Harrogate Borough Council has threatened a vicar with criminal charges in a planning row over a stone plaque at a church near Pateley Bridge.

Reverend Darryl Hall became embroiled in the dispute after parishioner and builder Carl Foxton made the plaque, along with several others for sites across the Harrogate district.

Mr Foxton, who is in his late 70s, made this latest plaque to welcome people to Bewerley Grange Chapel, which was built by Marmaduke Huby, the abbot of Fountains Abbey from 1495-1526

Mr Foxton’s work can be found attached to the wall outside the church, which is a listed building.

Revd Hall believes the wall is not part of the listed structure of the church and therefore the plaque should stay but the council disagrees.

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Andrew Lancashire, the council’s planning enforcement officer, has written to Revd Hall requesting the plaque’s removal. Mr Lancashire wrote:

“The Local Planning Authority consider that this work is a criminal offence under section 9 of the Planning Act 1990.

“I am requesting that the plaque is removed, including all stone work to construct it and that the wall is repaired and put back to how it was.

“I have consulted with the Council Heritage Officers and there is no support to retain the plaque.”

The letter goes on to give the vicar until May 31 to respond, otherwise the council has said it will be forced to take formal action.

Revd Hall, who is the Dales Vicar in Upper Nidderdale, told the Stray Ferret:

“I was blown away by the plaque, it is stunning. We would like to have something that welcomes people here.

“So it is frustrating. To think that I am going to have to go to Carl and tell him that it will have to come down.

“When I read the letter I was absolutely shocked. A criminal offence? It’s a beautiful piece of art, I have not heard anyone say anything bad about it. I have lost sleep over this row.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“The stone plaque has been installed in a wall that forms part of a listed building.

“This is an offence under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Area) Act 1990 and must therefore be removed.”

A coroner has opened an inquest into this month’s suspected murder-suicide at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel.

The inquest yesterday heard how Chenise Gregory and Michael McGibbon, who were both aged 29, died in a room at the hotel on May 4. They were found at 10.20pm.

John Broadbridge, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire and York, told the inquest:

“Chenise Gregory and Michael McGibbon died on May 4. They were found unresponsive, having suffered evident stab wounds.

“This was opened in Northallerton and adjourned for a full inquest, which should be held within the next three months.”

The full inquest will investigate how the pair, from London, died and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

North Yorkshire Police has said it believed Ms Gregory was murdered by Mr McGibbon, who then killed himself.

Read more:

• Majestic murder-suicide: What questions remain?
• Police confirm man and woman died at Harrogate’s Majestic

Devante Gravesande-Smith, a barrister from London who was a cousin of Ms Gregory, has described her as a “loving and caring person, whose smile would light up a room”.

He claimed she was “lured to her death at the hands of her controlling and manipulative ex-boyfriend”.

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.

Work started this morning on a huge art installation on the Stray to commemorate NHS staff and care workers and those who have lost their lives through coronavirus.

The piece, called In Memoriam, is set to be complete for its official opening on Friday.

Volunteers are using red and white flags to assess where the various pieces will go, close to the centre of West Park Stray.

Award-winning artist Luke Jerram designed the exhibit, which will be on the Stray until June 7. It will then be moved to Edinburgh, Fleetwood and Weston-super-Mare.

Ben Osborne (left), on behalf of the artist Luke Jerram, and Adam Long, on behalf of Harrogate International Festivals.

In Memoriam measures 36 metres in diameter and features more than 100 flags made from hospital bed sheets arranged in the form of a medical symbol.

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.

How the artwork will look on Friday.

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.”

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

A Knaresborough pub could be granted permission to serve customers alcohol outside until 10pm if an objection from police is withdrawn.

The Cricketers, located on Thistle Hill, Calcutt, wants approval to extend its premises licence to include an outdoor bar but North Yorkshire Police says it must agree to rules around CCTV.

Licensing officer PC Jackie Allen said in an objection to the application that while cameras were being installed to cover the outdoor area they must be of a high quality, recording at all times when the pub is open and with the footage made available within 48 hours of any request. She said:

“North Yorkshire Police believe that the following conditions need to be placed onto the premises licence for the purposes of strengthening and promoting the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance.

“If the applicant is in agreement with the proposed conditions set by North Yorkshire Police, the representation will be retracted.”

