Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and welcome back to the traffic and travel blog, it’s Connor with you today to help make your journey as smooth as possible.

Keep checking our blog every 30 minutes for full updates on the roads and public transport. I’ll let you know about any delays, traffic hotspots or roadworks.

You can get in touch if you spot anything, and it’s safe, on 01423 276197.

The morning blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is all from me this week but my colleague Leah will be back with you for the final day of the working week from 6.30am.

Roads

Heavy congestion on Ripon Road at the gas line repairs close to the Co-op petrol station. Usual levels of traffic elsewhere in the district according to our system

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

Heavy congestion on Wetherby Road between Forest Lane and Hookstone Chase. Also heavy congestion on Skipton Road between Dragon Road and the Empress roundabout.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with schools away for half term but there has been some disruption on the railway.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with schools away for half term but there has been some disruption on the railway.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

Tensions flare at first face-to-face Station Gateway meeting

Officials representing Harrogate’s £10.9 million Station Gateway plans faced criticism of the scheme at a first face-to-face meeting with residents today.

Around 20 residents turned up for the meeting at the Victoria Shopping Centre, where some raised concerns about the scheme.

Some residents said they feared long tailbacks in the town centre as a result, others questioned if it would have the desired effect of increased cycling and walking.

This was the first in-person public consultation on the Station Gateway scheme. The previous round was held online due to coronavirus.

Matthew Roberts, who leads on the project from Harrogate Borough Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“It has been a busy start. People are very passionate about the town, which is a good thing. We weren’t expecting too many people to come down to say they like it.

“The taxi drivers were very concerned about the taxi rank, which was not represented in the video fly-through. So it was good to tell them that it would not be affected.

“We also made it clear that Station Parade would never be closed, it would be a phased construction so it is positive to great that across.”

Read more:

Peter Mctague, who owns a property near to Station Parade, said:

“I have two concerns. One is that the environment would be more badly damaged by cars spending more time travelling.

“The second concern I have got is that I think it would move a lot of traffic from commercial streets to residential streets.”

Residents were shown the plans at a public meeting at Victoria Shopping Centre today.

Residents were shown the plans at a public meeting at Victoria Shopping Centre today.

Jo Bagley, who lives on Mount Parade, added:

“The scheme is outrageous. To affect all our lives by not being able to access our homes, to put up with increase traffic levels to benefit a few people who want to cycle is unacceptable.

“At the very least this ought to be trialled before the work starts and the money is spent on it. We would also have to put up with a lot of disruption while this is being built.”

There will be another in-person consultation in unit 11 of the Victoria Shopping Centre this Friday between 10am and 1pm and another next Friday between 10am and 3pm.

Harrogate council fines landlords more than £100,000 over safety issues

Harrogate Borough Council revealed today that it has fined seven landlords a total of £109,000 since 2018 for failing to comply with private sector housing requirements.

The council said in a press release it most recently took action against landlord Mr Jamshid Jalali-Ghazaani, who failed to comply with an improvement notice on his property on the High Street in Starbeck.

According to the release, the council found several hazards including excess cold, structural issues and kitchen safety issues. He was fined £25,000.

Mr Jalali-Ghazaani appealed the penalty in September but a property tribunal dismissed it.

The council said it had successfully defended every appeal made by private landlords, including a fine of £15,000 for Stephen Archer’s Providence Terrace property, a fine of £13,500 for Andrew Norman’s Dragon Road property and Kingspark Limited’s £15,000 fine for its property on Electric Avenue.

Read more:

In addition, the council has also issued financial penalties totalling £40,589 against landlords of other properties did not appeal the penalty.

The release was published days after the council was criticised by residents for not taking firmer action against to prevent trouble at the privately-let 38 Mayfield Grove, Harrogate, which has been the subject of 255 police reports since 2008.

Trevor Watson, Harrogate Borough Council’s director of economy, environment and housing, said:

“While there are no doubt many landlords who provide excellent residential accommodation, there will sadly always be those who put the financial gain ahead of the safety of their tenants.

“This is an important reminder for landlords that as the housing authority we have the powers, and where necessary, will use them to protect tenants and residents. And hopefully encourage landlords to improve housing standards in the private rental sector.”

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and welcome back to the traffic and travel blog, it’s Connor with you today to help make your journey as smooth as possible.

Keep checking our blog every 30 minutes for full updates on the roads and public transport. I’ll let you know about any delays, traffic hotspots or roadworks.

You can get in touch if you spot anything, and it’s safe, on 01423 276197.

The morning blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is all from me today. Again the traffic levels in Harrogate are lower with schools on half term. I will be back tomorrow from 6.30am to keep an eye out for any disruption.

Roads

Congestion around Ripon Road, Otley Road and Wetherby Road but levels of traffic are lower due to schools being off for half term this week.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

Congestion around Ripon Road, Otley Road and Wetherby Road but levels of traffic are lower due to schools being off for half term this week.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Congestion around Ripon Road, Otley Road and Wetherby Road but levels of traffic are lower due to schools being off for half term this week.

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

  • Kingsley Drive, Starbeck – road closure
  • Wayside Avenue near Wetherby Road – road closure for resurfacing
  • Harlow Moor Road at the junction with Otley Road – temporary one way system 
  • Bogs Lane, Starbeck – road closure
  • Savage Yard, Knaresborough, across from The Crown Inn – road closure
  • Copgrove Road, Burton Leonard – road closure
  • Westerns Lane, Markington – road closure
  • Clockhill Field Lane, Whixley- road closure
  • South Feild Lane, Tockwith – road closure

Temporary lights:

  • Cold Bath Road in Harrogate
  • Leadhall Lane in Rossett Green
  • Ripon Road in Harrogate, near McCarthy’s Storage World
  • Green Lane near Ashville College
  • Otley Road around the junctions for Cold Bath Road and Harlow Moor Road
  • Boroughbridge Road, near the Kia Garage
  • Bondgate Green, Ripon
  • New Road and Main Street, Scotton
  • York Place, Knaresborough
  • Main Street, Ripley at junction with Ripon Road

Trains

  • No problems so far from Harrrogate to all stations

Buses

  • Harrogate Bus Company is running a reduced timetable due to driver availability. The 36 bus will run every 30 mins between Harrogate & Ripon, and every 15 mins between Harrogate & Leeds
  • Other buses look to be running on time with no reported delays or cancellations

 

Masham restaurant founders to sell business after 16 years

The owners of a fine dining restaurant in Masham have put the business up for sale after 16 years at the helm.

Jon and Laura Vennell opened Vennell’s Restaurant on Silver Street in 2005.

Since then the restaurant founders can boast 14 consecutive years in the Michelin Guide, the Good Food Guide and the AA Restaurant Guide.

Vennell’s is set in a large Grade II listed Georgian property, which has recently been refurbished. The restaurant is on the ground floor and there is accommodation on the first and second floors.

Inside the restaurant.

However, Mr and Ms Vennell have decided to move on and have listed the restaurant for sale at an undisclosed fee with Christie & Co. They said in a joint statement:

“Now in our 17th year as guardians of this amazing building, it is time to pursue our next adventure. The locals have always supported the restaurant on this site, which dates back to the 70s.

“The building, following an extensive renovation both inside and out this year is in exceptional condition, as is this business breaking all records in the last four months.

“The scope to run this restaurant more as a business than a lifestyle is massive.”

Read more:

David Cash, associate director in Christie & Co’s hospitality team, is handling the sale. He said Vennell’s was “a quality eatery and presents massive potential”. He added:

“Ordinarily town centre restaurants are held on a leasehold basis and rarely do freehold opportunities like this one present themselves.

“In addition, rarely do hospitality business premises come with such substantial living accommodation.

