Champagne thief strikes in Harrogate supermarket

Police have appealed for information after champagne and spirits worth more than £800 were stolen from a supermarket in Harrogate.

The theft took place at Morrisons on Hookstone Road in Starbeck at about 10.30am on Thursday April 22.

Officers have released CCTV footage of two men they would like to speak to. They believe the men “hold information which would be of assistance to the investigation”.

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A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“While it’s recognised that the men in the images are wearing face masks, officers are appealing to anyone who may recognise them by their hair or clothing to get in touch.”

Anyone who has information can call the police on 101 and quote reference 12210103291.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Harrogate primary school raises 10 times charity target

A Harrogate primary school has raised £2,420 for Cancer Research UK, which is nearly 10 times the original target.

Woodfield Community Primary School took part in the Race for Life Schools programme on May 14 and has since smashed its £250 goal.

Around 60 pupils, aged three to 11 years old, took part in the event to raise money for life-saving research.

Jo Marwood, who is head of school at Woodfield Primary School, said:

“We set a target of £250 for the school to raise and thought that would be an amazing achievement for our small school.

“So to see the total going up and up with each donation we were over the moon!

“We’d like to thank everyone, our students, our staff, our families and our local community who have cheered us on and donated to such an important cause.”

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Sarah Pickersgill, head of events marketing for Cancer Research UK, said:

“Organising a Race for Life Schools event is a fantastic way for schools to have fun, whilst raising money for a good cause.

“The money raised by Woodfield School will help our scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, helping to save more lives.

“So, we thank all the pupils, parents and teachers for their vital support.”

Just one coronavirus case in Harrogate district

There has been just one positive coronavirus case reported today in the Harrogate district, according to Public Health England.

It brings the total number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus since the pandemic began to 7,761.

The daily number of cases reported is now based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results.

However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.

The daily number of cases has remained low, but the seven day average for the district has creeped up to 21,

NHS England no longer reports coronavirus deaths from hospitals over weekends or on Bank Holidays, just on weekdays.

Read more:

 

Plumpton Rocks to reopen in 2022 after several years of repairs

Plumpton Rocks is set reopen to the public in the spring of 2022 after several years of restoration works.

The Grade II* listed parkland and man-made lake fell into disrepair towards the end of the last century before Historic England added it to the “Heritage at Risk Register” in 2012.

Since then Historic England has worked with the current owners and pumped in more than £400,000.

The visitor attraction first closed for a major programme of repairs in 2013, which included works on the parkland, the dam and on the lake. It reopened three years later in 2016.

Plumpton Rocks closed again in October 2019 to do further work on the dam and bring it up to standard for the Reservoirs Act 1975.

However, the combination of extremely wet weather and heavy machinery forced the owners to pause the works until March 2020.

Coronavirus meant that the works were only able to restart in October 2020. Today the dam restoration is complete but remedial works remain for other areas of the site.

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Robert de Plumpton Hunter, who inherited Plumpton Rocks from his father in 2010, told the Stray Ferret:

“When we started work on the dam in October 2019 the conditions were horrific. It was supposed to take three months but the conditions were so desperate.

“So we got to December and we had not made much progress. We were doing more harm than good so we stopped to restart in March 2020 but that is when coronavirus hit.

“The dam works finished in January 2021 but we need to do more work on the paths and the parkland before we reopen.

“I only want to let people in when it’s safe with coronavirus and when it is looking as good as it can be.”

Hopefully that would mean no more works would be needed for the next 100 years, he added.

Plumpton Rocks restoration timeline

Harrogate library turns back time on town landmarks

Volunteers from Harrogate library have been turning back the clock on the town’s historic landmarks.

The team have worked with a local photographer to compare what Harrrogate looked like in the early 1900s to today.

Most of the work is currently on display at the library and will be until the end of July but the volunteers have also shared others on social media.

Our featured image shows the boating pool in Valley Gardens, which was taken by a Mark E. Mitchell in 1930.

It shows a few small sail boats in the water, which has clearly captured the imagination of visitors to Valley Gardens.

Today’s image, which was taken by Jonathan Turner, captures a much quieter boating lake in October 2020. The project has also captured life in the coronavirus lockdown.

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The below image shows the former J.Chippindale & Co shop taken by Asquith & Son in the early 1900s.

Today’s image shows how the building is now occupied by the Cardamom Black restaurant, with cars replacing the scores of bicycles on display.

The building has stood the test of time.

The Then and Now project was funded by a £5,000 grant from Libraries Connected Yorkshire and Humber.

Using photo editing software freely available on the library PCs, volunteers were able to produce side-by-side and composite images.

Cllr Greg White, the executive member for libraries, said:

“We’re really pleased with how the project has developed at Skipton, Scarborough and Harrogate.

“I understand that feedback from the groups was extremely positive.