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The pub is located at the former Union Hotel and is owned by national brewing and pub retailing business Marston’s.

Currently, it has a licence to serve customers from the indoor bar until midnight Sunday to Thursday and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The new application, set to be decided by Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee at a meeting next Tuesday, will cover service from a new outdoor bar.

No other objections other than from North Yorkshire Police have been received.

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 

That’s it from me today, I’ll be back again tomorrow morning. Have a great day.

Roads

Today’s traffic hotspots:

• Ripon Road near Jennyfield Drive in Harrogate – traffic backing up to New Park Roundabout due to temporary lights – delays of 9 minutes
• A658 John Metcalf Way near Leeds Road – reports of very slow traffic near the construction area

Traffic is building in these areas:

• Leeds Road towards Burn Bridge
• Skipton Road heading down towards the Empress roundabout
• Ripon Road near Jennyfield – due to roadworks
• Otley Road near Harlow Moor drive – due to roadworks
• Wetherby Road around Hookstone Chase
• Ripon city centre particularly around Low Skellgate
• Knaresborough Road going past Harrogate Golf Club
• Buttersyke Bar roundabout coming from A658 North Rigton – due to roadworks

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

• Services on the Harrogate and Knaresborough lines look to be ok this morning

Buses

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

8.45am – Full Update 

Roads

Today’s traffic hotspots:

• Ripon Road near Jennyfield Drive in Harrogate – traffic backing up to New Park Roundabout due to temporary lights – delays of 11 minutes
• A658 John Metcalf Way near Leeds Road – reports of very slow traffic near the construction area

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

• Services on the Harrogate and Knaresborough lines look to be ok this morning

Buses

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

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are just starting to get busy this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots:

• Ripon Road near Jennyfield Drive in Harrogate – traffic backing up to New Park Roundabout due to temporary lights – delays of 12 minutes
• A658 John Metcalf Way near Leeds Road – reports of very slow traffic near the construction area

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

• 8.05am Harrogate to Leeds is now delayed until 8.41am

Buses

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

8.15am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are just starting to get busy this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots:

• Ripon Road near Jennyfield Drive in Harrogate – traffic backing up to New Park Roundabout due to temporary lights – delays of 12 minutes
• A658 John Metcalf Way near Leeds Road – reports of very slow traffic near the construction area

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

• 7.13am Harrogate to Leeds is now delayed until 7.50am
• 8.05am Harrogate to Leeds is now expected on time

Buses

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

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are just starting to get busy this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots:

• Ripon Road near Jennyfield Drive in Harrogate – traffic backing up to New Park Roundabout due to temporary lights
• A658 John Metcalf Way – reports of very slow traffic near the construction area

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

• 7.13am Harrogate to Leeds is now delayed until 7.50am
• 8.05am Harrogate to Leeds is now expected on time

Buses

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

7.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are just starting to get busy this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots:

• Ripon Road near Jennyfield Drive in Harrogate – traffic backing up to New Park Roundabout due to temporary lights

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

• 7.13am Harrogate to Leeds is now delayed until 7.50am
• 8.05am Harrogate to Leeds is now expected on time

Buses

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

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are just starting to get busy 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
• Ripon Road near Jennyfield Drive in Harrogate
• 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

• 7.13am Harrogate to Leeds is now delayed until 7.50am
• 8.05am Harrogate to Leeds is now expected on time

Buses

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

7.15am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking ok 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

• 7.13am Harrogate to Leeds is not stopping
• 8.05am Harrogate to Leeds due at 8.41am

Buses

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

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking ok 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

• 7.13am Harrogate to Leeds is not stopping
• 8.05am Harrogate to Leeds due at 8.41am

Buses

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

6.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking ok 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

• 7.13am Harrogate to Leeds is not stopping
• 8.05am Harrogate to Leeds due at 8.41am

Buses

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

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking ok 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

• 7.13am Harrogate to Leeds is not stopping
• 8.05am Harrogate to Leeds due at 8.41am

Buses

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

A Harrogate venue is set to restart live music performances once again after the last planned restart was curtailed by the second national coronavirus lockdown.

The Wesley Centre, on Oxford Street, is due to host its first concert in more than a year when pianist Clare Hammond plays on June 7 at 1pm.

