Connor Creaghan, Author at The Stray Ferret

Damaged Valley Gardens sculptures set to be replaced

The process to replace the damaged sculptures in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens is underway after private donors gave about £2,000.

Vandals ripped out chunks of wood from the kiwi bird and the carved Maori bench in the New Zealand garden section of Valley Gardens in July.

Harrogate International Partnerships (HIP), a grant-making charity that supports the twinning of places, has led attempts to replace the sculptures with more durable versions.

With some funding now in place, Dennis Richard, chair of HIP, told the Stray Ferret it was working with Harrogate Borough Council on plans for replacement sculptures:

“It was shocking to see the state that the sculptures are in. We know we need to put this right as soon as possible. Damage attracts more damage so it needs to be fixed.”

The carved Maori bench has also been badly damaged.

The carved Maori bench has been badly damaged.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson told the Stray Ferret it was too early to provide fuller details of timescales and plans.

The New Zealand garden commemorates Harrogate’s twinning with Wellington and the country’s airmen being stationed in the town during World War Two.

The garden dates back to 1954 and chainsaw sculptor Mick Burns carved the Marlin, Kiwi, and bench in 2010.

Coach and Horses could be in limbo for months

The Coach and Horses pub in Harrogate faces an uncertain future as its appeal against the decision to revoke its licence threatens to drag on.

Solicitors acting on behalf of landlord John Nelson sent the appeal to magistrates in early August.

No date or location for the hearing has been set and the situation may not change for several months as the courts struggle to deal with a backlog in cases.

Harrogate Justice Centre, which is likely to hear the appeal, told the Stray Ferret it did not currently have the capacity for any private prosecutions and did not know when this might change.

Harrogate Borough Council revoked the pub’s licence in July after it showed a “blatant disregard” for coronavirus social distancing rules.

Mr Nelson was allegedly “aggressive and abusive” towards council officials and the police when they served him a prohibition notice on May 31.

A total of 449 people signed a petition calling on the council to give Mr Nelson’s daughter, Samantha Nelson, the licence to run the pub.

At the licensing sub-committee where the council revoked the licence, Mr Nelson’s lawyer Paddy Whur said his client “accepted he made a chronic error of judgement”.

The Stray Ferret has approached the Coach and Horses several times to inquire about its future. We had still not received a reply by the time of publication.

Harrogate council leader fails to answer questions about Cllr Samantha Mearns

Harrogate Borough Council and its leader have remained tight-lipped about Cllr Samantha Mearns and a police investigation into missing Porsche cars worth more than a million pounds.

Cllr Mearns was company secretary and a person “of significant control” in Knaresborough based Gmund Cars Ltd until December 2018. The company, which was run by her husband Andrew, went into administration in July 2019. There has been a subsequent police investigation into allegations that the ownership of Porsches were transferred without the owners’ permission.

Cllr Richard Cooper, the leader of Harrogate Borough Council, made Cllr Mearns the chair of the General Purposes Committee which oversees the conduct of councillors. She chaired her first meeting in June 2019.

The Stray Ferret asked Cllr Richard Cooper whether he has confidence in Cllr Mearns, when he was first made aware of the allegations and whether he has ever asked Cllr Mearns about her role at Gmund Cars Ltd.

We gave him a full day to respond to our request and we also gave Harrogate Borough Council two days to respond to a similar line of questions. Cllr Mearns is a case worker for Andrew Jones MP. He has also refused to answer the Stray Ferret’s questions.

Anthony Place, one of the six alleged victims of Gmund Cars Ltd, lodged a complaint about Cllr Mearns to Harrogate Borough Council in June 2019.

The authority’s monitoring officer, Jennifer Norton, assessed the complaint and said it would not be something she could take further because the councillor was “not engaged in council business” so the rules of the code of conduct did not apply.

North Yorkshire Police is investigating the allegations and arrested a man in his fifties in July last year. He has not been charged and the force released him under investigation.

Fairfax residents call for support after weeks of disturbances

Residents in the Fairfax area of Harrogate who witnessed a police raid this afternoon have called for more support after weeks of disturbances.

The council flat several police vans attended appears to have suffered extensive damage. All of the windows are broken.

Some of the people living nearby told the Stray Ferret suspect that the man who lives in the council flat has mental health problems and is not getting the support he needs:

“It’s been going every night for about two weeks. The police take him to the hospital but there is no Briary Ward anymore. They leave him at the hospital but he just walks home and starts again. They don’t do anything to help, it takes too long for them to take any action.”

The windows are broken at the council flat.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“Shortly after 11am today, police were called to an incident at residential flats in Harrogate. A man was arrested for criminal damage and is now in police custody.”