“They all enjoyed learning about the history of their town and connecting with its past, and gained new skills using the free photo-editing software.”

Did you know that the Stray Ferret has teamed up with Harrogate Historian Malcolm Neesam to produce audio walking tours of Harrogate? The walks are sponsored by the Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) and take you back to the Golden Age of the Harrogate Spa and a walk through the Commercial Heart of Harrogate.  

Why not take a walk back in time and learn about Harrogate’s glorious past.. They’re easy to do and a great day out. For more information click here. 

Stray art installation opens to help people reflect on covid dead

A giant art installation has opened on the Stray today to help people reflect on those who have lost their lives through coronavirus.

The piece, called In Memoriam, measures 36 metres in diameter and features more than 100 flags made from hospital bed sheets.

As well as a memorial to those who have died, it is also a tribute to those who have been on the frontline trying to save lives.

It’s been designed by award-winning artist Luke Jerram and will be on West Park Stray until June 7. After that it will move to Edinburgh, Fleetwood and Weston-super-Mare.

There is no entry fee and Harrogate International Festivals has commissioned a reflective piece of music called ‘A Moment of Time’, which you can find here.

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This is the first in a series of installations and events delivered in the months ahead by Harrogate International Festivals, which this year celebrates its 55th anniversary.

In Memoriam is being supported by Hornbeam Park Developments Ltd, Harrogate BID, and Swainsons Funeral Directors.

Sharon Canavar, Harrogate International Festivals chief executive, said

“Two years ago, we were lucky enough to bring Luke’s Museum of the Moon to St Wilfrid’s Church, which was one of the highlights of that summer’s international festival, and was visited by more than 10,000 people.

“As an arts charity delivering festivals and events, we were first to close and will be the last to open, but we can’t just open the doors on our venues and go straight back to normal.

“We wanted to create something unique in Harrogate that acknowledged the last year whilst allowing us to create a safe, outdoor event for the town.

“We don’t want people to just look at In Memoriam from afar, we want people to experience it; we want individuals, families and friends to walk into the heart of it; we want them to sit under the flags and quietly reflect the events of the last 15 months.”

New owners give General Tarleton £500,000 refurbishment

The General Tarleton’s new owners have given the restaurant, bar and hotel a major £500,000 refurbishment.

Father and daughter team Jonathan and Sarah Morris took on the venue earlier this year and have just reopened after months of work.

The family took on the business after the previous owners, Suzanne and John Topham, put it into voluntary liquidation in September 2020.

General Tarleton, which is in Ferrensby, near Knaresborough, has built up a good reputation for fine dining over the last couple of decades.

Ralph’s is the new fine dining restaurant side of the General Tarleton. It serves up a seven course tasting menu for £55 per person.

The new owners want to keep that reputation going but have also expanded the offering with a more informal and accessible menu for the bar and Sunday lunch menu.

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Sarah Morris, a general manager and one of the owners, told the Stray Ferret:

“We want to make sure that this is a real destination for people. Hopefully people will see the effort we have not only put into the building but also the new menus.

“You are still getting the tip top in terms of produce but it is more accessible, more casual. We still have the fine dining, which is what we have worked very hard on.

“The reputation of the General Tarleton is why we wanted to jump at the opportunity. We plan to not just maintain that reputation but also to improve upon it.”

Not only have they given the bar and restaurant a new lease of life, but they have upgraded the rooms and added a further two so there are now 15 hotel rooms in total.

Jonathan Morris, who has overseen the refurbishment and is one of the owners, also said:

“We took on the business in January and when we saw the coronavirus roadmap, our target was to open for indoor dining.

“It has taken a lot of work and a lot of money. At one time we had around 20 contractors here. But the results speak for themselves.

“We have got a good team. The attention to detail is second to none so I am confident we can build on the great reputation of the General Tarleton.”

See the rest of the gallery below:

Ripon firms vote on whether to create Business Improvement District

The ballot to decide the future of Ripon’s proposed £800,000 Business Improvement District is underway.

BIDs have been created across the country, including in Harrogate, as a way of increasing footfall to towns and cities. Businesses pay annual levies to fund projects.

More than 280 Ripon businesses have until next Thursday to vote on whether they wish to pay a levy to fund projects to create a safer, cleaner and better promoted city centre over the next five years.

A group of city leaders have been working on the plans since 2019 and will generate £800,000 in funding over five years if they win the backing of businesses through the ballot.

They have already won the support of Harrogate Borough Council, which has agreed to lend £20,000 for start-up costs and will contribute about £30,000 over the five-year period if the BID goes ahead.

Speaking at a meeting last night, councillor Graham Swift, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development at the council, said:

“This council strongly supports the creation of Business Improvement Districts – these have been extremely successful throughout the United Kingdom.

