Calvin Robinson Chief Reporter, Author at The Stray Ferret

Campaigners threaten judicial review to halt motorway services near Ripon

Campaigners in Kirby Hill have given North Yorkshire Council notice of a legal challenge against a decision to approve a motorway service station near the village.

Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services have told the authority they intend to press ahead with a judicial review over a move to grant permission for the service station between junctions 48 and 49 of the A1(M) northbound, near Boroughbridge and Ripon.

Councillors on the authority’s planning committee granted approval for the scheme on September 12, which would see a Welcome Break built at the site, as well a filling station and 364 car parking spaces created.

The proposal already had outline permission after the government’s Planning Inspectorate approved the plan on appeal in April 2021.

Applegreen, which is based in Dublin, applied for amendments to the proposal, including an extension to the length of the slip roads and increasing the permissible height of the eastern dumbbell roundabout by up to 1.25 metres.

However, Gareth Owens, chair of the Kirby Hill RAMS, said the move amounted to “significant change” to the scheme and confirmed the campaign group would challenge the approval.

He said:

“The leader of the new council, Cllr Carl Les, told parishes that he wants to work with them and ensure their voice is represented in North Yorkshire Council decisions.

“These laudable principles form the basis of the parish charter that he signed in July 2023. Two months later, planning officers and the strategic planning committee have ridden roughshod over the needs, rights and wishes of the local community.

“This is totally unacceptable. We have written to the council initiating the pre-action protocol for judicial review and giving them 14 days to reconsider this decision and respond, in light of the serious legal issues that we have identified.”

Mr Owens said the group would challenge the decision on four grounds: unlawful decision, irrational decision, procedural impropriety and unfair decision.

The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire Council for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The move comes after the government approved plans for the service station following a series of public inquiries and planning battles.

In a saga which has spanned a quarter of a century, Applegreen’s application has been before multiple council planning committees, faced four public inquiries and been turned down twice by the Secretary of State and the High Court.

The inquiry, which was held by planning inspector David Rose and streamed onto YouTube, lasted two weeks and included multiple testimonies from residents, campaigners and developer Applegreen.

In a decision notice, Mr Rose said after considering the evidence that the benefits of a service station would outweigh the harm.

Five-week road closure begins today at A59 Kex Gill

A five-week road closure has come into effect on the A59 at Kex Gill between Harrogate and Skipton today.

North Yorkshire Council has closed the road between Church Hill and Pace Gate, leading to lengthy diversions.

The council has said the closure will enable it to carry out resurfacing, essential stabilising work to the slope of the existing road as well as drainage repairs, gully-clearing, cat’s eyes replacement and maintenance of ground monitoring equipment.

A diversion will take drivers through Pool in Wharfedale and Otley before re-joining the A59. A full diversion route can be found on the North Yorkshire Council roadworks map.

The DalesBus 59 between Harrogate and Skipton will also run on an amended timetable from October 14 until November 11.

Buses will run twice a day in each direction on Saturdays only during the period of the closure and will operate from Harrogate through Otley and Ilkley before joining the A59 near Chelker Reservoir.

Work will take place on a section of the A59 which is next to the council’s £68.8 million Kex Gill re-route project.

Council officers will also be carrying out essential stabilising works to the slope of the existing road as well as drainage repairs, gully-clearing, refreshing lining, replacing cat’s eyes and maintenance of the ground monitoring equipment.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways and transport at the council, said:

“Kex Gill has a history of landslips, and the route has had to be closed a total of 12 times in the past 22 years. We must stabilise the slope near the existing road to avoid any lengthy closures over the next two years whilst the new road is constructed.”

Harrogate brewery hosts UK’s high profile comedians

A Harrogate brewery has become a hotspot to see some of the UK’s most high profile comedians.

Rooster’s Brewing Co, which is based at Hornbeam Park, has played host to the likes of Jon Richardson, Matt Forde and Maisie Adams in the last 12 months.

This past week, Lucy Beaumont, who is known for her appearances on Taskmaster and Meet The Richardsons, played an intimate performance in the brewery’s taproom ahead of her nationwide tour.

Much of the draw comes down to the monthly comedy night held on the last Thursday of every month, called Really Funny Comedy.

Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Micky P Kerr, works closely with the brewery to organise the event, which has seen the likes of Josh Pugh, Kiri Pritchard-Mclean and social media star Troy Hawke perform.

Tom Fozard, commercial director at Rooster’s, used to host comedy gigs while at university.

He said the feedback from comics who perform at the brewery has been encouraging.

