the firm set up its digital fraud investigations team in 2021 amid a surge in digital tickets after the covid pandemic.

Around 70% of tickets on Northerns services are bought online.

Mark Powles, commercial and customer director at Northern, said: 

“Fare evasion hasn’t been as simple as people just not buying a ticket for quite some time.

“There are people who try to outsmart the system through a complex process of fraudulent refund requests, delay repay claims and a process known as ‘short faring’.

“What those people might not realise is that, as with any electronic transaction, our systems are able to identify suspicious activity and bring it to the attention of our specialist investigators.”

The company said it investigated 108,681 reports of attempted fare evasion in the 2022-23 financial year.

It attended 301 court sittings during the same period, helping to secure 14,072 convictions.

Northern said the prosecutions help to recoup £2.9 million in lost revenue for the taxpayer.

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Yorkshire Water begins installing parking charges equipment at Harrogate district reservoirs

Work is set to begin this week to install equipment and infrastructure at Harrogate district reservoirs as part of a parking charges trial.

Yorkshire Water is undertaking the work at Swinsty Moor car park today, with Swinsty Stack Point, Thruscross and Fewston set to follow afterwards.

The company is introducing payment machines and automatic number plate recognition cameras at the reservoirs.

It will see charges introduced at the car parks from early 2024.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said: 

“We know how important our sites are to local communities and visitors alike. We have thought long and hard about the way people use our sites before implementing this trial, as well as considering approaches at similar sites around the country. We believe a small parking fee and increased security will help to dissuade anti-social behaviour, such as fly-tipping, at our sites but also have a long-term positive impact in terms of the projects we can deliver in the future.

“Our brand-new, in-house ranger team will be supported as a direct result of introducing these charges and we have a wide range of exciting conservation, community and facilities enhancements lined up for the future.

“We will be collaborating with local authorities and local stakeholders to ensure the introduction of these tariffs in 2024 causes minimal disruption and will be working hard to ensure all our visitors are aware of the charges before they arrive at our sites.”

Car park users will be able to pay via card payment on site, by using the RingGo app or telephone.

The proposed tariffs will be one hour at £1, two hours at £2, six hours at £3 and an all day pass for £5.

Meanwhile, an annual pass for all car parks will cost £30.

Parking will remain free for blue badge holders.

Bransby Wilson Parking Solutions, based in York, has been appointed to operate the parking meters. 

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Police release CCTV image after fight in Harrogate McDonald’s

Police have released a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to after a fight in McDonald’s in Harrogate.

The incident happened on Sunday, October 15, and involved multiple people fighting in the fast food outlet on Cambridge Road at 4.30am.

North Yorkshire Police has arrested two men, aged 19 and 31, in connection with the incident.

Now, officers have released a CCTV image of a man they wish to speak to as part of their investigation.

A police statement added:

“Officers are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the person in the images as they believe they will have information that will help the investigation.

“Anyone with any information is asked to email benjamin.ambler2@northyorkshire.police.uk

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

“Please quote reference number 12230195734 when passing on information.”

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Council plans extra care housing scheme for Cardale Park

North Yorkshire Council has proposed building an extra care housing scheme on land at Cardale Park in Harrogate.

The authority purchased the three-acre site in on Beckwith Head Lane in January 2022 for £1.8 million.

The land was previously owned by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, which runs mental health services in the district.

Now, the council has launched a survey on creating an extra care housing scheme on the site.

Extra care housing is specialist housing designed for older people. It offers help with personal care and household chores and is designed to give residents independence.

The authority said the project could become an “asset to the local community” in light of the extensive housebuilding planned for the west of Harrogate.

In its survey, it said:

“We acknowledge that the site, at present, is fairly remote, however, the proposed plan for local development includes building over 1,200 new homes, a primary school, a cricket pitch, a football hub and community woodland space, creating a vibrant surrounding community hub, with the extra care scheme becoming an asset to the local community, providing affordable housing for older people in an idyllic rural location.”

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The deadline for the council’s survey is November 29.

The land was previously given approval for a 36-bed mental health facility on the site, following the closure of Harrogate District Hospital’s Briary Unit, which helped adults with mental illness.

However, those plans were dropped in 2019 and inpatients on the unit were sent to Foss Park Hospital in York instead.

New Harrogate Town stand to double away capacity

A new away stand at Harrogate Town is expected to nearly double the capacity for travelling fans.

Sarah Barry, chief executive at the club, confirmed at a fans forum at the Cedar Court hotel on Thursday that the standing terrace is expected to be completed in 10 days time.

The stand is expected to increase the away capacity from 600 to at least 1,148.

Ms Barry told supporters that the ongoing building work at the ground had seen the capacity reduced to 450.

Meanwhile, a seated home stand is also set to finish construction this month.

Ms Barry said:

“The away standing terrace that is being built, all being well and subject to all the usual sign offs with safety advisory group and building control, should be ready in theory for the end of next week.

“That’s really good news. The seated stand is a home stand and that should be ready by the end of the month.”

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The new stands will include another refreshment kiosk for home supporters and bar for away supporters, which are expected to be complete in January.

Ms Berry added that the club was expecting a big crowd for the Wrexham game, which will take place on November 28.

She said the club hoped to have the new away terrace operational in time for the match against the Welsh side.

Meanwhile, Irving Weaver, Town chairman, told the forum that he still hoped to find the club a dedicated training ground in the Harrogate district.

Mr Weaver said the club had made “five or six” attempts in “five or six years” to find a site.

He said:

“It is right at the top of the agenda. 

“Having got the ground itself. into an acceptable form in the EFL, we will move forward with our own facilities. It will be cheaper than hiring facilities from the West Riding County FA.”

Mr Weaver said he wanted a site that would be able to accommodate all players from the player development centre to the first team. 

Harrogate Railway FC duo looking to rebuild and grow

Mick Edwards and Fraser Lancaster want to build something at Harrogate Railway Athletic FC.

After two seasons of promotion pushes, the club has had a reset. Managers and backroom staff have left and a new regime is in charge.

But the parameters of success have changed — both want to build a club from the bottom and aim to have a community-led outfit.

Rebuilding Railway

Mick has Harrogate Railway in his blood.

His grandad, Norman Edwards, was one of three founder members of the club in 1935.

Norman worked on the railway in Starbeck when he founded the club. He and the other founder members sewed together stop and go flags in order to create the now recognisable red and green kit.

Mick himself played for the club, and also had stints at Bradford City and Middlesborough as a youngster.

He returned to club in 2018 as chairman. Now, he wants a community club with an emphasis on youth and, potentially, a drive to fan ownership.

“We’re trying to build something different. 

“They [other clubs] are looking for success, whereas for us success is to stay in this league and produce two to three brilliant players and a good type of football which I think we have achieved already.

“That’s what our set up as a club is. It’s building the club all over again and that’s what we want.”

Railway is a volunteer-led club. From the secretary to first team manager, all give up their time up to keep it going.

Fraser Lancaster.

Fraser Lancaster.

Fraser has worked his way up to first team coach.

He joined the side in the 2015/16 season as a player and went onto become reserve team manager, where he had success with promotions.

Following the departure of Mick O’Connell to Tadcaster Albion at the start of this season, Fraser was drafted in alongside Rob Youhill.

O’Connell led Railway to two play off campaigns. In 2021/22, they lost to North Ferriby in the final and last season fell short in the semi-finals against Horbury Town.

Fraser’s job has been to stabilise the side with an emphasis on utilising young players — the average age of the Railway squad is 21.

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Despite the young age, he feels the side is in a good position in the league.

“We’re more than holding our own technically against a lot of these teams.

“Maybe against the direct, physical and experienced sides, some of the lads are not quite used to that yet. The dark arts, shall I say.