“As a Conservative, I’m pro-self-determination and this enables the people of Ripon to generate funds for themselves for the things they think are critical for their businesses.

“I’m confident that with the right plans and actions this will go a long way to playing an important part of the whole regeneration programme that is taking place in Ripon.”

Majority required

For the BID to succeed, a simple majority of those who vote, representing more than half the total rateable value of all the properties, must be in favour.

Abacus Smarter Accountants, Specsavers, Office Ally, G Craggs Ltd and Sterne Properties are among those to have already expressed support, as well as other organisations including Ripon Community House, Ripon Museums Trust and Ripon City Council.

The results will be announced shortly after the ballot closes.

If the BID goes ahead, a limited company will be set up with 10 directors drawn from the business community to manage the funds.

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A business plan was launched earlier this year and set out the BID’s top priorities, including street cleansing and maintenance, festivals and events, car parking, toilets, landscaping and tourism.

In a statement included in the plan, Richard Compton, chairman of Ripon BID and owner of Newby Hall, said:

“I believe Ripon can emerge strongly from the huge challenges presented by the covid pandemic. Our unique local retail and leisure businesses have weathered much of the storm finding new ways of working and collaborating.

“We have so much to offer and as we perhaps see the light at the end of the tunnel, all of the city’s businesses need a plan to boost the place, for the benefit of all those who shop, live, work and visit our stunning city.

“The BID will re-invest in the priorities that matter locally, appreciating that Ripon is the gateway to the Dales, with tourists an important element of the business mix.

“The business plan has been crafted to capture the essence of Ripon and address issues that businesses have told us need attention.

“We need to drive footfall into our shops, restaurants, bars, museums and attractions – both in the city centre and the outer areas.

“We are on the point of making Ripon one of Yorkshire’s great success stories”

Five arrests in Harrogate during county lines action week

Police made five arrests in Harrogate as part of last week’s national operation on county lines drug dealing.

The arrests began on May 17 when plain clothes officers on patrol around Avenue Grove in Starbeck found class A drugs on a man behaving suspiciously.

That arrest led them to a nearby property, where they found and searched three other men. The officers found drugs stashed in a mattress, £200, drug paraphernalia and three phone.

On May 22, a man in his 40s who had breached his prison licence was arrested and returned to jail.

Later the same day, police arrested a man in his 30s on Otley Road, who officers thought was driving erratically.

The suspect failed a roadside drug wipe and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and possession of class A drugs. He was released under investigation.

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County lines is where drug dealers from urban areas exploit vulnerable people, including children, and force them to deal drugs is smaller towns and cities.

It takes its name from the mobile phone lines used by dealers to communicate between towns and advertise their drugs for sale.

North Yorkshire Police also made arrests in York, Whitby, Thirsk, Scarborough, and on the A1 motorway.

Police also made 87 welfare visits to 95 vulnerable people.

Officers seized a total of £10,000 plus heroin, cannabis, pregabalin and a large quantity of suspected cocaine believed to be worth several thousands of pounds.

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott said he welcomed the action taken, adding:

“But we should be under no illusions about the scale of the challenge we face from these organised criminals who bring tragedy to communities and scar our society.

“Ensuring we take prompt action to educate and enforce is one of my priorities as commissioner.”

Chief Inspector Lorraine Crossman-Smith coordinated North Yorkshire Police’s involvement in the action week. She said:

“I hope the people of North Yorkshire are reassured that we mean it when we say drug dealing is a priority and that we will take action when they report information to us.”

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and welcomes back. It’s Connor here this morning with 15-minute updates on the road and rail links near you.

There are a number of continuing temporary traffic lights this morning worth keeping an eye on.

These blogs, brought to you by The HACS Group, are to keep you updated as the district’s roads get busier.

If you see anything please get in touch, if it is safe to do so, on 01423 276197 or via social media.

9am – Full Update 

Roads

That is all from me today, I am heading over to the news desk now. Leah will be back with you from 6.30am tomorrow. The roads are looking okay so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking okay so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking okay so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.15am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking okay so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking okay so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

7.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking okay so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking okay so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

7.15am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking okay so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking okay so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

6.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking okay so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking okay so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

  • Oakdale near Oakdale Golf Club
  • Skipton Road near Roberts Crescent, near ESSO petrol station
  • Otley Road from Cold Bath Road to Harlow Moor Road
  • Follifoot Road both ways from the turning at the Pannal traffic lights
  • Hollins Lane, between West Lane and Brookfield, near Hampsthwaite
  • Wetherby Road, B6164, near Spofforth Lane at Little Ribston
  • Clotherholme Road at the junction for Lark Lane, Ripon
  • Knaresborough Road towards Knaresborough
  • Boroughbridge Road near Ferrensby

Trains

  • Trains appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations

Buses

  • Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations