Business Breakfast: Harrogate estate agent expands sales department

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10 am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate estate agent has expanded its sales department with two new appointments.

Verity Frearson, which is based on Albert Street, has hired Katie Dolamore and Fiona Moore as its new sales negotiators.

Katie joins the team after spending 16 years as a primary school teacher, while Fiona has worked in both lettings and sales at a local estate agents.

Matthew Stamford, director at Verity Frearson, said:

 “We’re delighted to welcome Katie & Fiona to the team. 

“Although this year hasn’t been without it’s challenges, we’re optimistic that the Harrogate market will continue to be resilient.”

Harrogate law firm to host mock menopause employment tribunal

A Harrogate law firm is to hold a mock employment tribunal to help employers understand legal claims which could be made by employees going through the menopause.

LCF Law, which has an office on Station Parade, will host the free event at Hays Recruitment’s Leeds city centre office on Thursday (October 12).

The demonstration aims to show employers how a tribunal works and to teach them the types of claims that someone going through the menopause may be able to bring and how they might be defended.

James Austin, employment lawyer at LCF Law.

James Austin, partner and employment lawyer at LCF Law.

The session will also cover how to treat an employee if they are going through the menopause, and how to make sure supportive steps are taken, which will help to minimise the number of claims bought against a business.

James Austin, partner at LCF Law, said:

“The mock tribunal will see an employee, who feels she has been discriminated against because she is going through the menopause, bring a claim against her employer.

“We will go through each step of the legal employment tribunal process and attendees will be able to ask questions of the ‘witnesses’ and help decide the outcome of the case.”

Read more:

 

Brimhams Active forecasts £330,000 loss after leisure centre delays

Brimhams Active is forecasting a £330,000 loss at the end of the year due to delays in opening new leisure centre projects in the Harrogate district.

The company, which is wholly owned by North Yorkshire Council, operates leisure facilities in the district.

Its sites include Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre, Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre, the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon and Nidderdale Leisure and Wellness Centre in Pateley Bridge.

According to a council report, the company is forecast to record a £330,000 loss by the end of the 2023/24 financial year.

The shortfall is attributed to the delayed openings of both the Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre and Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre which has “negatively affected trading projections”.

The Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre.

Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre

The £13.5 million Harrogate scheme on Jenny Field Drive was due to open in January, but did not do so until September.

The Knaresborough facility, which is set to cost £17 million, was scheduled to open at the end of summer but is now not due to welcome customers until November.

A council report said:

“The delayed opening of two facilities, Harrogate Leisure and Wellness and Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness, has been brought about by construction delays and has negatively affected trading projections for the remainder of the year.”

However, the report added that income from the reopening may reduce losses before the end of the year.

In an interview with the Stray Ferret last month, Mark Tweedie, managing director of Brimhams Active, admitted the delays at the sites had been frustrating.

However, he said the benefits of the investment would soon be felt across the district.

He said:

“We will have an estate that will be the envy of North Yorkshire. The investment that’s gone in is unprecedented and significant.”

Read more:

 

Audi stolen from driveway in Ripon

A car has been stolen from the driveway of a property in Ripon.

North Yorkshire Police said the incident happened on Clotherholme Park, which is off Lark Lane, between midnight and 3.30 am this morning (October 10).

The rear door of the house was damaged and the suspect removed a set of keys. 

A white Audi A5 five-door hatchback with the registration FX69 UCG was then stolen from the driveway of the property.

Officers have asked the public to keep an eye out for the stolen vehicle and appealed for any CCTV or doorbell footage that may help the investigation.

A police statement added:

“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email Sam.Clarke2@northyorkshire.police.uk .You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Sam Clarke.

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

“Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230192125 when passing information.”

Read more:

 

Long-term roadworks as Harrogate office block refurbished

Work on Station Bridge in Harrogate looks set to continue indefinitely as a major office block is refurbished.

Construction work is being carried out by HACS to refurbish and redevelop Copthall Bridge House.

Businesses operating in the premises were told to vacate the building in November 2018.

A proposal to re-clad the ground floor and repaint the upper floors was approved by Harrogate Borough Council in November last year.

The application, which was submitted by a company called Rural Offices LLP, said the plans would help to “assist in attracting occupiers which will further enhance the area”.

It added:

“The building has been vacant for some time and the applicant in keen to see in brought back into active use as quickly as possible.”

As a result, one lane on Station Bridge has been closed and the footpath next to Copthall Bridge House has been closed.

According to North Yorkshire Council’s roadworks map, a notice of the works runs until April 2, 2024.

Read more:

 

Knaresborough and Ripon picked to advance double devolution bids

Knaresborough Town Council and Ripon City Council have been picked to advance double devolution bids, which will see them take control of some local assets.

North Yorkshire Council invited town and parish councils to submit expressions of interest to run local services in November last year.

It was part of the Conservative-controlled council’s double devolution agenda which pledges to let local people take control of local assets.

In total, 12 expressions of interest were submitted to the council. Of these, three were from the Harrogate district.

