Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.
In September, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a major shift in the government’s climate policies, including delaying the ban on the sale of diesel and petrol cars.
Meanwhile, in Harrogate, the saga over the Station Gateway project continued with council officials announcing the authority would explore alternative options for the scheme.
We asked Ripon MP Julian Smith and Selby and Ainsty MP Keir Mather if they would like to highlight anything in particular, but did not receive a response.
Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.
In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Mr Jones:
- On September 1, Mr Jones attended a Harrogate war memorial centenary event.
- Mr Jones met with Alzheimer’s Research UK in Parliament on September 6.
- On September 8, he met with North Yorkshire and Humber Integrated Care Board, alongside regional MPs, to discuss NHS dentistry.
- Mr Jones then raised the issue of NHS dentistry access in Harrogate during Prime Minister’s Question Time on September 13.
- On September 14, he raised a question to the Department for Business and Trade regarding support for companies exporting and asked the Leader of the House for a debate on SEND funding.
- He chaired a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport across the North.
- Mr Jones described the Prime Minister’s announcement of a shift in climate policy as “practical and pragmatic” on September 21.
- Mr Jones visited the refurbished Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre on September 22.
- On September 25, he met with constituents to discuss anti-social behaviour concerns at the former Kimberley Hotel.
- He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on September 26 that he hoped North Yorkshire Council will use money earmarked for the £11.2m Station Gateway to create a more welcoming space in Harrogate.
When we contacted Mr Jones for comment, his office sent a list of his engagements for September.
They included holding constituency surgeries, supporting Nidd Action Group’s Action Day at the Lido Leisure Park in Knaresborough and holding a roundtable with Harrogate-based cyclists to discuss local cycling infrastructure.
Others included meeting with representatives of the Women’s Institute to support their Clean Rivers campaign, meeting the Jewish Leadership Council, Food and Drink Federation and Macmillan Cancer Support and visiting the site of the local mental health crisis line to learn more about how calls are handled by TEWV NHS Foundation Trust.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.
In Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:
- Mr Smith spoke three times in the House of Commons in September, two contributions were on Northern Ireland and another on paediatric acute-onset neuro- psychiatric syndrome.
- He visited Fountains Abbey near Ripon to be given an update on its plans to renovate the site.
- Mr Smith tweeted 14 times in September, which included to posts to promote various government grants and initiatives.
- He updated his website six times in September, which included one item specific to Ripon.

Keir Mather, Selby and Ainsty MP.
In Selby and Ainsty, which includes rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Mather:
- Mr Mather was sworn in as the new MP for Selby and Ainsty on September 4.
- He made 20 written questions to government departments in September, including topics such as access to GPs, anti-social behaviour and gender based violence.
- On September 1, Mr Mather tweeted that he met the chief executive of Yorkshire Housing, Nick Atkin, to discuss “how to win the race to net zero in North Yorkshire by investing in affordable and sustainable housing for all”.
- Mr Mather tweeted six times in September, which included topics such as meeting with the National Farmers’ Union and being sworn into parliament.
- He updated his Facebook page 11 times in September. Posts included SEND provision in Selby and sharing concerns over RAAC in schools.
- Mr Mather has yet to give his maiden speech in the House of Commons.
Read more:
- MPs Watch: New MP, River Nidd and Mayoral election
- Any vehicle can park in Knaresborough electric vehicle bays, says council
Business Breakfast: Knaresborough company acquires local financial firm
The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, 26 October at Banyan in Harrogate between 8 am – 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 Knaresborough company has completed the acquisition of a local financial firm.
Prosperis, which is based at St James’ Business Park, has acquired fellow Knaresborough business RMB Financial Management Ltd.
Niall Gunn, chief executive at Prosperis, said the move will help to benefit its clients.
He said:
“We are delighted to have been able to acquire such a high-quality business and, in doing so, allows us to continue to provide clients an excellent professional level of service for the foreseeable future.
“As an independently owned business, this acquisition will benefit greatly all clients. We are on track to add further locations within the north-east as we continue with our growth plans.”