As the church has opened up the ground floor for the Harrogate Homeless Project’s Springboard service, the concert will be held on the upper floor.

It means that the capacity of the concert is much lower, especially with social distancing. There are only around 70 tickets on sale for this event rather than the usual 240.

Read more:

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Organisers have said that, due to social distancing, tickets will cost £10. Reserve a ticket by calling Andrew Hitchen on 01423 883618 or send an email here.

Mark Bebbington is also due to hold a lunctime recital on July 5 at 1pm. There are also plans for two further concerts on June 21 and July 19, details of which will be released soon.

Peter Hirschmann told the Stray Ferret:

“We had a concert planned last November but then there was another lockdown so we had to cancel. So we are very keen to get this organised.

“There is an audience there who are desperate to go to concerts again.

“The sooner we get back to no restrictions the better. Financially it’s a considerable contraint on our activities.

“However, our patrons The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation have been very supportive.”

Harrogate District Hospital will not reopen its hearing aid repair clinic as a walk-in service despite the easing of coronavirus restrictions.

The clinic closed its doors to become a postal-only service early on in the pandemic, a move which has now become permanent.

Hospital bosses said the change had been well received by patients.

If the audiology team is unable to resolve a problem remotely then they will offer a short repair appointment. The team will not be able to help anyone without an appointment.

Anyone who needs a repair or new equipment should call 01423 553320 or send the team an email.

Read more:

• Mobile testing site opens in Harrogate car park for first time
• Four covid cases reported in Harrogate district

This postal-only service has been in place for many years in Ripon, York and Scarborough. It brings Harrogate into line with the wider service.

Christine Brindle, the lead audiologist at the hospital, said:

“We’ve chosen to move in line with our wider service across the county and switch to a postal service first and foremost.

“This helps reduce the number of people coming into the hospital who don’t have to. It also means patients don’t have to make the journey to come in.

“Before the pandemic we’d often see queues of 30 to 40 people, which isn’t now appropriate. This change has actually been well-received by the majority of patients.”

A mobile testing site has opened in Harrogate today for the first time and is set to be there three days a week “until further notice”.

NHS test and trace staff set up the site this morning at West Park car park on Tower Street.

The car park will close on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday each week for testing.

It comes as workers continue to dismantle the permanent testing centre in the Dragon Road car park near Asda, which closed on Sunday (May 23).

Health officials announced in March that the Dragon Road site would close as the Harrogate Convention Centre. The centre said it needs the space for parking.

Read more:

• Boroughbridge travel agent reports ‘handful’ of holiday bookings
• Total vaccine doses in Harrogate district near 170,000

The move from a permanent centre to a mobile unit is a further sign that the emergency response to the pandemic is scaling back.

Matthew Robinson, head of resilience and emergencies at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“The advantages of mobile testing sites is that we can flex and strengthen as we go.

“If cases are increasing in a particular area we will continue to provide more frequent testing in that location.”

The site at the Dragon Road car park is now closed.

This follows news that the vaccination centres in Harrogate and Ripon will also close in August.

Local pharmacy sites in Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge will play a larger part in the vaccine roll out.

For more information on testing go to www.northyorks.gov.uk/book-coronavirus-covid-19-test-if-youve-got-symptoms

All street planters and cones used to promote social distancing in the Harrogate district are set to be reviewed next month.

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) has confirmed that the measures will remain in place until the review, which is due to be held at the end of June.

It comes amid growing calls for their removal in the form of a petition and a group of businesses in Knaresborough.

Read more:

• Harrogate social distancing measures to be reviewed next month
• Knaresborough businesses call for social distancing cones to go

Those people believe that Harrogate and Knaresborough need parking spaces more than the social distancing enforcements as the lockdown eases.

The county council closed off parking bays in the towns at the start of the pandemic to give pedestrians more room to spread out.

Under the Government’s roadmap, all social distancing measures are set to be dropped on June 21. That is around the time NYCC will hold its review.

A council spokesperson said:

“We can confirm all social distancing measures will be in place until the review at the end of June.

“We have met regularly with local councillors and representatives from the town council and chamber of trade over the past 12 months to ensure that the social distancing measures in place are appropriate.

“No businesses have sent us a request to remove them.”