Mr Fozard said:

“I used to host comedy gigs with a local promoter while working for my university Students’ Union longer ago than I care to remember, so getting to work alongside Micky P Kerr and attract the talent we have done in such a short space of time is incredibly fun and rewarding.

“The feedback we’re getting from the comics has also been great, so I know what we’re doing is being well received both from a gig-goer’s point of view, but also backstage. Everyone also gets to enjoy a decent pint or two with their comedy too, which is an added bonus.”

Government cannot be trusted to divert HS2 money to Harrogate, say Lib Dems

The government cannot be trusted to divert money from the scrapped HS2 project to Harrogate, say the town’s Liberal Democrats.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday that the high speed rail link between Birmingham and Manchester would be cancelled. Only the new London Euston to Birmingham line will be built.

As a result, the Prime Minister’s Office published a list of projects which the £36 billion saved could be diverted to.

Initially, the list did not include Harrogate. However, on Thursday, it was updated and included £2.5 billion for transport projects for “14 rural counties, smaller cities, and towns outside the big city regions”.

It said:

“This new money could finance projects like more electric buses in Harrogate and better bus-rail interchange in Scarborough. “

No detail has been given on which buses this would refer to or how much it would cost.

In August, Transdev, which operates Harrogate Bus Company, placed a £21 million order for 39 new buses and to electrify its entire fleet locally.

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said the government’s list had already had “countless” revisions for projects which have already been in operation for years.

As a result, he added that the government could not be trusted to deliver the proposals.

Mr Gordon said:

“Any money or investment into Harrogate and Knaresborough would be hugely welcomed, and a relief after 13 years of neglect and the Conservatives taking our area for granted. Our area has missed out time and again on schemes like the levelling up fund and the towns fund.

“However, anyone who believes the Network North or the projects outlined in it will come to pass needs to give their head a shake.

“It would be too kind to even call this a plan drawn up on the back of fag packet.

“Since the publication of the document there have already been countless revisions and walking back of promised investment, and it included proposals for tramlines in Manchester that have been in operation for years, and plans to dual the A1 which the Conservatives have been promising since at least 2010.

“Why would anyone believe that this Conservative Government can deliver any of these projects, when these plans have been cobbled together off the back of another scrapped national infrastructure project that only a matter of weeks ago they were promising to deliver.”

Keane Duncan

However, Keane Duncan, Conservative Party mayoral candidate for York and North Yorkshire, described the proposals as a “turning point” for the government’s levelling up agenda.

Mr Duncan, who is also executive councillor for highways on North Yorkshire Council, said:

“The north does not stop at Manchester, and neither should transport investment.

“For too long the focus has been on the big cities, with areas like ours overlooked and left to fall behind.

“Rishi is turning this around and changing the way we deliver transport infrastructure to ensure people across the entire north can benefit.

“HS2’s costs have soared and it’s suffered delay after delay – proving a distraction from the investment we really need in York & North Yorkshire.

“The decision to scrap it and divert millions of extra investment into more pressing improvements here represents a turning point for our region.”

The Harrogate open water swimmer set to take on the English Channel

Harrogate’s Millie Bell is addicted to swimming.

The 24-year-old open water swimmer has represented Great Britain at major competitions and now has her sights set on bigger achievements.

Next year, she will take on the English Channel – one of the major endurance tests for swimmers which spans 21 miles.

For Millie, the feat will be a big task, but it is also one that she feels she needs to do.

Starting out

Millie did not start out as an open water swimmer.

Instead, she used to run triathlon while studying at the University of York.

But, soon she was bitten by the swimming bug and never looked back.

The move was organic rather than by design. In 2018, the 24-year-old went to a beginners course at Blue Lagoon in Pontefract to test the waters.

She soon found the open water swimming addictive.

“I was pretty scared when I got in, but I soon got used to it.

“That was the start of everything. I fell in love with open water swimming, the community and everything that came with it.”

Millie swimming from Jersey to France as part of her English Channel training.

Races in open water swimming can range from one mile to marathon lengths of 10 miles.

The competitions are feats of endurance which test the patience and stamina of those who participate.

Millie competes in marathon races and her biggest feat has been Windermere Lake, which stretches for 10 miles and took her five hours to complete.

When asked why the lengths are so enticing for her, Millie said it boils down to her urge to test herself and push her body to the limit.

“I’ve always wanted to challenge myself and see what I’m capable of.”

Winning bronze

Millie’s development as a swimmer has been dramatic.

In January this year, she competed with Great Britain at the World Ice Swimming Championships in the French Alps.

She won a bronze medal in each of her three events.

“Going into it, I didn’t think I stood a chance of getting a medal.