“If you’re 17 or 18 and stepping into that, it can be intimidating. But it is a steep learning curve for those players. This season is a learning curve for them.”

Currently, at the time of writing, Railway sit 11th in the Northern Counties East Division One – four steps below the English Football League.

Despite last season’s play-off heartbreak, Fraser is taking it game-by-game and not getting ahead of himself with where the club may finish.

“Let’s see where we end up. I would love us to go and compete in the play-offs, but we are being realistic at the same time.

“Everyone is on the same page.”

Fan-owned club

Mick has ambitions for Harrogate Railway.

The club has a lot of history to look back on. 

Railway had two famous FA Cup ties live on television against Bristol City in 2002 and Mansfield Town at home in the second round in 2008, which required temporary stands to cope with demand.

Despite the history, the club needs to regroup and build, says Mick.

He floats the idea of the club being fan-owned, something other non-league sides such as FC United of Manchester have done successfully.

The club is already tied to community, including its relationship with Harrogate Hospital Charity and offering its land for Starbeck Community Day. Last week, the club also held its own fireworks display.

For Mick, success looks different to what happens on the pitch.

He wants to grow the fanbase from the current average of 150 spectators at a home game at Station View in Starbeck to closer to 200.

From there, Mick sees potential for a fan-owned club.

“My aim is for the club to become a fan-owned club.

“You look at the fan-owned clubs and they all do quite well. It’s just something that we’re looking into.”

Mick Edwards.

Mick Edwards

Mick also points to the infrastructure at the ground, some of which dates back to when the club was founded. 

The club plans to upgrade its perimeter fence and floodlights with grants from the league.

“Those floodlights have been there for around 35 to 40 years. That fencing has been there I should think since my grandad started.”

To Mick, increasing the volunteers, improving the infrastructure and pushing Railway towards a more community orientated focus is success.

Both believe that Railway is here for Harrogate and has a story to tell. Fraser says:

“You only have to look at the pictures on the wall as you came in of all the past successes, the cup wins and various different things.”

Bottesford Town are next to visit Station View on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the club also has a big draw in the West Riding County Cup against National League FC Halifax Town.

For Mick, the ties are an opportunity to show supporters what Railway has to offer.

“Harrogate Railway has got a good history and it has got a good story to tell.”

If you have any local sporting heroes who you think should be featured in Sporting Spotlight, contact calvin@thestrayferret.co.uk.

North Yorkshire combined authority could be launched in January

A combined authority in York and North Yorkshire could be in operation in the new year after an order was laid before parliament.

The combined authority, which will be overseen by a directly elected mayor, is expected to have powers to make decisions on matters such as economic development and transport.

An order which would establish the organisation was laid before Parliament on Tuesday (November 7).

It paves the way for a North Yorkshire devolution deal, which is worth £540 million over 30 years, to become law.

MPs are now expected to consider the draft order before Christmas. 

James Farrar, interim director of transition for the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: 

“Subject to progress, a new combined authority could be operational in January and formally launched in February. 

“A mayoral election would take place on 2nd May 2024.”

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, added:

“The prospect of bringing more decision-making powers and millions of pounds in additional funding from the government will bring real and tangible benefits for hundreds of thousands of people in York and North Yorkshire.”

The move to set up a combined authority comes as North Yorkshire agreed a historic devolution deal with government.

The proposed devolution deal includes a £7 million investment to drive green economic growth towards the ambition of York and North Yorkshire becoming the country’s first carbon negative region.

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There is also proposed investment of up to £2.65 million to deliver affordable low-carbon housing, and £13 million for the building of new homes on brownfield land during 2023/24 and 2024/25.

The elected mayor will make decisions on investments in strategic priorities such as for transport, housing, and adult education.

The mayor will also have responsibilities for community safety and strategic responsibility for the totality of policing, fire and crime for York and North Yorkshire.

They will appoint a deputy mayor to carry out many of the powers and duties of the role currently known as police, fire and crime commissioner.