The long wait for Harrogate Town Council

Fifteen months ago, North Yorkshire Council went to the people of Harrogate to ask whether they wanted a town council.

The idea was to set up a parish authority following the loss of Harrogate Borough Council.

Since then, a new unitary council has been set up, a second consultation has been held and the UK has changed Prime Minister twice.

The length of time lapsed has also caused political friction.

The Stray Ferret has followed the saga since its inception. In this article, we take a look at why it is taking so long.

Town council

As part of a community governance review, North Yorkshire Council launched a consultation on setting up town councils in Harrogate and Scarborough in August 2022.

The purpose was to form a layer of governance in two unparished areas following the creation of the unitary authority in April the following year.

Over the course of two consultations, which looked at which areas would fall under the town council and how many councillors it would have, the public backed it.

However, the authority has yet to be set up.

In fact, a further consultation has been proposed – which has been criticised by some Harrogate councillors.

At a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting on Monday, Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire Council, explained to businesses that the earliest that a town council could be set up is April 2025.

This was because the council was planning to hold a third consultation on the matter, which was approved by councillors in July 2023.

‘Red herring’

At the time, Conservative councillors raised concern over the ward system which was proposed for the town council. In particular, the proposal for two councillors to represent one ward.

Officers had recommended that each of the proposed 10 wards in Harrogate, which were based on current North Yorkshire Council divisions, be represented by two councillors per ward on the town council with the exception of Saltergate, which would have one councillor.

Conservative councillor for Oatlands and Pannal, John Mann, said accountability to residents would be better served by single councillor wards. 

He told a council meeting at the time:

“These arrangements will be with us for many decades to come and we need to get it right.”

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While the matter was agreed to hold another consultation, the issue has continued to bubble under the political surface.

This week, Liberal Democrat councillors who control the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee told Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP, Andrew Jones, that the delay was unnecessary.

Cllr Chris Aldred, Liberal Democrat councillor who spoke at the committee, told the Stray Ferret that the concern over ward arrangements was a “red herring” and that the process was a waste of time.

He said:

“It’s a total waste of time and residents’ money – especially at a time when North Yorkshire Council is looking for £30 million of savings for the next three years, to balance its budgets.”

Andrew Jones pictured at Monday's meeting.

Andrew Jones MP pictured at Monday’s meeting.

However, the Conservatives say that Northallerton has to decide what the town council will do before it is set up and, ultimately, charges people council tax.

It has previously been suggested by the council that residents would pay between £40 and £60 on top of their council tax each year to cover as yet undetermined services for the town council.

Mr Jones told the area committee on Monday that council officials needed to do more work on the planned authority.

He said:

“It is slightly odd to say that we’re going to create a public body which has got the capacity to take between £40 to £60 in terms of council tax, but we do not know what it is for.

“I think there is a bit of work to be done to say what it is for before you ask taxpayers to get their wallets out for you. I think that is entirely reasonable.”

The cost to conduct further consultation is expected to take the total sum for the process over £100,000.

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Council when it expects to undertake its third consultation and how much it will cost.

But, we did not receive a response by the time of publication. 

Why does Harrogate need 5G masts?

The much talked about “revolution” in 5G mobile technology has started its rollout across the UK – and Harrogate is not immune.

In the last two years, four applications from telecommunication giants have been submitted to council planners to erect communication masts with the aim of improving connectivity in the town.

The plans promise to offer better network coverage through 5G and increase data speeds.

However, the rollout has not gone as smoothly as some of the mobile companies would have hoped.

The Stray Ferret has covered 5G mast proposals in Harrogate for the last two years. In this article, we take a closer look at the technology and ask why it is needed.

‘Revolutionise mobile technology’

The firm leading the charge to install masts in Harrogate is CK Hutchison Networks (UK) Ltd, which operates Three Mobile.

It has submitted plans for four masts in the Harrogate area since 2022.

The technology, it states in planning documents, has the ability to bring “significant improvements” to network coverage, such as faster data speeds with “very low” delay.

It adds:

“While each generation brings technological advantages, due to the higher frequencies utilised, note 5G is expected to revolutionise mobile technology as we know it, the cell areas tend to be far smaller.