The authority has now confirmed it will move forward bids from Knaresborough and Ripon, but Little Ouseburn’s proposal was rejected.

David Chance, executive councillor for corporate services at the council, said:

“Town and parish councils are integral to our county’s vibrant communities, alongside community groups, and we recognise their understanding of the needs, opportunities and strengths within their communities.

“That’s why we are looking at this pilot scheme, working initially with selected town and parish councils, enabling us to progress cautiously, learning from the experience and developing best practice.

“These proposed pilots are just the start of the process, and the hope is that more will be introduced throughout North Yorkshire in the future.”

Ripon City Council bid to control the market place.

Ripon City Council bid to control assets including the market place.

Knaresborough Town Council’s application to manage the town’s markets, storage facility and associated assets such as road closure signs will be progressed to a full business case.

Meanwhile, the council will consider a project team to work with Ripon City Council on its bid as it was deemed “particularly ambitious”.

It included management of Ripon Town Hall, Market Place and Car Park, public toilets within the city and the Wakeman’s House listed building.

However, the council rejected to take a bid from Little Ouseburn Parish Council further. It included management of the grass cutting of the green area outside Broomfield Cottages.

Senior councillors will consider recommendations at an executive meeting on October 17.

Read more:

 

Ripon timber yard to be demolished for 13 homes

Plans to build 13 homes on a former Ripon timber yard have been approved.

Red Tree Developments tabled proposals to demolish the buildings on the former NY Timber site off Trinity Lane and replace them with houses.

The site was home to a timber yard from 1860 to 2018.

The plans would see 13 two-storey, two- and three-bedroom homes built.

North Yorkshire Council has approved the proposal.

It comes as a government planning inspector rejected a similar plan by Red Tree last month over concerns that the scheme did not have sufficient ground investigations and about the impact on nearby heritage assets.

However, in documents submitted to North Yorkshire Council in May, the developer says the new application addresses the reasons given for refusing the previous plan.

The developer said:

“The 13 proposed dwellings are all designed as two-storey dwellings, mostly with rooms in the roof and will have no adverse visual impact upon views from any angle in the area. The scale of the proposed dwellings is entirely appropriate within the context.”

Red Tree bought the 0.64-acre plot, which is adjacent to the listed buildings, Holy Trinity Church of England Junior School and St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, from Cairngorm Capital for an undisclosed sum in 2020.

In a previous planning application, the developer said the timber yard, which is not listed, must be replaced due to its “poor state of repair”.

Read more:

 

Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm recognised in 2024 Legal 500 Guide

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10 am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate legal firm has been included in the 2024 Legal 500 UK Guide.

Raworths, which is based on Station Parade, has been recognised in the publication in eight legal specialisms.

Among the areas included are the firm’s trusts, wills and estates team being ranked high in the Yorkshire region.

Carmelita Ardren, head of family, and Rachel Tunnicliffe, head of trusts, wills and estates, are both listed in the elite “Leading Lawyers” group.

Simon Morris, managing partner at Raworths, said: 

“We’re delighted to once again be recognised in the Legal 500 Guide. It’s particularly pleasing to see our inclusion across so many specialisms, recognising the quality of the services we provide for our clients, both businesses and individuals.”

Harrogate bloggers win industry awards

Three Harrogate-based bloggers were recognised at the Yorkshire Blogger Awards.

Held at the Queen’s Hotel in Leeds, the event sought to recognise digital talent across the region in 16 categories.

Winners at the Yorkshire Bloggers Awards.

Winners at the Yorkshire Bloggers Awards.

Harrogate bloggers Luke Christian, Ella Davis and Lydia Chandler all picked awards in the disability, interiors and wedding categories.

Kim Smith, spokesperson for the Yorkshire Blogger Awards, said:

“The Yorkshire Blogger Awards recognise the powerful digital talent that the county has to offer.

“We’re proud to award some of the most inspiring and forward-thinking content creators, each based here in Yorkshire.”

Read more:

 

Harrogate Cat Rescue launches urgent funding appeal

Harrogate Cat Rescue has launched an urgent appeal for funding as it can no longer take in rescues until further notice.

In a post on its Facebook page, the centre said it was “bursting at the seams” with cats and kittens in rescue and no longer had space or funds to take more.

It added that it had 84 kittens which it had taken in  44 of which required neutering and vaccinating.

The rescue centre relies on adoption fees and financial donations to cover costs such as vet bills.

However, adoptions from the centre have been “extremely slow”.

It said in its post:

“The majority of our adoption requests are for young kittens, however, due to a lack of enquiries, a lot of the kittens (especially the black and white ones ) are growing up in care and becoming of an age that is not popular, taking up essential foster space needed to help those cats and kittens that desperately need it and using funds allocated for vets bills for their care.

“Your support over the last four years, has meant we have been able to give homes to over 800 cats and kittens.”

The centre, which was set up in 2020 by Celia Dakin, has appealed for donations as little as £1 a month.

It added:

“Small donations all add up and more of those will hopefully ensure we are never in this situation again.”

Read more:

 

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.”

Read more:

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.”

Read more: