North Yorkshire Police has launched an investigation after a car crashed into parked vehicles and a fence on a Harrogate street.
The incident happened on Tuesday, October 10, on Birstwith Road.
Officers said a white Vauxhall Insignia collided with parked vehicles and a fence at around 9.20pm. The occupants of the car had left the scene upon police arrival.
The force has appealed for anyone with information on the incident to come forward.
A police statement said:
“Police enquiries are ongoing.
“Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference 12230192818.”
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Harewood Bridge to close again for repairs
Harewood Bridge near Harrogate is due to close for one or two nights this week for repairs, leading to 15-mile diversions.
Traffic was unable to cross the bridge for four weeks during the summer holidays to allow Leeds City Council to carry out maintenance work on the grade-II listed structure.
Now the road is set to be closed overnight on Wednesday (October 18) and Thursday (October 19) between 9pm and 5.30am.
The closure will be in place while the council upgrades the surfacing on the road.
Cllr Matthew Robinson, who represents Harewood ward on Leeds City Council, said in a post on his Facebook page:
“You will recall that essential maintenance works were completed on the Harewood Bridge over the summer holidays. As part of these works a specialist contractor was required to apply a small area of upgraded surfacing at the south end of the bridge and these works were unable to be undertaken at the time but we have now been able to arrange this.
“We plan to do the works on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th October with overnight closures from 8pm to 5.30am. It may be that the works are completed in one night but this will depend on the weather conditions.”
The grade-II listed structure carries the A61 Harrogate Road over the River Wharfe and is a busy route between Harrogate and Leeds.
A diversion will be in place for drivers on the A658 Harrogate Road and A659 Arthington Lane to rejoin the A61.
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Leeds Bradford Airport announces £100m terminal regeneration plan
Leeds Bradford Airport has announced a £100 million plan to regenerate its sole terminal.
The project will see a 9,500 sq. metre, three-storey extension to the existing terminal, alongside a significant refurbishment of the current terminal building.
It will also create additional aircraft stands, more seating, faster security, new shops and eateries, and a larger baggage reclaim area and immigration hall, as well as improved access for passengers with restricted mobility.
The project would help the airport decarbonise its operations and meet its net zero ambitions with the installation of new heating, lighting and machinery, including new baggage belts.
Vincent Hodder, chief executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, said:
“This announcement marks the beginning of a new era for Leeds Bradford Airport.
“This investment will give us the infrastructure needed to deliver an outstanding customer experience, support the growth of our airline partners, enhance connectivity for business, investment and trade and provide the airport that Leeds, Bradford and Yorkshire have been waiting for.
“LBA is a key asset for our region and our community, our investment enhances and supports broader investments underway in Leeds and Bradford creating new jobs, new opportunities and shared benefits for our community.”
Inside the new Leeds Bradford Airport terminal.
The airport has appointed Belfast-based Farrans Construction to deliver the first phase of the project, which will see the terminal extended.
LBA estimates that the scheme has the potential to create 1,500 new direct jobs at the airport and 4,000 new indirect jobs, as well as contribute a total of £940 million to the local economy.
Work will start on the terminal in autumn this year and is expected to be compete in 2026.
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Harrogate estate agent founding partner dies
A founding partner of a Harrogate estate agents has died.
Charles Smailes co-founded Feather Smailes Scales, which is based on Raglan Street in the town.
Mr Smailes had more than 30 years experience in the local property sector.
He set-up FSS with Jim Feather and Peter Scales in 1994.
He was appointed president of the National Association of Estate Agents in 2005 and was also the first chairman of the board of the National Federation of Property Professionals.
In a post last night on social media, FSS said Mr Smailes died on October 9. It added:
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our founding partner, Charles Smailes.
“Charles’ legacy will continue as we, as a firm carry forwards the values and principles that he held so dear.”
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Plan to build nine flats on on site of former Harrogate council building approved
A plan has been approved to build nine new flats on the site of a former council office in Harrogate.
The site at 18 Victoria Avenue was previously home to Victoria Park House, which was demolished in December 2021.
Planning permission was granted in late 2018 for an office building to be built by new owner Hornbeam Park Developments. The plans proposed using the original facade, and the stonework was retained to do so.
However, plans have been submitted by Long Marston-based Echo Green Developments, through agent Savills, to create nine residential apartments on the site.
The developer argued that attempts to market the building for office use had failed over a number of years.
Plans for apartments on the site of the old Victoria Park House.
Now, North Yorkshire Council has approved plans for the flats to be built.
In documents submitted to the authority, the developer said the plan will help to meet the need for accommodation in the area.
It said:
“The proposal will be a high quality apartment building in keeping with the Victorian villa’s of the area which will revitalise the site and provides an enhancement to the public streetscape.
“The proposal will provide much needed residential accommodation to the area.”
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Harrogate funeral directors appeals for army photos for Remembrance Day
A Harrogate funeral directors has appealed for pictures of army veterans to help commemorate Remembrance Day.
