New chief executive for Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce

A Harrogate PR director has been named as the new chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce.

David Simister, who founded Different PR in 2006, will take over the role from outgoing chief executive Sandra Doherty.

Ms Doherty, who took on the role in May 2016, is set to move to Northumberland and retire after selling her Alexa guest house on Ripon Road.

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Mr Simister, who is a former journalist and Harrogate borough councillor, said he was honoured to be taking on the role, adding:

“This organisation is one that represents not only the businesses of Harrogate, but those of the wider district. Its job is to give them a strong voice and one that will be heard, loudly and clearly, where it matters.

“Harrogate is home to a thriving and diverse business community, and I’m proud to say it’s where my business has been located for the last 15 years.

“My initial task is to plan the next 12 months, securing keynote speakers for our meetings who will share their experiences, on a wide range of issues, that will be of interest, and benefit, to members.

“I won’t deny that covid has not had an impact on the chamber, and another crucial task is to grow our membership. With the lifting of restrictions next month, we can once again meet in person, and it is the networking opportunities we offer that appeal to so many businesses.”

Martin Gerrard, president of the chamber of commerce, said:

“For the last 12 months, David has been our PR coordinator, and in that time he has grasped a thorough understanding of the chamber.

“When Sandra announced her imminent retirement, I asked David if he would consider taking on the role. He is incredibly passionate about Harrogate, his business is based here, he’s very well connected and knows the political landscape well.

“I’m delighted he agreed, and look forward to working with him as Harrogate district chamber begins another chapter in its long history.”

Mr Gerrard paid tribute to Ms Doherty, describing her as “a fantastic ambassador for the organisation”. He added:

“We wish her well in her retirement as she makes a new life for herself in Northumberland.”

Five Harrogate district schools to benefit from £2 million carbon funding

Five schools and a care home in the Harrogate district are set to benefit from £2 million worth of carbon funding.

North Yorkshire County Council has secured the cash from the government to help meet its target of reaching carbon zero by 2030.

The money will go towards projects at county council buildings across North Yorkshire.

It will see the buildings improved by fitting replacement windows and making them more energy efficient.

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In the Harrogate district, the following schools and care home will benefit:

Cllr Carl Les, leader of the county council, said: 

“Climate change is a real threat to our region and collectively we need to take action to mitigate and reduce the effects.

“Opportunities such as the public sector decarbonisation fund are very welcome to help us to improve our buildings and infrastructure. We want to send a clear message that we are committed to improving our own buildings and reducing carbon from our activities.”

More than 20 schools across the county are expected to benefit, as well as council-run care homes in Pickering.

The funding will also support a study of options for environmental and energy efficiency initiatives at the authority’s office buildings.

This could include initiatives such as electric vehicle charge points, generation of renewable energy on buildings and other carbon-saving measures and building improvements.

It follows similar decarbonisation projects which have been announced by Harrogate Borough Council.

The authority was awarded more than £2.4 million for two projects at the Harrogate Hydro and the Harrogate Convention Centre.

Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital was given £14 million by government to reduce its carbon footprint by 25 per cent.

Conservatives win North Yorkshire Police commissioner election

The Conservatives have held the position of North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Philip Allott, the Tory candidate, won the election with 83,737 votes.

The vote went to a second preferences count after no candidate took 50 per cent of the vote.

He replaces Julia Mulligan, who stepped down from the role.

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Turnout for the election was 25.47 per cent.

Full results on first and second preferences were:

In the first round, James Barker, Liberal Democrat, got 19,773 and Keith Tordoff, Independent, 22,308.

Four more covid cases in Harrogate district

Four covid cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of infections since last March to 7,697.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 16 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 22 and the England rate is currently 21.

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

The last death at the hospital was recorded on April 11, according to NHS England statistics.

It means the death toll at the hospital since the start of the pandemic remains at 179.

Conservatives win Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election

The Conservatives have gained the Bilton and Nidd Gorge seat on North Yorkshire County Council from the Liberal Democrats.

Matt Scott, candidate for the Tories, won the seat with 1,991 votes.

The by-election was held following the death of former Liberal Democrat councillor, Geoff Webber.

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The full results were:

More to follow.

New footbridge planned for RHS Harlow Carr

RHS Harlow Carr has lodged plans for a new footbridge in its gardens.

The application submitted to Harrogate Borough Council would see the wooden bridge cross over Queen Mother’s Lake.

It forms part of proposals to improve the visitor experience at the attraction.

Liz Thwaite, head of site, said:

“The new bridge is part of our overall masterplan for the RHS Harlow Carr site, and will improve the flow of people and the overall visitor experience. 

“It has been made possible through a generous donation, which we will release more information about in due course.”

The gently curved bridge would be built at the south of the gardens, near to Otley Road.

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According to planning documents, the bridge would be three metres wide so that there is space for people to pass on foot, in wheelchairs or with prams and scooters.

The path at the south of the gardens would also be realigned towards the bridge as part of the wider masterplan.

A decision on the planning application will be made at a later date.

Harrogate district first covid vaccine doses near 100,000

The number of people who have received a first dose of a covid vaccine in the Harrogate district has reached nearly 100,000.

According to NHS England statistics, 98,903 people have had a first jab so far.

The figure is an increase of 3,403 on last week.

It’s an improvement on April’s figures, when the number of those receiving a first vaccine dropped to a weekly low of 363.

Meanwhile, 43,429 second doses have been given in the district so far.

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It comes as those aged over 40 have started to be invited to come forward for the vaccine.

Another two covid cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of infections since last March to 7,693.

The district’s seven day covid rate has also fallen to 16 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average stands at 20 and the national rate is also 20.

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

According to NHS England figures, the last death recorded was on April 11.

The death toll at the hospital since the start of the pandemic remains at 179.

£200,000 bid to make busy Harrogate junctions safer

Two of Harrogate’s busiest junctions could undergo improvement work worth £200,000 to make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

North Yorkshire County Council agreed today to bid for funding to improve the traffic lights at the junction of Wetherby Road and Railway Road, next to Sainsbury’s, and at the junction of Leeds Road, Pannal Bank and Follifoot Road.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, approved the bid at a meeting this morning.

He said there were no designs for the junctions at this stage but the idea was to make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

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The authority will bid to the Department for Transport, which has made £15 million funding available to councils for the maintenance of traffic lights.

Cllr Mackenzie said the bid was not a reflection of a lack of highways funding in the council’s budget.

He said:

“We get opportunities to bid for certain types of funding.

“We make a bid and we hope to receive that funding and that is the nature of some highways funding these days.”

A report before Cllr Mackenzie this morning said that the two junctions were key to the town and could “be improved significantly”.

It said the lights were running on “aged equipment” and needed to be modernised.

The report said:

“Both junctions are operating with aged equipment and technology that requires full refurbishment and upgrade improvements. As key junctions, the current performance is of some constraint to network performance and efficiency.

“Each site can be improved significantly not only in terms of traffic flow but also for pedestrian and cyclist facilities, particularly Railway Road that is one of the largest signalised junctions and does not have pedestrian crossing facilities.”

The county council expects to learn about the outcome of the bid at a later date.

It comes as the county council is pressing ahead with plans to improve cycling and walking in the town.

The authority has unveiled four proposals as part of its active travel scheme, including cycle lanes on Victoria Avenue and a 20 mile per hour zone on Oatlands Drive.

Other measures include the £7.9 million Station Gateway project, which could see James Street pedestrianised and one-lane traffic on Station Parade.

The joint plan by North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority seeks to encourage sustainable transport in the town centre.

Ripon councillor elected as county council chairman

A Ripon councillor has been elected as the new chairman of North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Stuart Martin, a retired firefighter who has represented Ripon south on the authority since 2017, was voted in at a meeting yesterday. He will chair the county council for the next 12 months.

Although Cllr Martin is a Conservative, the role of chairman is apolitical. He will be responsible for promoting the council at civic and ceremonial events as well as chair full county council meetings.

Cllr Martin was until last month mayor of Harrogate borough. He also represents Ripon Moorside ward on both Harrogate Borough Council and Ripon City Council.

Cllr Margaret Atkinson, who represents the Conservatives in Masham and Fountains division, has been elected as deputy chair of the county council.

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Cllr Martin said he wanted to commemorate Victory in Europe Day and Victory over Japan Day more appropriately during his time in the position.

He said:

“I am looking forward to supporting organisations and charities as much as possible as we open up and I am looking at setting up a chairman’s fund, because so many charities have taken such a hit over the last 18 months.

“It is essential that the civic side of things carries on and whoever is in this role continues to support businesses and the community. I know from previously being mayor of Ripon and of Harrogate district how appreciative businesses and organisations are of that support.

“It is vital we open slowly and don’t try to rush things, but as things open up I am keen to help. I think it is important that we all try to do our bit to help.”

 

Another three covid cases in Harrogate district

Another three covid cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district.

According to today’s Public Health England figures, it takes the total number of infections since the start of the pandemic to 7,691.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

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NHS England figures show that the last death from a patient who tested positive for covid was on April 11.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate has fallen to 17 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 23 and the England rate stands at 21.