“For example, a 5G cell typically has a smaller radius area, which means the cell search areas are far smaller when compared with earlier network requirements.”

The 5G stations must be situated within close proximity of the area they intend to cover. The company argues in planning documents that sometimes this means they will have to be within “proximity of designated areas or sensitive locations”.

In other words, the stations need to be close to people who use it in order for it to work to optimal performance.

So, why do we need the technology and what can it do?

Dr Ali Zaidi, associate professor in the school of electronic and electrical engineering at the University of Leeds, explained that 5G would be able to facilitate “better capabilities to expand mobile coverage”.

This could include the ability to reconfigure the technology to support more services and applications, such as robot grocery deliveries and virtual reality.

Dr Zaidi told the Stray Ferret:

“While traditional voice, video and data service remain important, new class of services to facilitate applications such as robot grocery deliveries, autonomous cars, virtual reality, sensor based monitoring of environment e.g. flood risk/air-quality etc. over wide area, smart meter/other utility meter communications are also core part of 5G offering. 

“In brief, while the previous generations of cellular networks were focused on connecting people with people and content, 5G provides capability to connect people with machines and machines to other machine.”

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However, the rollout of 5G is not so straightforward and it does have its disadvantages.

Dr Li Zhang, associate professor in communications in the school of electronic and electrical engineering at University of Leeds, told us that the signals used in 5G, known as millimetre waves, generally require a “line of sight transmission for optimal performance”.

She explained that dense urban areas cause issues.

Dr Zhang said:

“Obstacles such as buildings, trees can block or reflect signals leading to signal blockage and multipath effect.

“All the above impose technology challenges in the deployment strategy particularly in dense urban area or indoor.”

She also added that not all current devices are compatible with 5G networks, meaning people may need to upgrade tablets and smartphones to use the technology.

Government backing

Across the country, Three has taken on rolling out the masts with government backing.

In spring 2019, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government lent their support to the roll out of the technology.

In a joint statement, the departments set a target for the majority of the UK population to be covered by a 5G signal by 2027.

It added:

“Government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. 

“It is essential to keep pace with growing demand for internet bandwidth and mobile data from local businesses, residents and those who visit our communities.”

Three years later, ministers amended planning laws, specifically permitted development rights, to speed up the installation of the technology.

It means that companies can apply for prior notification from a council to install in areas such as next to the highway rather than submitting a full planning application.

Since then, Three has sought to turbo charge its rollout.

‘Sneakily’ installed

Already, the company has installed a 20m high mast on Jennyfield Drive in Harrogate opposite the junction with Grantley Drive.

The mast ,which was approved under permitted development by North Yorkshire Council in April 2023, was described by the council as an “essential piece of telecommunications infrastructure”.

However, despite the promise of better connectivity and fast data speeds, some residents in the area do not see it that way.

One resident, who lives on Jennyfield Drive and can see the mast from her bedroom window, described it as being “sneakily” installed.

She questioned why the area was chosen for the facility when other parts of Harrogate were being turned down for such proposals.

She said:

“After speaking to neighbours and other residents we have become aware that no one in this area was consulted or informed.

“We are all a bit hacked off as they were opposed being erected on the stray yet less affluent areas are okay.”

While two of its masts – one on Jennyfield Drive and the other on Otley Road near Swinton Court – have been approved, the others have yet to be given the green light.

Not only have the other two proposals failed to impress planners at the council, they have also fallen short when taken to the government’s Planning Inspectorate on appeal.

Much of the concern from the government comes from how the masts would appear in the centre of Harrogate, despite the benefits that they may bring.

Park Parade in Harrogate.

Park Parade in Harrogate.

The latest refusal, which the Stray Ferret covered this month, came when an inspector rejected a planned mast on Park Parade.

The inspector said the proposal on balance would fail to enhance the character of the area and that the company had not demonstrated that the site was the only viable option for the mast.

He said:

“On the basis of the evidence in front of me and my own observations on site, I have found that the proposed development would fail to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area.

“It has not been demonstrated that the appeal site represents the only viable option.