“Vennell’s presents an opportunity for an experienced chef to live and work in an immaculately presented property, which has seen a great deal of investment recently.

“Not only that, but they stand to benefit massively from the reputation that Jon and Laura have built over the past 16 years.

Jenni Newberry set to be Philip Allott’s interim successor

A staff member from the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is set to be appointed interim head of the organisation.

Jenni Newberry, head of commissioning and partnerships, will succeed Philip Allott, who resigned after his comments on the murder of Sarah Everard.

The move will be formalised at the next meeting of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel on November 4.

Ms Newberry is likely to be in post for just three weeks until a full-time successor is elected on November 25.

Read more:

So far only Conservative candidate Zoe Metcalfe and independent candidate Keith Tordoff have been nominated for the PFCC election.

Simon Dennis, chief executive of the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:

“The panel will be asked to consider a proposal that the commissioner’s office be run by Jenni Newberry as part of a team approach.

“If approved, Mrs Newberry would take up the position, working alongside myself and assistant chief executives Tom Thorp and Caroline Blackburn, until the newly elected commissioner assumes the role following their election.”

Mr Allott, who lives in Knaresborough and was elected in May, said Ms Everard should not have “submitted” to arrest by the police officer who murdered her and that women needed to be more “streetwise”.

Coneythorpe pub reopens by thanking firefighters who saved it

The owners of a family-run pub in Coneythorpe, which reopened yesterday after 11 months, have thanked firefighters who saved the building.

Fire crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Acomb spent six hours battling a blaze at the Tiger Inn, near Knaresborough, in November.

To mark the reopening 11 months on, Ian and Barbara Gill, who have owned the Tiger Inn for 15 years, presented a cheque for £5,000 to the men and women who saved the pub from total destruction.

The money will now go to the Fire Fighters Charity, which helps firefighters and their families cope with injury, illness and rehabilitation.

Read more:

Paul Metheringham, who was the incident commander on the night of the fire, said:

“This is a tremendously generous gesture by the Gills and we are very appreciative. The fire was massive and we were thankful that we were able to save the Tiger from being completely destroyed.

“We know what an important part of the local community the pub is and we are delighted it has now reopened. This cheque presentation makes the re-opening even more special.”

The Knaresborough crew released this picture today.

Mr Gill said:

“This was the least we could do. The local fire brigades from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Acomb were absolutely brilliant, showing incredible courage and expertise. We have so much to thank them for.

“We are delighted to have reopened – and to welcome back our regulars after being closed for so long. During our closure, we have been so heartened and encouraged the support we have received from the local community, who have given us the strength to carry on and to ensure that The Tiger has re-opened in style.

“We were left devastated by the fire. It was accidental and we were grateful that no-one was hurt. As you can imagine, the last 18 months have been extremely challenging. We were already struggling with the serious effects of covid last year, when the huge fire struck.”

Ms Gill added:

“Had it not been for covid, someone would have been on the premises when the fire started. But, on the plus side, as the pub was empty, it meant there was no danger to life. Even so, the part the brave firefighters played in saving our pub was absolutely crucial. We will be forever grateful to them.”

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and welcome back to the traffic and travel blog, it’s Connor with you today to help make your journey as smooth as possible.

Keep checking our blog every 30 minutes for full updates on the roads and public transport. I’ll let you know about any delays, traffic hotspots or roadworks.

You can get in touch if you spot anything, and it’s safe, on 01423 276197.

The morning blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is all from me this morning. It was a fairly quiet morning on the roads today with schools out for half term but there have been some issues on the railway. I will be back from 6.30am tomorrow.

