Police release CCTV image after serious assault in Harrogate

Police have issued a CCTV image of a man they wish to speak to after a serious assault in Harrogate which left one man with a fractured skull.

The incident happened on Montpellier Hill at around 11.40pm on Monday, October 23.

Two men were assaulted after being kicked in the head and stamped on.

The assault left one of the victims with a fractured skull and requiring long term medical treatment.

Two men in their twenties have been arrested in connection with this incident. Both have been released on police bail while enquiries continue.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“Officers are requested the assistance of the public to identify the man in the image, as they believe he may have important information which would assist their investigation.

“Anyone who recognises the man, or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and speak to the Force Control Room. Please quote reference 12230201814.

“Crimestoppers can be contact anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

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Harrogate Theatre boilers to be replaced by December

North Yorkshire Council is set to replace Harrogate Theatre’s boilers by December after a fault was found.

The authority, which is the landlord of the building on Oxford Street, said a routine inspection found the aging facilities had to be replaced.

David Bown, chief executive of the theatre, told the Stray Ferret that an issue with the boiler was identified in the summer.

As a result, temporary heaters have been put in place for shows to continue.

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Council how much the replacement boiler will cost the authority and when it would be installed.

Kerry Metcalfe, North Yorkshire Council’s assistant director property, procurement and commercial, said:

“As the theatre’s landlords it is our duty to ensure the building has a safe heating system.

“During a routine service visit, the theatre’s boilers were found to be faulty, so they had to be capped off in line with Gas Safe standards.

“Due to the age of the existing boilers, there was no option but to fully replace them. Given the building’s age and the complex work involved, it raised the cost to a level where we had to put the replacement out to a competitive tender process.

“This process has now been completed and work to install the new boilers has begun. The work is due to be completed in December. The work has been budgeted for and final cost estimates are currently being compiled.

“Arrangements are in place for temporary heaters to be used to allow the theatre to function as normal and for shows to continue.”

The work is the latest to take place at the theatre in last few years.

Last year, a £1 million project to replace the 120-year-old roof at the building was completed. The works were initially meant to be completed in September 2021, but were delayed due to covid and labour shortages.

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Harrogate Town set for FA Cup clash against non-league Marine

Harrogate Town will take on non-league Marine today in the first round of the FA Cup.

Town will be aiming to avoid an upset against the Merseyside outfit, who sit three divisions below them in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

Marine broke club records in the 2020/21 season when they defeated both Colchester United and Havant and Waterlooville FC to reach the third round of the competition for the second time.

The reward was a tie against Premier League Tottenham Hotspur, which was billed the biggest mismatch in FA Cup history with 161 places between the two sides. Spurs went on to win 5-0.

Simon Weaver, town manager, said his side will have to remain focussed against the Merseyside club in order to progress in the competition.

He said Harrogate had been training on a 3G pitch, which Marine use at their home ground, in preparation for the tie.

Weaver added that his side were prepared for the FA Cup and its “unpredictable nature”.

He said:

“It’s massively important to our season. You can’t budget for it, because of the unpredictable nature of the FA Cup.

“But it can be a huge bonus, not just for the coffers but for the feel good factor around the place from the changing room to the fans and at board room level. 

“Everyone will come together as a collective force to do well in the FA Cup. It lifts the whole club.”

So far, Marine have overcome National League North side Spennymoor Town and National League outfit FC Halifax Town to reach the first round.

Town will be hoping for a repeat of last season’s FA Cup first round, when they defeated Bradford City 1-0 at Valley Parade.

Harrogate Town will kick off against Marine at Rossett Park at 3pm this afternoon.

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Harrogate BID says amended Station Gateway scheme ‘should proceed’

Harrogate Business Improvement District has said the town’s £11.2 million Station Gateway scheme should proceed amid plans to scrap major elements of the project.

Yesterday, Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire Council, said reducing Station Parade to one lane and pedestrianising James Street would need be dropped from the scheme in order for it “to be successful”.

The move comes as council officials are currently drawing up alternative options for the project after the previous proposals were paused last month.

In a statement, Harrogate BID chair Dan Siddle and BID manager Matthew Chapman said the organisation would back the scheme under the new plans.

They said:

“Whilst we accept the Station Gateway Project has been a divided subject we believe, after consulting with sector representatives within the BID membership, that the project should now proceed.

“The local authority has listened to the concerns raised, adapted the project to a plan that works for the majority and given assurances that the finished product will further enhance the Harrogate welcome and experience.”

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Mr Siddle and Mr Chapman added that the organisation felt the £11.2 million worth of funding would be “amiss to reject”.

The statement added:

“This level of investment to town and city centres is a once in a generation opportunity that Harrogate BID feels would be amiss to reject. Looking at the data that demonstrates how and where town centres are heading the Station Gateway Project will be the foundation of many more centrally funded projects that keeps Harrogate as a key destination for residents and tourists alike.

“As an organisation we must stress we do not see this project as anti-car or pro-cycling, purely one which will give people more choice on how they wish to travel to and move around our town.

“Furthermore, this funding, which has to be used towards this gateway scheme has earmarked some fundamental and positive improvements to public realm that we fully support if, as promised, is finished to a first-class standard.”

Full proposals on how the gateway scheme will be amended are expected to be put before senior North Yorkshire councillors at a later date.

The council halted the scheme immediately after lawyers acting on behalf of local property firm Hornbeam Park Developments launched a judicial review.

As a result, the authority announced it would draw up alternative options which would focus on “a high quality pedestrian-focussed public realm scheme, with improved access into the bus station, and better traffic flow through co-ordinated signal timings”.

Harrogate Stray bonfire to go-ahead after safety inspection

Harrogate’s annual bonfire is set to go-ahead this weekend after a safety inspection.

The event, which is organised by Harrogate and District Round Table, will return on Saturday, November 4, for its 52nd year.

The bonfire will be lit on the Oatlands Stray near to St Aidan’s Church of England High School.

In a post on its social media this morning, Harrogate and District Round Table said:

“Follow a safety inspection this morning, we are delighted to confirm that the Stray Bonfire and Fireworks is going ahead as planned.”

The decision comes despite heavy rain in Harrogate this week caused by Storm Ciarán.

Meanwhile, nearby Wetherby Town Council has been forced to postpone its bonfire event on Saturday due to adverse weather and ground conditions.

The Harrogate event will take place from 5pm until 8.30pm and include fireworks and live music.

The bonfire is free to attend but the round table, which is a charity, will raise funds for Harrogate Homeless Project.

It has set up a GoFundMe page and urged people to text BONFIRE to 70560 to donate £5.

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HMRC unlikely to receive payment from Harrogate company collapse

Unsecured credits and HMRC are unlikely to receive any payment after the collapsed of failed Harrogate company Amvoc, administrators have said.

The telemarketing company, which was based at Cardale Park, collapsed and was placed into administration in March this year.

In a latest administrators report published this week, Gareth Lewis, Lewis Business Recovery and Insolvency, said it is anticipated funds will be available to pay former staff.

However, HMRC, which is classed as a “secondary preferential creditor”, and unsecured credits are expected to receive no money.

According to the report, employees are owed £233,507.52 in wages, holiday pay and pension contribution arrears.

Meanwhile, HMRC is owed £1.1 million in unpaid VAT, unpaid employees PAYE and national insurance, student loan deductions and industry scheme deductions.

Mr Lewis said in his report that it is unlikely that any repayment will be made.

He said:

“If funds are available to pay a dividend to the secondary preferential creditors, this claim will be adjudicated accordingly.

“However, at present, it is not anticipated that there will be sufficient funds to do so.”

Mr Lewis added that there was “no likelihood” that unsecured creditors, who were previously estimated to be owed £868,267, would receive payment. 

According to the report, equipment from the company’s old offices on Cardale Park, such as computers, desk and chairs, had now been sold.

‘Cash flow difficulties’

Damian Brockway set up Amvoc, the trading name of A Marketing Vocation Ltd, from a small office in Dacre in 2010. It sold telemarketing services, initially in the legal sector, and grew rapidly, moving first to Pateley Bridge and then to large offices at New York Mills near Summerbridge.

It opened a new head office on Cardale Park in Harrogate in 2015, a facility in Leeds in 2018 and an office in Manchester in 2022.  It also had plans to expand to London.

At the time of its collapse, Amvoc employed 230 staff.

Staff were left shocked on March 17 this year when they received a late night email from Mr Brockway saying “all our offices are closed with effect from tonight”. It went on to blame “covid debts”.

Mr Lewis said in his administrator’s report that in September 2017, the company entered into a company voluntary arrangement as a result of “cash flow difficulties” because of the loss of a major customer and “significant bad debt”.

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Government approves plan to convert Harrogate offices into flats

The government has given approval for a Harrogate office block to be converted into flats.

Bramhope Property and Investments Limited tabled the proposal to North Yorkshire Council to convert the the former office block off Clarence Drive known as Simpson Hosue 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.

In a decision notice, Mr N Teasdale, planning inspector, said:

“I have no substantive evidence to demonstrate that the rear of the building would be in near constant shade/stygian gloom or that it would prevent solar gain.

“As all habitable rooms tested meet and are in excess of the minimum requirements of the guidelines in relation to daylight and sunlight then it cannot be assumed that future occupiers would complain, apply for tree works or that there would be pressure for removal/pruning.”

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate care provider hires learning development manager

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Harrogate-based Vida Healthcare has appointed a new learning development and quality manager.

Arron Bolland will oversee the company’s new training facility, Vida Academy, on Starbeck High Street.

Mr Bolland will be tasked with overseeing the creation and implementation of continuous training programs for all staff roles at Vida Healthcare.

James Rycroft, managing director at Vida Healthcare, said: 

“Arron’s dedication to providing our residents with the best possible care is evident in his career progression throughout his time with us.

“His appointment to head up the Vida Academy team and drive our training and development offering forward was the natural next step for us.

“Vida Academy underscores our commitment to both our residents and staff, and we are looking forward to seeing the impact that Arron has on the career progression opportunities available to all our staff members.”

Harrogate estate agents wins industry awards

Harrogate estate agency Myrings has been recognised at a property industry awards.

The company picked up four accolades at the ESTAS Customer Service Awards 2023 – Gold for Sales in Yorkshire and Landlords in Yorkshire, Best in Postcode, and Agent of the Year.

Myrings staff at the awards.

Myrings staff at the awards.

The awards were based on more than 300,000 customer service ratings on the ESTAS review site, and the winners announced at an event in London hosted by TV property expert Phil Spencer.

Gemma Myring, managing director of Myrings, said:

“We are absolutely thrilled. We have always been very proud of our personal service and this proves we are delivering what we promise.”

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Major elements of £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme to be scrapped

Two major parts of Harrogate’s £11.2 million Station Gateway project look set to be scrapped.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire Council, said reducing Station Parade to one lane and pedestrianising James Street would need be dropped from the scheme in order for it “to be successful”.

The move comes as council officials are currently drawing up alternative options for the project after the previous proposals were paused last month.

The original plans included reducing a 300-metre stretch of Station Parade to single lane to make space for cycle lanes and the part-pedestrianisation of James Street.

Cllr Keane Duncan.

However, Cllr Duncan, who is also the Conservative candidate for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said new proposals for the gateway project required major changes.

He said:

“We need to make fundamental changes to the gateway if we are to secure investment for Harrogate.

“The proposal to reduce Station Parade to a single lane has been the most divisive element. To be successful, we would need Station Parade to remain as two lanes.

“And plans for James Street would need to be removed from the scheme’s scope altogether.”

The council halted the scheme immediately after lawyers acting on behalf of local property firm Hornbeam Park Developments launched a judicial review.

As a result, the authority announced it would draw up alternative options which would focus on “a high quality pedestrian-focussed public realm scheme, with improved access into the bus station, and better traffic flow through co-ordinated signal timings”.

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Full proposals are expected to be put before senior North Yorkshire councillors at a later date.

Cllr Duncan added that the new scheme would still be able to deliver public realm improvements.

He said:

“A new gateway proposal would allow us to move forward with first-class public realm improvements to Station Square, give One Arch the attention it needs and tackle congestion by upgrading the myriad of uncoordinated traffic signals.

“We have a final window of opportunity to produce a deliverable and beneficial scheme. This will not be easy, but I am committed to a cross-party effort. Constructive conversations are already taking place between Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors.

“My hope is to achieve a revised project plan with clear support from the public.

“I hope that residents and businesses can be encouraged by the pragmatic effort under way and the prospect of key changes to the Gateway that would see more controversial elements removed.”

Two flood alerts issued for Harrogate district

The Environment Agency has issued two flood alerts in the Harrogate district.

The alerts have been put in place overnight for the Lower River Nidd catchment near Kirk Hammerton and the lower River Ure, which affects Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton.

It affects low-lying land including agricultural land and local road on the Lower River Ure and land around the Lower River Nidd and its tributaries including Sand Beck, Sike Beck, Pool Beck and Great Gutter.

The alerts said:

“Flooding is possible in this area.

“Monitor local water levels and weather conditions. Avoid using low lying footpaths or entering areas prone to flooding. Start acting on your flood plan if you have one.”

The move comes as a yellow weather warning is in place in the Harrogate district until 6am on November 3 amid forecast heavy rain due to Storm Ciarán.

The Met Office said rain could cause disruption in the north of England, including flooding and delays and cancellations to public transport.

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