Harrogate Starbucks: no agreement on appeal costs

No agreement has been reached over the appeal costs for a new Starbucks drive-thru on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road.

Euro Garages, the developer behind the coffee shop, took Harrogate Borough Council to appeal over its decision to refuse the proposal.

The government’s Planning Inspector approved the development in July and also awarded costs against the council.

Euro Garages said the authority “demonstrated unreasonable behaviour” when refusing the application.

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However, a spokesperson for the council said an agreement had yet to be reached over appeal costs.

In May, council bosses decided not to challenge the appeal over concerns that losing risked legal costs of over £50,000.

Work on the drive-thru has since started and diggers have moved in to demolish the former dental surgery which will make way for the Starbucks.

When complete, there will be a coffee shop with 19 car parking spaces close to the Woodlands junction on the busy road.

In depth: Bleak future for Harrogate district rural schools?

Since the turn of the year, it has been announced that two primary schools in the Harrogate district will close.

Both schools — Kell Bank near Masham and Baldersby St James between Ripon and Thirsk — are in rural areas.

Kell Bank closed in summer and if Baldersby’s closure goes ahead as planned, it will be the first academy in North Yorkshire to shut.

Both decisions were attributed to low pupil numbers. But a closer look at the issue reveals a deeper problem in rural communities in our district.

Drop in pupil numbers

North Yorkshire is home to 356 state schools — of which 303 are primary, 43 are secondary and 10 are special schools.

Although most schools in the Harrogate district are in towns and cities, such as Ripon, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham, some are in more remote parts.

Declining pupil numbers in these rural areas has led to questions about the ongoing viability of schools.

Kell Bank, which was run by North Yorkshire County Council, closed in August.

Pupil numbers at Kell Bank Primary School before its closure. Data: NYCC.

Pupil numbers at Kell Bank Primary School before its closure. Data: NYCC.

The school, which was celebrating 200 years of education at the time, had capacity to teach 50 pupils but just six on the register. Three year groups had no children in them.

The number of pupils had declined from 39 in 2014.

By comparison, nearby Masham Church of England School in Masham town centre had 121 pupils, some of which were out of its catchment area.

It’s a similar picture at Baldersby, which has only 22 pupils.

Hope Sentamu Learning Trust, the academy trust in charge, says numbers “show no prospect of improving for many years ahead” and the school should therefore close.

The figures for Baldersby St James since 2015. The 2021 number has since dropped to 22. Data: NYCC.

The figures for Baldersby St James since 2015. The 2021 number has since dropped to 22. Data: NYCC.

Pupil numbers at Baldersby have fluctuated and recovered to 46 in 2017 before declining again.

In both cases, the schools have been victims of changes to population demographics that have seen rural areas become less busy while more people live in towns and cities.

This raises difficult issues for families in rural areas thinking about where to educate their children.

‘A highly charged political issue’

A report by North Yorkshire County Council’s Rural Commission this year laid bare the problems facing rural schools.

According to the paper, eight schools have closed in the county over the past three years – most of which were in rural areas.

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The commission said the “continuing fall” in the rural population was the “fundamental challenge” facing small rural schools.

It said:

“While the number of elderly people living in the county continues to increase, the number of working-age families, with young children, continues to fall.

“This results in a significant surplus capacity in many of the small rural schools because there are simply not enough families with primary aged children living in rural communities.

“The cost of the rural housing market discourages young families from living in rural areas.”

The challenge in attracting younger families is compounded by the fact that parents are also thinking more carefully about where to send their children to school.

Department for Education guidance says a primary school aged child should be sent to a school no longer than 45 minutes away from home.

The rural commission report said parents were choosing not to send their children to a local school and instead opting for one further away “because it offers a better-quality education”.

It said:

“An expert on the subject noted that sometimes journey times are longer because children are going to schools other than their local one because of parental preference.”

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The sentiment was echoed by Jacqui Palmer, executive headteacher at Sharow Church of England Primary School.

She said:

“Over many years rural life has become different.

“In our village, there is no pub and the post office is only open on a morning.”

Ms Palmer added that it had become difficult for villages to attract younger families.

Impact on communities

The closure of rural schools runs deep in communities.

As noted by the rural commission, the decision to shut a village schools often prompts campaigns to save them.

This occurred in the Harrogate district when within days of the academy trust’s announcement, a group of parents and villagers set up the Save Baldersby St James Primary School campaign.

The group has set up a social media account to help the fight and called on Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi to reconsider the decision.

For the group, the closure would see an end to a school which has served the community since 1850.

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

“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 response to the difficulties facing schools, the rural commission has called for the Department for Education to revise its national funding formula to support rural schools, in particular spare secondary schools.

It also believes that the formula needs to take into account “the quality of rural roads as well as distance”.

The commission has also backed a “rural stipend” for teachers salaries in order to encourage more teachers into rural schools, but also to bring more younger families into those areas.

But time will tell whether there is the will to act, or whether more cherished schools in remote parts of England’s largest county face uncertain futures.

Bishop of Ripon: Police boss has ‘done the right thing’ to resign

The Bishop of Ripon says North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott has “done the right thing” in resigning after his comments on the Sarah Everard case.

However, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley said Mr Allott should not have delayed his decision and resigned “immediately” after he urged women to be “streetwise” about arrest powers in a BBC Radio York interview on October 1.

Mr Allott, who was elected in May, sparked outrage after also saying Ms Everard never should have “submitted” to arrest by killer police officer Wayne Couzens.

The Conservative commissioner faced increasing pressure to quit, but only did so after hundreds of complaints and a vote of no confidence by the county’s Police, Fire and Crime Panel yesterday.

Speaking after this, Dr Hartley said:

“He should have resigned immediately because I felt pretty much straight away his position had become untenable.

“I was surprised he did not do this and did not have the sufficient self-awareness to realise he had completely undermined credibility in his role.

“Now, we need to ensure that the issues brought to the fore by the horrific murder of Sarah Everard are followed up with some degree of urgency.”

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Dr Hartley also said Mr Allott’s resignation highlighted a flaw in the system as unlike MPs, there is no legislation to recall police commissioners.

She said: 

“This sheds light on the fact that it is difficult, if not impossible, to remove somebody from this post.

“The fact it got as far as it did, particularly to the vote of no confidence, exposes a flaw in the system of how people in elected roles like this can be held to account for the things they say.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“The Harrogate Lib Dems are so pleased that Philip Allott has eventually seen sense and done the right thing and resigned from his role as Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

“His position was untenable after his highly insensitive remarks made about Female behaviour in the wake of the tragic death of Sarah Everard. After the unanimous vote of no confidence in Mr Allott by the County’s Police, Fire and Crime Panel it was difficult for him to continue in the role.”

Just hours after yesterday’s vote of no confidence, Mr Allott announced his resignation in a letter saying he spent the past two weeks trying “to rebuild trust and confidence”, but would “do the decent thing” and leave his post.

He later tweeted:

“After the Police and Crime Panel meeting today, I have subsequently tendered my resignation as I have become the story, and therefore a distraction to protecting victims of violence. 

“I am so sorry I cannot deliver on my program of preventing male violence against women and girls. Doing what’s right is hard.”

Another meeting of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel will now be arranged to appoint an interim Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, while plans are put in place for another election.

Council accused of ‘whitewash’ over investigation into ‘massaged’ planning report

Campaigners who spent 25 years fighting plans for a motorway service station have accused Harrogate Borough Council of a “whitewash” after it published its findings into an investigation.

The council launched the probe after it emerged a planning officer sent emails saying he “massaged” a key report on the A1(M) service station near Kirby Hill which was approved at appeal in April despite seven previous refusals since 1997.

A council statement previously said the investigation concluded “no irregularities” took place – and the findings have now been revealed in full to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The findings say the reference to “massaging” was “simply a poor choice of wording” and was in the context that the officer had amended the landscaping report to ensure it was “acceptable”.

However, the two planning officers involved in the emails were not interviewed as they had left the council and their previous messages were also deleted as “standard practice” to manage storage limits.

‘Deeply suspicious and disturbing’

Gareth Owens, chairman of campaign group Kirby Hill RAMS (Residents Against Motorway Services), said: 

“This so-called investigation and report amounts to a council whitewash of a deeply suspicious and disturbing episode in the planning department.

“This was not an independent investigation therefore – it was the planning department investigating itself.

“Little wonder, then, that the report concludes there were ‘no irregularities’.

“We now need a thorough, independent investigation of this matter and I call on the council to instigate one.”

The landscape report presented to councillors is significant because it said the impact of the service station on the area was “not substantive”.

This assessment was described by campaigners as a “complete U-turn” from a previous council report which warned the plans would cause “significant harm”.

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Despite a recommendation of approval from officers, members of the council’s planning committee still rejected the service station in November 2019.