Neil and Sonya Milsted Funeral Directors, which is based on Hookstone Chase, plans to put up a window display featuring old photographs of servicemen this year.
Ms Milsted told the Stray Ferret that she had appealed to the community to submit pictures of their loved ones who served in the armed forces to be featured.
The funeral directors puts on a remembrance display every year. However, this year Ms Milsted said she wanted to try something different.
She said:
“I am looking for photos of people who have served in any of the forces or are still serving to display on an easel in our window for Remembrance Day.
“Every year we make an effort to remember those who we have lost and this year I would like local people to help by sending us photos.”
The pictures can be submitted via email on info@nandsmilsted.co.uk or scanned and brought into the funeral directors.
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Police find missing Harrogate boy
Police have confirmed that a missing boy from Harrogate has been found safe and well.
The force issued an appeal for a 13-year-boy over the weekend.
North Yorkshire Police confirmed that the boy has since been found.
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Council to bid for government funding to progress Harrogate social housing schemes
North Yorkshire Council is set to bid for government funding to progress five social housing schemes in the Harrogate district.
The authority is set to apply for a grant from Homes England to help fund the projects, which include new build houses and conversion of a former Robert Street homeless hostel.
In a report due before senior councillors on Tuesday, council officers said the move would help to meet “huge demand” for social rented housing in Harrogate.
Currently, the council has 2,196 households on its housing waiting list in Harrogate alone.
Vicky Young, the council’s housing policy and strategy officer, said in her report:
“The tenure of the new build units will be social rent.
“There is huge demand for social rented accommodation in the Harrogate locality, with 2,196 households currently registered on the Harrogate waiting list.”
Among the projects in the councils bid include new build homes on Poplar Grove and Gascoigne Crescent in Harrogate, Springfield Drive in Boroughbridge and Kingsway in Huby.
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Each of the homes are estimated to cost £375,000 to construct.
Meanwhile, the council also estimates that a plan to convert Cavendish House on Harrogate’s Robert Street into six flats would cost £400,000.
The former homeless hostel will be converted into a shared ownership property.
Councillors approved the conversion of the hostel in September. At the time, the council said in a report that the property would help to deliver “much needed affordable housing”.
It said:
“The building has been empty since November 2021. As such, it has a negative impact on residential amenity and increasingly risks attracting anti-social behaviour.
“The development proposals will deliver much needed affordable accommodation in a redundant building and a highly sustainable location, complying full with national and local planning policy guidance.”
The bid to Homes England would help towards 30% of the total cost of the five schemes.
According to the report, the projects would cost £1.9 million to build.
Senior councillors will discuss the bid at a council executive meeting on October 17.
North Yorkshire housing companies estimate end of year profitsTwo North Yorkshire Council housing companies are estimating to report a profit by the end of this financial year.
Brierley Homes and Bracewell Homes are expected to post improved performance after completing further sales, according to a council financial report.
Both companies were taken over by North Yorkshire Council in April 2023.
Bracewell, which is a former Harrogate Borough Council firm, is forecasting a profit return of £1.52 million by the end of 2023/24.
A report said the company had seen sales of shared ownership properties and the “receipt of rental income on the proportion retained within the company”.
However, it added that Bracewell was still awaiting the completion of purchasing a further two sites.
It said:
“The main challenge for the Company relates to receiving accurate information from developers.
“Bracewell is due to complete on house purchases at two sites this financial year however neither developer has managed to achieve their initial forecast completion dates.”
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Meanwhile, Brierley Homes, which was set up by the former North Yorkshire County Council, is forecasting a profit of £959,000 by the end of the year.
The figure is based on the company completing sales at sites in Marton cum Grafton, Pateley Bridge and Great Ouseburn.
Meanwhile, the firm is expected to start work on another housing site in Kirby Malzeard this year.
It comes as the council reported a “positive outlook” for the company in March amid an increase in sales.
New Harrogate care home set to open in JanuaryA new care home is set to open in Harrogate in January 2024.
Fairfax Manor, which will be based on Wetherby Road opposite Harrogate Town’s football stadium, will be operated by Staffordshire-based Lovett Care Ltd.
The 90-bed care home was built on the site of the former Tate House after being given planning permission back in April 2021.
The company said the home would be a “welcome addition” to Harrogate amid increasing demand for elderly care.
Gillian Allat, general manager at Fairfax Manor, said:
“I am thrilled to be joining a growing organisation. Fairfax Manor will be somewhere that our residents will be proud to call home.
“I am passionate about providing exceptional person centred care and looking forward to growing a team who share my values. If anyone is interested in living or working with us then please get in touch.”
Visual inside Fairfax Manor.
The new facility is set to offer ensuite rooms, 24-hour care and landscaped gardens.
It will also feature an orangery, coffee lounge, bar, cinema, beauty salon and private dining room for special family get togethers.
The move comes as Lovett Care Ltd agreed to acquire the home from Harrogate-based Angela Swifts Developments.
The firm also completed acquisitions for Eden Manor Care in Carlisle and another facility in St Helens.
Fairfax Manor will become the tenth home to be operated by the company.
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