“Therefore, notwithstanding the need to upgrade the network and assist the government’s digital connectivity vision along with the associated benefits, the harm that would arise from the siting and appearance of the development would not be outweighed by the overall need in this location.”

The inspectorate threw out a similar appeal for Granby Park overlooking the Stray on the grounds that it would be “a conspicuous and intrusive feature in the surrounding area”.

While Three Mobile may have failed in two of its four applications, it’s hard to see the telecommunications giant stopping in its pursuit to install more masts in Harrogate.

When asked whether it would still press ahead with proposals in the area, a spokesperson for Three told the Stray Ferret:

“5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Harrogate. We want to offer the community a reliable network experience and our planners determined that these sites were required to deliver it.

“While we try to keep mast sites as unobtrusive as possible, they do need to be situated near to where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage. We will consider the reasons for refusal carefully and consider our options.”

What do think of the 5G rollout in the district? Do you think it’s necessary for future and existing connectivity? Do you struggle to get a good wifi signal and welcome it? Or do you feel it is unnecessary and the masts are intrusive eyesores? Write and give us your view. We print readers letters every Sunday and we’d love to hear from you. email letters@thestrayferret.co.uk

Council seeks academy sponsor for new Harrogate special school

North Yorkshire Council has invited academy trusts to sponsor a planned new special school in Harrogate.

The authority agreed proposals to create the facility at the former Woodfield Community Primary School in Bilton in August 2023.

The school is expected to cater for up to 80 pupils aged between 11 and 19.

Council bosses said the school is needed to meet demand for special educational needs places locally.

Now, the authority has invited academy trusts to sponsor the school and operate it.

According to the invitation report, which has been published on the council website, the school would be opened on a phased basis from April 2025.

It adds that the authority has committed a £3.5 million budget to establishing the school.

This includes a two phased project to modify the buildings on the Woodfield site ahead of an April 2025 opening, plus a potential extension of its facilities afterwards.

Each pupil is expected to attract base funding of £10,000 each in line with the Department for Education’s high needs funding. Top up funding will also be given based upon the needs of the pupils.

The report said:

“The council’s current range of provision needs to be extended to cater more effectively for young people with a primary need of autism who require specialist support to maximise their potential.

“Those who require a more formal secondary curriculum and associated academic accreditation routes would benefit most from the proposed development.”

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A shortlist for those academy trusts who have applied is expected to be drawn up this month.

The move comes as a six-week consultation, which ended on July 24, 2023, saw 90 out of the 105 responses – a total of 86 per cent – support the proposed school.

Woodfield Community Primary School closed in December 2022 after an “inadequate” rating by Ofsted and a decline in pupil numbers.

Ex-Harrogate Town player cleared of rape and sexual assault charges

Former Harrogate Town player Jack Diamond has been cleared of rape and sexual assault.

Mr Diamond, 23, was found not guilty on both charges by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court this afternoon.

He was charged by Northumbria Police in March last year.

Mr Diamond, of Washington, had his loan spell at Lincoln City terminated at the time of the charges. His parent club Sunderland also suspended him pending the outcome of judicial proceedings.

A statement from Sunderland following the verdict said:

“Sunderland AFC notes the verdict from Newcastle Crown Court today, where a jury has found Jack Diamond not guilty of all charges.

“Following the conclusion of the judicial process, Jack will now return to the Academy of Light and resume footballing activity.

“SAFC will be making no further comment at this time.”

Mr Diamond played for Harrogate on loan during their National League campaign in 2019-20, scoring one of the goals at Wembley that earned promotion to the English Football League for the first time ever.

He returned to the club on loan during the 2021-22 season in League Two of the English Football League.

In his two loan spells, he scored 16 goals in 66 appearances.

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Plan for River Wharfe footbridge withdrawn

A plan to build a footbridge over the River Wharfe to connect West Yorkshire with North Yorkshire has been withdrawn.

The proposal was submitted by volunteer group Burley Bridge Association. The group said there have been hopes of building a bridge over this section of the Wharfe for 120 years.

Currently, there is a public right of way connecting the two banks of the river between Burley-in-Wharfedale and Askwith on the edge of the Harrogate district and walkers have to navigate a series of stepping stones.

The association lodged proposals for a footbridge to both North Yorkshire Council and Bradford Metropolitan Council in November 2023.

At the time, the group said the bridge would provide a safe route for walkers over the river which would then connect to its 42-mile Yorkshire Heritage Way trail that links Bradford with Ripon.

It said:

“A reliable, safe, and weather-proof crossing will be of benefit to the entire local community who regularly use the stepping-stones to access walking and running routes, and to those who travel into the area to enjoy all that the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the adjacent Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have to offer.”

However, the plans have now been withdrawn.

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In comments submitted to North Yorkshire Council, Dan McAndrew, principal ecologist at the authority, raised concern that the river is a designated UK priority habitat, which includes “in channel gravel bank features”.

While Mr McAndrew acknowledged that the bridge would offer a “sustainable and accessible” route for walkers, he added that the Environment Agency recommends that “in-channel impacts should be avoided through the provision of a single span bridge”.

He said:

“The recently submitted ‘design rationale’ does not address this matter, although I acknowledge that the application proposes some mitigation measures such as planting of riparian alders, bat boxes and provision for nesting birds and control of Himalayan balsam. 

“Whilst these are welcome measures, they do not address the fundamental issue of damage to a priority habitat, which, as the Environment Agency suggests, ought to be avoided through the design of a single span bridge.”

New vets set to open in Pannal on Monday

A new vets looks set to open in Pannal next week.

Claro Hill Vets, which is based on Thirkill Park off Thirkill Drive, is due to open on Monday (January 8).

The new practice will be open Monday to Friday, 8am until 6.30pm, and Saturdays 8.30am until 12.30pm.

The vets will offer such services as preventative healthcare, medicine and vaccinations.

Laura Keyser, who has been a qualified vet for 15 years, is behind the new business which she says will be a “perfect location” for pet owners in Harrogate, Wetherby and north Leeds.

She told the Stray Ferret in May last year:

“I decided to open the business as I wanted to offer a real high standard of care and service.

“We are independent, so have none of the constraints of being corporate.”

The move to open the business comes as North Yorkshire Council approved the proposal in May 2023.

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Weetons owner applies to change Crimple garden centre signage

The owner of Harrogate firm Weetons has applied to replace signage at Crimple in Pannal.

The Stray Ferret reported in December that the owner of Weetons had bought the garden centre, food hall and gift shop on Leeds Road.

It’s not known how much the TGH Property Group, which is owned by Tim Whitworth, has paid to acquire Crimple.

TGH, which is based at Bramham, near Wetherby, also owns Weetons, whose flagship Harrogate food hall on West Park opened 20 years ago.

An example of the signage submitted to North Yorkshire Council.

An example of the signage submitted to North Yorkshire Council.

Now, TIM Group Holdings, of which Mr Whitworth is a managing partner, has applied to North Yorkshire Council to replace the signage on the site.

The plan includes various signage to the front of the main building and an additional two totem signs behind the entrance walls showing Weetons branding.

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the signage plans at a later date.

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Free events revealed for Harrogate’s first self care week

Details have been revealed for the first Harrogate self care week this month.

The free events, which will be held from January 22 to 27, include activities ranging from yoga and acupuncture to sound baths and making face masks.

There will be a mixture of workshops and classes, along with a themed market to help visitors work on their ‘body, soul and mind’, according to organisers.

Some of the sessions will be held in a pop-up self care unit on the first floor of the Victoria Shopping Centre. However, others will be held in different venues across the town centre.

Harrogate Business Improvement District announced the initiative last month.

The Turkish Baths will host the launch event on January 22, with a session in the facilities from 6.30pm until 9pm. This is already fully booked.

Also on the Monday, an hour-long acupressure and acupuncture talk and demonstration with Patti Hemmings will be held in the shopping centre unit from 12.30pm, as well as a mosaic making session at Artizan from 5-7pm.

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Kicking things off on the Tuesday, a slow yoga flow for beginners with Michelle Foxall will be held in the shopping centre at 5-6pm. Then, Chantelle Coles will host an intriguing sound bath session, a meditative experience involving bathing in sound waves, in the vacant space between 6-7pm.