However, campaigners believe the officer’s recommendation and “massaged” landscaping report still had a major impact on the outcome of the appeal which followed.

Mr Owens said:

“Members of the planning committee should remain very concerned about officers’ behaviour in this matter, particularly since the inspector at the public inquiry went along with the ‘massaged’ recommendation.”

Mr Ownes also raised questions over a verbal statement made by the planning officer to councillors.

The investigation findings state it was “unclear” whether the officer said “two landscape officers have judged the proposal and the proposal did not consider it caused significant harm” as this was not recorded in a transcript.

Gareth Owens, chair of the Kirby Hill RAMS, speaking against the application at Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in 2019. Picture: Kirby Hill RAMS

However, an audio recording of the meeting shared by Mr Owens reveals the officer did say those words.

Mr Owens said: 

“The evidence of this recording shows that the planning committee was misled.

“We feel that the investigator owes Kirby Hill RAMS an apology for trying to cover this up by stating as fact in their report that ‘the transcript has not accurately recorded the statement’ when they had not even listened to the recording.

“This concern could of course have been discussed with us during the investigation. It was not.”

‘Poor choice of wording’

The investigation was headed by Kathryn Daly, head of place shaping and economic growth at the council, who concluded:

“The use of the word ‘massaged’ in the email sent by the principal landscape officer to the planning officer is far from ideal, but my conclusion is that this was simply a poor choice of wording.

“For completeness, it would have been helpful to see whether there were additional emails between the two officers. However, corporate restrictions on Outlook storage mean that it is standard practice to delete historic emails.

“If this deletion is not done, the email account quickly goes above the storage limit and cannot be used.”

A council statement also previously said: 

“We can confirm that, following allegations that a report was ‘massaged’, an investigation was carried out.

“This investigation found no irregularities in the preparation of the officer report for the planning committee.

“As was stated at the time, officer recommendations are fair and impartial, and carefully considered against local and national planning policy, case law, consultation and anything else considered to be ‘material’ to the decision.”

Former Ripon pub to be converted into apartments

A former Ripon pub is to be converted into apartments.

The proposals, submitted by Leeds-based NRG Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd, will see the former Ship Inn, in Bondgate, converted into five apartments with car parking.

The plan will also see a further five homes built next to the former public house.

Harrogate Borough Council has given the go-ahead for the development.

As part of the proposal, five two-bed apartments, two three-bed houses and two two-bedroom homes will be built.

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Fourteen car parking spaces will also be provided.

The developer said in documents submitted to the council that the new homes will help to benefit “local enterprises in Ripon”.

It said:

“The site is now better suited for residential use, which help bring a more appropriate residential feel for the community, limited to scale and type which does not cause nuisance.

“The provision of new residents will potentially have some benefit to local enterprises and will add to and consolidate the general activity of Ripon.”

Philip Allott resignation: what happens now?

After just five months in charge, North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott has resigned.

Mr Allott came under fire for saying murdered Sarah Everard “never should have submitted” to arrest by killer police officer Wayne Couzens and that women needed to be more “streetwise”.

The comments sparked a backlash from the public and his fellow Conservative politicians.

Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith and county council leader Carl Les were among the senior Tories who called for him to step down.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, however, did not speak out until after Mr Allott resigned,

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Hours before his resignation, councillors on the county’s police panel passed a motion of no confidence in Mr Allott.

Following the meeting, Mr Allott, who lives in Knaresborough, said in his resignation statement that the vote left his ability to carry out the commissioner role “exceptionally difficult, if it is possible at all”.

What happens now?

Following the resignation of Mr Allott, the office of North Yorkshire, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner will be led by an acting commissioner.

Simon Dennis, chief executive of the commissioner’s office, confirmed the position will be taken by an existing member of staff.

Cllr Carl Les, chairman of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel, added:

“We will convene a special meeting of the panel to appoint an interim police, fire and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire, while arrangements are put in place for the election of a new commissioner at the appropriate time.

“We hope the news of Mr Allott’s resignation means the focus looking ahead will be on the needs of victims of crime and specifically initiatives which will help all women and young girls to be safe and protected here and across the country.”

The election for a new commissioner will be organised by police area returning officer and Selby District Council chief executive, Janet Waggott.

It is currently unclear when voters will head to the polls.

At May’s election, Mr Allott received 83,737 of the first and second-preference votes.

Labour candidate Alison Hume was second with 53,442 votes.

Independent Keith Tordoff, who finished third with 22,338 votes from the first round of votes, has indicated he will stand again.

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.