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust is responsible for mental health services in the district. The Stray Ferret has approached the trust for comment following the calls for support from residents.

A spokesperson said for the health trust told the Stray Ferret:

“Whilst we can’t comment on individual cases, anyone that previously received care at The Briary Unit, Harrogate is still able to access full mental health support through their care team or our crisis services. Our inpatient facilities that were previously at The Briary Unit transferred to our new state of the art hospital, Foss Park in York and anyone requiring hospital admission would be admitted to this site.”

The Briary Unit at Harrogate District Hospital closed its doors in April this year for the final time as adult inpatient mental health services transfer to York. The trust said that it would be spending more money on community-based care.

‘Devastated’ organisers confirm Harrogate Christmas Market cancellation

Harrogate Christmas Market 2020 will not go ahead after officials raised concerns about the potential spread of coronavirus.

The Stray Ferret reported last week that the market would likely be cancelled, dealing a blow to local businesses which benefit from the influx of up to 60,000 visitors.

The event’s vice-chairman, Steve Scarre, said:

“Harrogate Christmas Market would not have been possible without the Herculean efforts of organisers Brian and Beryl Dunsby and all the other volunteers. I know that Brian and Beryl are devastated to have had to cancel this year’s event, but to compromise the safety of visitors, stallholders, local businesses, contractors, volunteers, and residents would be unthinkable.

“I know that the local retail and hospitality businesses really look forward to the market, as it’s held during an otherwise quiet month. Our hearts go out to them, as the cancellation comes on top of a difficult and in some cases disastrous trading period over the last twelve months.”

This week, Harrogate Borough Council officers met with the director of public health for North Yorkshire to set out precautions and questions for the event organisers.

Key elements included social distancing at two metres, controlling the number of people at the event, and contact tracing for all visitors. There were also concerns about visitors arriving from areas with higher infection rates.

With such an open event on the Stray near the Montpellier Quarter, where people are usually free to wander in and out through multiple entrances and aisles, the organisers said they cannot meet the requirements and have now cancelled.

It is the first time that the four-day event, which has been running annually since 2012, has been called off.

To try and mitigate for the loss of trade that the 180 local and regional businesses which had already signed up to the event, the organiser are preparing to set up a virtual market on a new website. It will also feature local businesses which have supported the market.

Knaresborough Christmas Market will still go ahead this December after organisers found ways to ensure visitor safety.

Harrogate NHS dental patients ‘not told’ about proposed closure

Patients at an NHS dentist in Harrogate have complained that they were not told about its proposed closure.

The patients claim Chatsworth House Dental Centre on Kings Road did not send letters to many of those who would be affected.

Under the proposals, patients would need to travel 1.7 miles to the practice on Starbeck High Street – a six-minute drive or more than 30-minute walk.

The Stray Ferret has taken the concerns of patients to both Chatsworth House Dental Centre and Target Dental Group. Both pointed to the other provider for a comment.

Read more:

One of the patients who has, along with her partner, been at Chatsworth House Dental Centre for more than 25 years said :

“I am in desperate need for a check up so I have been keeping a close eye on them but I had no idea about the proposed closure. It came as a bit of a shock because I have been there so long. Harrogate seems to be building a lot of houses but is not keeping up with vital services like dentists. It is quite frustrating.”

Chatsworth House Dental Centre has not formally approached the NHS with its proposal and it is unclear what the timescale is for the closure.

In the letter to patients, the provider said the merger would create a hub of dental services and “create an even greater patient experience”.

“Starbeck Dental Centre is situated in a modern spacious building. It is able to offer a broad range of services alongside full disabled access, modern facilities and easy access via public transport.”

How easy is it to get an NHS dentist in Harrogate?

The proposed closure of Chatsworth House Dental Centre will likely prompt fears about NHS dentist spaces in Harrogate.

Of the 11 NHS dentists in the town, only the Harrogate Dental Centre on Hookstone Park is advertising for new adult NHS patients. South Park Dental Practice is also advertising for child places up to the age of 18.

Currently, NHS dentists are not taking on any new patients because of the coronavirus pandemic. That could change by October, depending on guidance at the time.

Harrogate hospital removes coronavirus pods after half a year

Harrogate District Hospital has removed its coronavirus pods from the front of the building after half a year.

The hospital removed the assesment pods today and said they have not been necessary for several months.

A spokesperson said that they have been prominent but added that the hospital has been able to care for patients inside for a while now.

“Thank you to all colleagues involved in setting them up, and ensuring they’ve been safely removed.”

It also comes a month and a week after a coronavirus patient last died at the hospital. The fact that the hospital has now removed the pods is a visual sign that the hospital is moving in the right direction.

The hospital reported its first covid-19 death on March 20 and the most recent – the 82nd – on July 19. That patient died four days earlier on July 15.