“I swam my first race and I was really happy with my time. When I saw my results and that I’ve got a bronze, I was really quite emotional. I never thought that I would get to compete internationally, never mind get a podium.”

But, for Millie, the next challenge was always around the corner.

In fact, the set piece event is in August 2024 when she will take on the English Channel.

Taking on the channel

The idea to swim the channel has always been there for Millie.

She describes it as an “itch”, but did not fully explore the idea until 2021.

“I remember one day I bought this book about it. I was reading this book and it was about this crazy woman who swam through winter and swam for hours upon hours on end.

“I read a chapter of it and I went: ‘No, that’s crazy. I’m not doing that.’

“A couple of months later, I was looking on Facebook and there was this channel relay looking for people to join. I applied and thought that I wouldn’t get on. But then I got on and it started from there.”

Millie completed the channel relay, which sees swimmers compete in a team and swim for an hour at a time on the English Channel.

But she realised that she wanted to take on the full swim solo.

Last month, she went to Jersey as part of her training which saw her swim from the island to France which is 14 miles and took her seven hours and 22 minutes to finish.

“The distance for me was not too much of a problem. I knew I was capable of doing it because I had swam Windermere a couple of times and that’s 10 and a half miles.”

Millie swimming the channel relay in 2021.

The build up to the swim will test Millie’s body, but also her mind.

Much like other athletes who compete at the highest level, Millie has been working with a sports psychologist to help get her in correct mental state to swim the channel.

“For me, I doubt myself quite a lot.

“Sometimes when you get in the middle of a swim and you’re in the middle of the sea, you start to doubt yourself and you start to panic.

“He [the psychologist] helps me with ways to keep my focus. It’s really important is the mental side. It’s only this year that I have started to realise how important it is.”

She added that the mind can also wander during extended hours of swimming, including being bored.

“When you’re swimming for six or seven hours, what do you think about?

“If I can get my brain so that it doesn’t think about anything then that is absolutely perfect. But when you’re bored, you start to think about everything don’t you? You start to think: ‘Did I say this wrong earlier in the week?’

“Being bored makes me really anxious. Some people get really bored and just want to get out. So boredom can be a bit of an issue. But, for me, panicking is more of an issue.”

The list of channel swimmers stretches back as far as 1875, when Matthew Webb, an English swimmer and stuntman, became the first recorded person to complete it.

In 10 months time, Millie could join that list.

For her, completing the task would be an itch she could finally scratch.

“It’s probably one of the biggest things that I will do in my life.”

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

Nine rapes reported at Harrogate Army Foundation College in 13 months

Nine allegations of rape at Harrogate’s Army Foundation College have been reported to police in the last 13 months.

The figures were revealed in a Freedom of Information response from North Yorkshire Police.

According to the data, nine rapes, two incidents of voyeurism and two sexual assaults were reported to civilian police between July 2022 and August 2023.

No details have been given as to whether the incidents involved recruits or staff at the college.

It comes after the college on Penny Pot Lane, which trains junior soldiers aged 16 and 17, was hit by allegations of abuse and bullying in 2021.

However, ministers defended the organisation and said it had a “much improved climate”.

Baroness Goldie, a Ministry of Defence minister, told the House of Lords in May this year that the college had taken steps to improve and that this was reflected by an Ofsted report in 2021.

However, the new figures raise questions over further allegations of sexual assault and abuse.

Jim Wyke, of the Child Rights International Network, which campaigns for the raising of the military age, said the government should look again at the recruitment age.

He said:

“Ministers must look seriously at making the transition to an all-adult armed forces, recruiting for the armed forces at 18 is the settled consensus in most of the world.”

In response to the figure, a British Army spokesperson said:

“The army is committed to rooting out all forms of inappropriate behaviour and we have a zero-tolerance policy on sexual offences – any personnel convicted of a sexual offence will be dismissed.

“We have very strong safeguarding mechanisms at AFC(H) to ensure junior soldiers have the right support structures. This includes multiple methods of accessing welfare support, including confidential support lines.

“It would be inappropriate to comment on investigations which may be ongoing”

Handmade rug showroom opens in Harrogate tomorrow

A new handmade rugs showroom is set to open in Harrogate.

Emma Mellor Handmade Rugs will welcome its first customers on Albert Street tomorrow (October 7).

The store, which is based in the former Dizzy Duck unit, will sell a range of rugs from Afghan to Scandinavian designs.

Emma Mellor, who owns the venture and has a showroom in York, said she chose to open in Harrogate after initially visiting to buy some paint and noticed the vacant unit.