Mat pilates with Emma Ryder is the opening event on the Wednesday at 12.30pm. 

Then, staff members at Lush will host a face mask making session in their Cambridge Street store from 5pm. Anyone looking to learn more about Thai Chi can join a beginner class with Alison Newband from 6-7pm. Meanwhile, Ebru Evrim is putting together a yoga and reformer Pilates session at their studio on James Street from 6pm to round off Wednesday’s events.

To open Thursday, a two-hour interactive workshop on doshas will be held from 5-7pm with Green Ayurveda Spa. This will be followed by a circuit session with F45 at its studio in Albert Street from 6.15pm, lasting for around 45 minutes.

On Friday from 12.30pm, Tomm Melody will teach visitors more about ageing and strength.

BID manager Matthew Chapman said:

“Since we launched the Harrogate Self Care Week in mid-December, we’ve had so much interest and positive responses.

“A huge thanks to the many BID members and local providers who are supporting this campaign, which we hope will drive footfall and spend into the town centre in what can often be a quieter month.”

For more information on self-care week and to book places, visit the Harrogate BID website here.

Harrogate hospital cancelled 166 appointments due to December junior doctors’ strike

Harrogate District Hospital was forced to cancel 166 appointments as a result of a junior doctor’s strike before Christmas.

Members of the British Medical Association and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association walked out from December 20.

BMA members demonstrated until December 23, while HSCA members staged action until December 22.

Both unions announced the walk outs amid a dispute over pay with government.

As a result, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust was forced to cancel both outpatient and elective appointments.

A spokesperson for the trust said in total 168 appointments were cancelled between December 20 and December 22 due to the industrial action.

They added:

“We have re-arranged postponed appointments as a priority so that patients can be seen at the earliest available date – many will be within a week or two, whilst others may be a little longer.”

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Meanwhile, the trust confirmed that its current cost estimate for staff to cover the walk outs is £153,000.

The hospital has also been hit by further industrial action in the new year.

Junior doctors who are members of the BMA are currently on strike until Tuesday (January 9).

The union staged the walk out on Wednesday (January 3) in what is set to be the longest strike action in NHS history.

Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairs of the BMA junior doctors committee, said ahead of the demonstration:

“This strike marks another unhappy record for the NHS – the longest single walkout in its history. But as we have said all along, there is no need for any records to fall: we can call off this strike now if we get an offer from Government that we can put to members.

“Doctors want 2024 to be the start of a renewed workforce which can finally provide high quality care for patients again – it is for the Government to put forward a credible offer and facilitate that journey.”

Government rejects 5G mast plan in Harrogate

The government has rejected a bid to install a new 5G mast in Harrogate.

CK Hutchison Networks (UK) Ltd, which operates Three Mobile, proposed installing the mast on Park Parade.

It submitted the plan to the former Harrogate Borough Council in November 2022.

The developer said the proposal would help to “improved network coverage and capacity” in the area.

However, the council rejected the plan on the grounds it would be detrimental to the visual amenity of the site.

The telecommunications company took the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate and challenged the refusal.

However, in a decision notice, Mr N Teasdale, a planning inspector, rejected the appeal.

He said the proposal on balance would fail to enhance the character of the area and that the company had not demonstrated that the site was the only viable option for the mast.

He said:

“On the basis of the evidence in front of me and my own observations on site, I have found that the proposed development would fail to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area.

“It has not been demonstrated that the appeal site represents the only viable option.

“Therefore, notwithstanding the need to upgrade the network and assist the government’s digital connectivity vision along with the associated benefits, the harm that would arise from the siting and appearance of the development would not be outweighed by the overall need in this location.”

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The decision is the latest refusal for a 5G mast installation in Harrogate.

In September 2023, a government planning inspector rejected a bid to erect a 20-metre high 5G mast overlooking the Stray.

The proposal was also submitted by CK Hutchison Networks (UK) Ltd.

The inspector acknowledged the mast would boost poor 5G coverage in Harrogate but ruled it would also be “a conspicuous and intrusive feature in the surrounding area”.