Paul Meehan, chairman at Prosperis, added:
“These are exciting times for the whole Prosperis team and we remain very acquisitive.
“The purchase of the RMB business sets us up nicely as we now move to the next phase of the strategy to buy more firms. We expect to complete on another deal before the end of the year in addition to some additional senior hires.”
Former Harrogate bank building goes on the market
A former bank building in Harrogate has been placed on the market for offers over £1 million.
No7 Cambridge Crescent is a landmark listed building, which covers 6,000 square feet in the town centre.

No7 Cambridge Crescent in Harrogate.
Cambridge Crescent was built in 1867-8 by George Dawson to a design of J H Hirst of Bristol featuring enriched Flemish Renaissance frontage with the former banking premises suitable for retail, office and residential uses.
The property has been stripped out for ease of development with the ground floor former banking hall now open plan and a lower ground floor, previously the secure storage area, has had the safe removed.
Tim Waring, prime property at GSC Grays which is marketing the building, said:
“This is a unique opportunity to purchase a charming building in a fantastic central location in the famous spa town of Harrogate with potential for various development options.”
Read more:
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate housing company secures £150m funding for new homes
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate care provider opens new training centre
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate business meeting to focus on inflation
New cafe opens on Starbeck High Street
A brand new cafe has opened in Starbeck.
Susie June’s Cafe, which is based at 67F High Street, opened its doors yesterday.
The new venture was founded by local business partners Simone MacDermid and Charlotte Currie.
They acquired the site, which was the former Millers Cafe, in July.
The pair, who both worked in the hospitality industry, launched the venture with the aim to create a “community feel”. The name comes from the first names of both owners’ mothers.
Ms MacDermid told the Stray Ferret:
“We’re both local girls.
“Everyone knows that we are here to provide for everyone’s needs. We have had local people in and use local produce.”
She added that the pair had help from friends and family to get the venture off the ground.
The cafe offers traditional breakfast, hot sandwiches, soups, cakes and pastries.
It is open six days a week from 7am until 4.30pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 2pm on Saturdays.
Susie June’s becomes the latest hospitality venue to open in Starbeck this year.
In April, The Office Ale House bar opened on High Street.
Meanwhile, Chilli Chicks chicken restaurant and takeaway opened in July.
Read more:
- New Starbeck chicken restaurant opens
- Sneak Peek: New Starbeck pub aims to bring ‘community feel’ back
Yorkshire Water investment plan ‘utterly scandalous’, say Lib Dems
The Liberal Democrats in Harrogate and Knaresborough have described a plan by Yorkshire Water to increase bills to invest in infrastructure as “utterly scandalous”.
The company submitted the £7.8 billion proposal to Ofwat yesterday as part of investment plans for 2025 to 2030.
Tom Gordon, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said people would be “rightly outraged” if the plan were approved.
However, Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for the constituency, said the proposal was a step up for Yorkshire Water which would help to “strengthen” plans for a bathing water application for the River Nidd.
The company’s plan includes £3.1 billion to improve resilience in the water network, £4.3 billion to protect river and coastal water quality and investment in customer service and financial support for customers.
However, it would mean average bills would rise from £438.12 in 2024/25 (£36.51 per month) to £518.76 in 2025/26 (£43.23 per month) with increases each year thereafter.
Mr Gordon said he had joined calls for Ofwat to ensure that money is spent to fix and upgrade the water network.
He said:
“It is utterly scandalous that customers are going to be expected to cover the costs of these upgrades. Yearly water bills are going to rise by nearly 20% under these proposals. It is a slap in the face to our community that we are expected to pay for the years of underinvestment in water company infrastructure that has led to this sewage scandal.
“To add insult to injury, in recent years, Yorkshire Water executives have taken home million in bonuses. That money should have been invested in upgrading their ageing infrastructure instead.
“I am happy to join the calls of the Liberal Democrats, who today wrote to the government and Ofwat asking that they step in to ensure that this money is spent on fixing leaky pipes and stopping sewage discharges rather than lining the pocket of water company execs.
“People in Harrogate and Knaresborough will be rightly outraged if they are made to pay the price for this sewage scandal, while water company bosses continue to trouser huge bonuses.”
River Nidd bathing water status
However, Mr Jones said the move would help to strengthen plans to submit a bathing water application for the River Nidd.
The move would oblige organisations such as the Environment Agency to take action to clean the Nidd, amid concerns about high sewage levels and bathers falling ill at Knaresborough Lido.

Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Mr Jones added that, while bills would increase if approved, the plan also included measures to support “less well-off customers”.
He said:
“This proposal put to Ofwat looks to be a real step up from Yorkshire Water when it comes to water quality and I welcome that. Investing nearly £4.3 billion in environmental initiatives as part of a 7.8 billion plan is a significant commitment. It recognises the scale of the task and the proposals will strengthen the bathing water quality application for the Nidd in Knaresborough which is being put together right now.
“None of us like seeing bills increase which is why I was pleased to see the support package put in place for less well-off customers and the commitment from shareholders to support the plan financially.
“We need Yorkshire Water to lead the way with critical new and upgraded infrastructure to waste treatment plants, water storage facilities and storm overflows. Alongside this they need to provide better and more impactful information about how people should dispose of sanitary products, items containing microplastics and kitchen waste so that they don’t get to the sewerage system and our waterways. We should also look at how we can reduce the effect rainwater run-off from agricultural land has on our rivers.
“The approach should be to tackle the water quality issue positively from every angle and this investment should enable Yorkshire Water to do that.”
Nicola Shaw, chief executive of Yorkshire Water, said the plans were the company’s largest ever investment into the network.
She said:
“This submission marks our largest ever environmental investment and illustrates our commitment to deliver what our customers expect. The programme will protect and improve the quality of water in rivers and at coasts, leading to cleaner, safer water environments that support recreation and biodiversity across the region.”
Read more:
- Yorkshire Water pays £235,000 for illegal Harrogate sewage discharge
- Campaigners ‘cautious’ over Yorkshire Water £7.8 billion investment plan
- Yorkshire Water chief executive apologises for sewage failures
Inquest opens into 15-year-old girl killed in A61 crash at South Stainley
An inquest opened this morning into the death of a 15-year-old girl who was killed in a crash on the A61 between Harrogate and Ripon.
Anastasia Bartienieva died following a three-vehicle collision that involved a double decker bus on Ripon Road at South Stainley on September 3.
Her step-mother, Daria Bartienieva, 35, and her younger brother, Ihor Bartienieva, 6, also died as a result of the crash.
All three were from Ukraine and living in Ripon.
An inquest into the death of Anastasia was opened at a hearing in Northallerton this morning.
The court heard the teenager was a front seat passenger in a car involved in the collision. A provisional cause of death was given as multiple injuries due to blunt force trauma.
The inquest was adjourned to a full hearing at a later date.
Read more:
- Candles to be lit in Ripon for children and mother killed in crash
- Ripon school ‘heartbroken’ over death of six-year-old pupil
- Inquests open into fatal A61 crash at South Stainley
Jon Heath, senior coroner for North Yorkshire, opened inquests for Daria and Ihor in Northallerton on September 25.
Mr Heath said both were killed as a result of a road traffic collision. The provisional cause of death was given as multiple injuries due to blunt force trauma.
Holy Trinity School paid tribute to former pupil Ihor after the collision.
A fundraiser set up for 15-year-old Liza Bartienieva, who was orphaned following the incident, raised £48,000.
North Yorkshire Police officer sacked for abusing and controlling womenA North Yorkshire Police officer has been sacked for gross misconduct after subjecting three women to abuse and controlling and coercive behaviour.
The officer, who was referred to as “constable Z” at the hearing, appeared before a police disciplinary panel held in Northallerton on August 30 and 31.
The hearing was held in private after chairman Gerald Sydenham found that the public interest in holding the panel in open session was “outweighed to a considerable degree by the need to protect the health of those involved”.
Police misconduct panels are normally held in public with officers named.
The hearing included Constable Z, who was diagnosed with “mixed depressive and anxiety disorder”, as well as other “vulnerable persons”.
Abuse and coercive behaviour
It was alleged that the officer subjected the women, who were not named, to numerous instances of abuse over three separate time periods.
The first victim, who was referred to as “female person A”, was verbally abused, monitored by constable Z as to how she spent her time and subjected to physical abuse such as having a knife placed to her throat and strangled.
The hearing report said it was also alleged that constable Z threatened that her son, aged 8, “would end up in a ‘body bag’ or words to that effect”.
Those offences took place between 1998 and 2001.
Meanwhile, female person B, who was abused between December 2005 and March 2016, was subjected to seven allegations of abuse and controlling or coercive behaviour.
The report said that constable Z “attempted to belittle her and/or reduce her confidence by telling her that she was fat, lazy, ugly and other such insults”.
It was also alleged that he isolated her from her friends and family, controlled and monitored how she spent her time and turned up at her workplace unannounced “in furtherance of your attempts to control and/or coerce”.
Person C was also subjected to five allegations of abuse between July 2016 and February 2017.
These included physical abuse, monitoring how she spent her time and accusing her of cheating or being interested in other men.
She was also subjected to verbal abuse, which included “accusing her of having a mental health problem and/or being an alcoholic, making reference to her weight and telling her she was unable to “keep her legs shut” or words to that effect”.
The hearing, which was chaired by Mr Sydenham, Amanda Harvey and Superintendent Fran Naughton, found the allegations amounted to gross misconduct.
Constable Z was dismissed without notice.
Read more:
- Harrogate police officer sacked after ‘misleading’ the force
- Police sack Harrogate officer convicted of sexual assault
The hearing gave “significant reasonable adjustments” for the officer to attend the misconduct panel after it was found he suffered from “mixed depressive and anxiety disorder such as being sufficient to constitute a disability as defined by law”.
However, in its reasons, the panel found that constable Z was “highly culpable and blameworthy for his own repeated gross misconduct even after allowing for a significant recognition of his disability and health issue”.
The report added that his behaviour amount to significant harm to the reputation of the force.
It said:
“The harm caused was very significant both to the reputation of officer Z and the reputation of the police service.
“Officer Z fundamentally harmed his own reputation and the trust placed in him by North Yorkshire Police.
“The effect of his gross misconduct upon the three female victims of his behaviour, the police service, his colleagues, public confidence in and the trust placed in the police service was extremely damaging and it is likely to continue to be corrosive in undermining public confidence in policing for a considerable time.”
Following the hearing, deputy chief constable Mabs Hussain said:
Business Breakfast: Harrogate marketing agency hires new head of social media“There is absolutely no place for this behaviour in the police service.
“We demand the highest level of integrity from our officers and staff to ensure that the people we serve can have complete trust in us.
“The misconduct outcome sends a clear message and reassurance to the public that we will not tolerate such appalling behaviour from anyone within our ranks and will ensure action is taken.”
The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, 26 October at Banyan in Harrogate between 8 am – 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 marketing agency has appointed a new head of social media.
The Big Bamboo Agency, which is based at Windsor House, has hired James Pilkington to the position.
Mr Pilkington, who brings with him 10 years’ experience of working in specialist social media roles, will oversee the strategic direction of social media platforms and content for the firm’s clients.
Nicola Stamford, the company’s owner and founding director, said:
“I am delighted that we have attracted James to join the business, especially as he contacted us to see if any opportunities were available.
“His primary focus will be on ensuring we continue to look after, add value to and nurture our client base when it comes to their social media presence and how they are perceived online.”
Harrogate insurance firm launches rebrand
A Harrogate insurance company has rebranded.
A-Plan, which is based on Princes Square, will now be renamed Howden Insurance as part of the rebrand.
The company said the move marks the next chapter for the branch – and over 100 of its counterparts on high streets across the country – after joining the Howden Group two years ago.
Chris Bishop, Manager at Howden Harrogate said:
“We’re so excited to mark this new chapter with our new name – and new look and feel of our branch.
“That’s why we’re hosting our own launch events during October, open to all in our community to attend.”
Read more:
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate housing company secures £150m funding for new homes
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate care provider opens new training centre
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate business meeting to focus on inflation
Campaigners ‘cautious’ over Yorkshire Water £7.8 billion investment plan
Campaigners say they are “cautious but positive” over Yorkshire Water plans to invest £7.8 billion in infrastructure over five years.
The company announced the move today as part of investment plans for 2025 to 2030, which have been submitted to industry regulator Ofwat.
It includes £3.1 billion to improve resilience in the water network, £4.3 billion to protect river and coastal water quality and investment in customer service and financial support for customers.
However, it would mean average bills would rise from £438.12 in 2024/25 (£36.51 per month) to £518.76 in 2025/26 (£43.23 per month) with increases each year thereafter.
The proposals come as water companies have been under increasing public pressure at the amount of sewage being discharged into rivers and seas.
In the Harrogate district, campaigners say they are cautious at the plans but welcomed planned investment into the country’s water network.
Dr David Clayden, chairman of the Nidd Action Group, which is co-ordinating efforts to clean the River Nidd, said:
“Any investment in cleaning up our rivers, particularly the River Nidd and its tributaries is to be welcomed.
“Cynics amongst us may say something like ‘too little, too late’ and ‘we will be paying twice for something that should have been done years ago’, but I’d like to strike a more positive, if cautious, response to this announcement by Yorkshire Water.
“It’s a plan, not yet a reality, for actions possibly starting in 18 months time. Ofwat may yet dial down the ambition — and the cost to us as citizens — along with the much hoped for improvements in water quality.
“As citizens we need to keep the pressure up on our politicians not to settle for any scaling down of ‘improvements’.”
Nicola Shaw, chief executive of Yorkshire Water, said the plans were the company’s largest ever investment into the network.
She said:
“This submission marks our largest ever environmental investment and illustrates our commitment to deliver what our customers expect. The programme will protect and improve the quality of water in rivers and at coasts, leading to cleaner, safer water environments that support recreation and biodiversity across the region.”
Read more:
- Yorkshire Water pays £235,000 for illegal Harrogate sewage discharge
- No date set for Swinsty and Fewston parking charges, says Yorkshire Water
- Yorkshire Water chief executive apologises for sewage failures
Missing Harrogate man found ‘safe and well’
North Yorkshire Police said today a missing man from Harrogate had been found “safe and well”.
Police issued a description and appeal yesterday for help locating the 27-year-old from Starbeck, who had not been since since Friday night.
But the force issued a statement today, which said the man had been found.
It added:
“North Yorkshire Police would like to thank members of the public and the media for sharing the appeals.”
Read more:
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- Man fined for fly-tipping in Harrogate district
‘No timeline’ for £1.8m care facility at Cardale Park
Council officials have said no timeline has been set on proposals for land at Cardale Park in Harrogate which was purchased to provide care services.
The three-acre site on Beckwith Head Road in Harrogate was previously owned by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, which runs mental health services in the district.
North Yorkshire County Council, which has now been replaced by North Yorkshire Council, completed a £1.8 million purchase of the land last year.
At the time, the authority said it had bought the site in order to progress a “scheme to assist with social care market development in the Harrogate area”.
In February, the council said it was “examining the best options” for the site.
The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Council whether it had any timescales for bringing forward a proposal for the site.
Richard Webb, the council’s director of health and adult services, said:
“We cannot at this stage provide you with a timeline as we are still in the process of examining the best options for meeting the community’s needs and will bring forward a scheme in due course.”
The land was previously given approval for a 36-bed mental health facility on the site, following the closure of Harrogate District Hospital’s Briary Unit, which helped adults with mental illness.
However, those plans were dropped in 2019 and inpatients on the unit were sent to Foss Park Hospital in York instead.
Read more:
- Health chief pledges to help patients at Harrogate NHS dentist
- Council ‘examining best options’ for £1.8m Cardale Park land