She said:

“I’ve always loved Harrogate. My grandma used to bring me here when I was little for a treat.

“I’ve always wanted a showroom here and I’ve always really liked this street. But it’s weird, because I actually came here for a tin of paint and it just snowballed.

“I came for a tin of paint and left with a shop.”

The showroom on Albert Street in Harrogate.

Ms Mellor, who took an interest in textiles after working in a rug shop herself, took over the Albert Street unit three weeks ago.

She said that it felt like a natural choice to open a new showroom in Harrogate.

Ms Mellor said:

“I really wanted to have a shop here, it seems like a natural place. I work with a lot of interior designers who are based around this area.”

The showroom will be open Tuesday to Saturday from 10.30am until 4.30pm.

Police identify man after Ripon restaurant attempted burglary

Police have identified a man they wish to speak to in connection with an attempted burglary at a Ripon restaurant.

The incident happened at Prima Pizzeria on Kirkgate at 11.55pm on Friday, August 18.

Officers said a man tried to gain entry to the rear of the restaurant.

North Yorkshire Police released a CCTV image in connection with the incident and have since identified a man.

A police statement added:

“Anyone with any information is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for the ‘York Initial Enquiry Team’ quoting 12230155915.

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

“Please quote reference number 12230155915 when passing on information.”

Council to bid for £1.7m emergency funding for hospital discharges

North Yorkshire Council looks set to bid for up to £1.7 million worth of funding to help ease pressure on hospital emergency departments.

The Department of Health and Social Care has invited local authorities to apply for grants to help with discharges in social care, which in turn will support accident and emergency units.

Ministers have allocated North Yorkshire as one of the authority areas which has the “greatest health and care challenges”.

The government has given the council an indicative funding amount of £1.1 million, but has encouraged it to apply for up to £1.7 million.

A report by Abigail Barron, assistant director for prevention and service development at the council, has proposed a number of measures as part of the council’s bid.

Among them include employing additional agency social workers to speed up discharge allocations, establishing winter grants for the voluntary sector to help with prevention and developing additional support for unpaid carers.

Ms Barron said the measures would help to “avoid hospital admissions and expedite discharge and flow”.

She added:

“The schemes will also assist North Yorkshire Council’s strategic objective of both supporting hospital discharge and reducing reliance on short stay residential beds.”

The move comes after Harrogate District Hospital managers raised concern that patients were staying in hospital longer than they should because of a lack of private care services.

Last year, Jonathan Coulter, chief executive at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said the issue had a knock on effect on emergency departments and was the “biggest issue” that the trust faced.

In September 2022, the trust also outlined plans to launch its own home care service in a bid to free up hospital beds.

At the time, the move was met with some concern by councillors who said it could “distort the market”.

Masham cricketer’s air ambulance rescue to feature on TV tonight

An air ambulance rescue of a Masham cricketer who snapped his ankle while playing is set to feature on a television series tonight.

Brendan Jackson, 15, was playing for Masham Cricket Club’s second team in April this year when he was injured.

During a match at Walton Park Cricket Club near Wetherby, Brendan caught his studs in the crease while bowling his third over. He dislocated his ankle and fractured both bones in his lower leg.

A helicopter from Yorkshire Air Ambulance was dispatched from Topcliffe Air Base in Thirsk to complete the 20-mile journey to the club.

Upon arrival, paramedics administered gas and air to alleviate Brendan’s pain.

Brendan described the crew who arrived on scene as “superheroes”. He said:

“I remember my first reaction vividly; it was a mix of shock and fear. I just looked down, and all I could think was, ‘Oh my word, what has happened, and will I ever be able to play cricket again?’ It was a terrifying moment for me.

“When the Yorkshire Air Ambulance team showed up, it was a massive relief. They were like superheroes, and I’m so grateful for how they were able to take away some of my pain. I can’t thank them enough for being there.”

A still from Helicopter ER, which features Brendan’s rescue.

Brendan was also given Ketamine medication to help relieve the pain, but also give a dissociative effect and help him cope with the traumatic experience.

After his leg was put in a splint, he was transferred to Harrogate District Hospital for surgery.

Diane Sharp, Brendan’s mother, said she remembered the incident as a “traumatic day”. She said:

“I didn’t see his leg initially; I just thought he had tripped. But once I heard him shouting in agony, I knew I had to rush over and keep him as calm as possible until more help arrived.”

The rescue by Yorkshire Air Ambulance is set to feature on an episode of television series Helicopter ER tonight.

The new series will be broadcast on Quest at 9pm.

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Starting out

Winning bronze

Taking on the channel

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