Glass bistro trial saves How Stean Gorge from cliff edge

The owners of How Stean Gorge believe that their new bistro with glass walls and floor panels has saved the business.

Vista Bistro, set over an 80 feet drop, opened as a pilot project during the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. The trial went well so the owners have now confirmed that it will open again in the winter.

Coronavirus has been a particularly tough time for How Stean Gorge, which normally makes its money in the summer through its outdoor activities.

As it made no money this year, it will need to cover some of the losses in the winter for it to be financially viable. That’s where the Vista Bistro comes in.

Stan Beer, who owns How Stean Gorge with wife Anne, told the Stray Ferret that they have learned a lot through the trial this month:

“We have made plenty of changes since we opened and will make plenty more before we open the bistro again in the winter. We have had to change the business to make it more upmarket and bring in the big spenders. That is the only way we will be able to keep paying the staff wages.”

It is a mostly positive story for How Stean Gorge – but the owners still face some difficult decisions in the future.

Mr Beer added that he expects occasionally to close when they are not taking in enough money – an unprecedented move for them.

Head chef Jowayne Marshall has joined the bistro after three years working at the Michelin-starred Yorke Arms under Frances Atkins.

Chef Jowyane Marshall at the Vista Bistro.

The 29-year-old moved to Yorkshire from Jamaica when he married his wife more than four years ago and hopes to bring some Jamaican flavour to the restaurant. He said on the opening:

“I’m always ambitious. There’s real opportunity here to carve a reputation and dining experience, meet customers and hear their feedback.

“The menu is small and simple, more gastro-pub. We’re keeping it simple with locally-sourced produce. Going forward, I’d love to achieve a rosette for the new bistro.”

Harrogate MP refuses to answer Porsche investigation questions

Andrew Jones MP has refused to answer the Stray Ferret’s questions relating to Cllr Samantha Mearns and a police investigation into missing Porsche cars.

The Stray Ferret revealed yesterday allegations that Gmund Cars Ltd transferred ownership of more than £1 million worth of cars without the owner’s permission. The company was run by Andrew Mearns and dissolved in June 2020.

Cllr Samantha Mearns was a “person with significant control” and company secretary of Gmund Cars Ltd until December 2018. Cllr Mearns remains as an aide to Andrew Jones MP and a councillor for Harrogate Borough Council.

North Yorkshire Police is investigating the allegations and arrested a man in his fifties in July last year. He has not been charged and the force released him under investigation.

The Stray Ferret asked Andrew Jones MP if he had confidence in Cllr Mearns, when he first became aware of the allegations against Gmunds Cars Ltd and whether he had any comments to make on the investigation into Gmund Cars Ltd. Mr Jones has not responded. Harrogate Borough Council told the Stray Ferret that it will take the questions surrounding its confidence in Cllr Mearns and her involvement in Gmund Cars Ltd further.

We do know that both the council and Andrew Jones MP have received complaints about Cllr Mearns in relation to Gmund Cars Ltd.

The Stray Ferret has seen emails of a complaint put into both Andrew Jones and Harrogate Borough Council about Cllr Mearns and Gmund Cars Ltd. The complaint was made in the spring of last year.

Anthony Place wrote to Mr Jones and told him that Gmund Cars Ltd had transferred ownership of his car without his permission in March 2019 and questioned the “integrity and business practices” of Cllr Mearns.

Andrew Jones MP responded in May 2019 to say he had a conflict of interest and directed Mr Place to his own MP. Mr Jones also pointed Mr Place towards the council’s complaints procedure.

The email in May 2019 response Andrew Jones MP sent to Anthony Place.

Harrogate Borough Council’s head of legal and governance responded to Mr Place in June 2019. Jennifer Norton said that the council would not take the complaint further because Cllr Mearns was not acting in her public office duties at the time.

For more on Harrogate Borough Council’s response to Anthony Place’s complaint Read here.

Knaresborough town centre gets free parking extension

Knaresborough town centre will continue to provide free parking until the end of the year, with the time limit doubled to one hour.

North Yorkshire County Councill will bring in the new rules on September 1 for Knaresborough Market Place, as well as Northallerton High Street.

The county council made the decision after it saw a petition from Northallerton BID which called for a review into the parking policies.

County Councillor David Blades, member for Romanby and Broomfield, said:

“This decision goes a long way to show our support for retailers on the High Street and residents who requested an extension to free parking to allow for more time to do their shopping.”

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Highways, added:

“The parking regime in Northallerton High Street has been a great success in encouraging a turnover of spaces and making it easier for drivers to find a parking space, resulting in less congestion. We must remember that parking charges in these towns are extremely low compared to other places.”