Roads

The roads are looking busy in some areas this morning so look out for congestion here:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking busy in some areas this morning so look out for congestion here:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking busy in some areas this morning so look out for congestion here:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

  • Kingsley Drive, Starbeck – road closure
  • Harlow Moor Road at the junction with Otley Road – temporary one way system 
  • Bogs Lane, Starbeck – road closure
  • Savage Yard, Knaresborough, across from The Crown Inn – road closure
  • Copgrove Road, Burton Leonard – road closure
  • Westerns Lane, Markington – road closure
  • Clockhill Field Lane, Whixley- road closure
  • South Feild Lane, Tockwith – road closure

Temporary lights:

  • Leadhall Lane in Rossett Green
  • Ripon Road in Harrogate, near McCarthy’s Storage World
  • Green Lane near Ashville College
  • Otley Road around the junctions for Cold Bath Road and Harlow Moor Road
  • Boroughbridge Road, near the Kia Garage
  • Bondgate Green, Ripon
  • New Road and Main Street, Scotton
  • York Place, Knaresborough
  • Main Street, Ripley at junction with Ripon Road

Trains

  • The 6.41am Harrogate to York is now expected at 6.51am
  • The 7.09am Harrogate to York is now expected at 7.16am
  • The 6.03am Harrogate to Leeds is now expected at 6.13am – due to late train in front of this one

Buses

  • Harrogate Bus Company is running a reduced timetable due to driver availability. The 36 bus will run every 30 mins between Harrogate & Ripon, and every 15 mins between Harrogate & Leeds
  • Other buses look to be running on time with no reported delays or cancellations

Police find body in search for missing walker

A body has been found in the search for a walker who went missing in North Yorkshire last week.

Experienced hiker David McCartney, 74, left to scout an eight-mile route on Monday last week but did not return home.

His car was found in Kettlewell and today North Yorkshire Police said a farmer had discovered a body in Coverhead, near Upper Nidderdale, late this morning.

Walkers in Upper Nidderdale has been urged to keep an eye out for Mr McCartney, whose disappearance prompted a large-scale search that involved the National Police Air Service helicopter, search dogs, volunteer mountain rescue teams and the RAF.

Although formal identification has not been confirmed at this stage, North Yorkshire Police said in a statement it believed the body to be that of Mr McCartney, who was from Cross Hills, near Keighley.

Read more:

A post mortem will be carried out to establish the cause of death. Officers believe there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

Police have informed Mr McCartney’s family.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“Police were called last Monday when David McCartney did not return home from a lone walking expedition.

“In the following days there was an extensive search, involving police, the national police air support service, mountain rescue and the RAF.

“Police would like to thank members of the public for their assistance with sharing the appeals to find David.”

Knaresborough’s singing train conductor earns debut art show

A train conductor from Knaresborough has earned a debut art show after picking up his paintbrushes for the first time during lockdown.

Paul Mirfin, who has worked for Northern for 19 years, decided that he needed a new therapeutic hobby just a few months ago.

His colourful pieces, which are often inspired by the scenes he sees on the railway, have been a big hit with his colleagues with some asking for commissions.

Mr Mirfin, who is also a singer, said:

“Painting is really new for me. I had never painted in my life but earlier this year I picked up a brush, bought a load of oils and just started painting.

“I was diagnosed with anxiety a little while ago. My mum had passed away, I moved house, got married and had a lot going on. Painting just focused me in a way nothing else did and really helped.”

Read more:

The oil paintings will be on display in Harrogate station’s waiting room on platform one between 9am and 5pm on October 30. He added:

“Obviously, being a railway man, that’s what most of my paintings are of so far. One will be put into the staff room at Leeds, which I’m very proud of.

“I’d recommend giving painting a go to anyone. It’s so relaxing and absorbing – it helps you take time off in your mind of other things that are going on, or it does for me at least.”

The paintings are inspired by the railway.

Tony Baxter, regional director at Northern said:

“It is very exciting to be featuring Paul’s work at Harrogate station for both our customers and colleagues to enjoy.

At Northern, we are dedicated to making the railway environment better for the whole community and to encourage everyone to ‘go do your thing’ – whatever that may be.”