New report reveals additional £1.6m civic centre cost

A new council report has revealed it cost £1.6m to fit out the interior of its civic centre at Knapping Mount.

The report, set to go before cabinet next week, sets out the final construction cost at £11.5m and the new figure of £1.6m. The council says that the overall project came under its £13m budget.

It comes after the contractor, Harry Fairclough Ltd, went into administration – delaying the final construction bill.  The report also reveals that the delay was partially caused by negotiations over defects.

The Stray Ferret investigated the overall cost of the move from Crescent Gardens to Knapping Mount in July and put the figure closer to £17m.

We revealed that the council’s calculations for the costs of the civic centre did not take into account the value of the land at Knapping Mount. The land had originally been earmarked for housing.

Read our investigation for a breakdown of how we reached that figure.

Read more:

We also reported on how the decision to build a circular building could have added up to 20% onto the build cost – making the design and construction expensive.

In our calculations in July we had a figure of £400,000 for the fit out costs and £865,000 for design expertise. The newly confirmed figure of £1.6m for fitting out the building makes the true overall cost to the tax payer at more than £17m.

The council disputed our figures. It argued that the overall cost was lower because of money received in the sale of its other premises.

From the sale of its other council buildings, this new report identifies an extra £2.47m saving which the council has described as a “massive saving”.

The Stray Ferret’s investigation has not disputed the council’s figures.   We argued that the council could have also benefited from the sale of the land at Knapping Mount which we estimated at £4.5m with outline planning permission and built a cheaper building in a cheaper location.

Cllr Graham Swift, the deputy leader at Harrogate Borough Council, said ahead of the cabinet meeting:

“Cabinet made a strong commitment to publishing the overall costs of the civic centre project, but this has not been possible before now.

“We have an amazing new civic centre which we can all be proud of, and we have achieved significant savings against the original overall budget in the process.”

Sneak peek: new organic food shop in Harrogate

Fruit and vegetables fresh from the ground are front and centre at Joy, a new organic food shop that opened on Cold Bath Road in Harrogate today.

Nicola Mawdsley, who is behind the venture, wants to expand the range to compete with smaller supermarkets.

Nicola got the keys to the building five weeks ago and has managed to pull her vision together despite the coronavirus lockdown:

“It has had its challenges. The local traders and suppliers have really stepped up to help make this what it is.

“I am excited to open the doors. I cannot wait to start welcoming people through the doors.”

The idea behind Joy is to be a one-stop shop. The stock will change with the seasons but it will always be as environmentally-friendly as possible.

Currently it has plenty of fruits and vegetables, pastas, pickles, chocolates, herbs, teas and coffees. All sourced as locally as possible.

Read more:

Now the doors are open Nicola will expand the range, with organic wines and gluten-free beers high on her agenda.

It is not just about the produce: the shop also has baskets to rent and plenty of eco-friendly and reusable bags.

Would you like to spread the word about your shop opening? No matter how small the shop get in touch with the Stray Ferret.

Kittens thrown from moving vehicle in Ripon

Police are investigating reports that two kittens were thrown from a moving vehicle to their deaths in Ripon.

Police say the incident happened at around 2pm last Thursday between Water Skellgate and Bondgate Green.

Witnesses described the vehicle as brown or gold in colour. It was driving eastbound from Ripon towards the A61 bypass.

Read more:

Anyone who saw the incident have been urged to call 101 and quote reference number 12200204632.

Reports on social media suggest that the kittens were alive when they were thrown from the vehicle and later died from their injuries.

Swinsty reservoir footpath diversion ‘too muddy to walk’

A visitor to Swinsty reservoir last weekend has complained that the new temporary footpath is already too muddy to walk.

Yorkshire Water announced last week the footpath would close for 18 months to allow it to undertake £6 million safety works.

The company warned the route was uneven and “sometimes wet” and therefore unsuitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs.

It added walkers should wear “suitable footwear” but it seems even those with sturdy boots and wellies may need to find a new walk for the time being.

Read more:

A Stray Ferret reader, who asked to remain anonymous, contacted us on Sunday to say his family walk deteriorated into a quagmire. The reader said:

“This diversion is really not well thought out. We will not be doing it again as the ground is only going to get worse over the coming months.

“I am surprised that Yorkshire Water has suggested the route. It needs reassessing as it is not fit for purpose.”

‘Swinsty is the busiest it has ever been’

The reservoir, in the Washburn Valley, is a popular location for families and dog walkers in the Harrogate district.

Graham Hebblethwaite, the chairman of Washburn Parish Council, today told the Stray Ferret it had never been busier – and this was causing problems.

“I have lived here for all my life and this is the busiest that it has ever been. Lots of people are parking on the verges and wrecking them.

“That leads to issues with the emergency services trying to get through. It also means that locals have been clashing with visitors.”

Mr Hebblethwaite even said some locals were planning to move to escape the issues.

Yorkshire Water is diverting excess water from the reservoir to Lindley Wood reservoir to protect the embankment from flood erosion.

A spokesperson for the company told the Stray Ferret:

“We’re aware that the diversion footpath at Swinsty reservoir has become slightly difficult to navigate – with some areas very muddy.

“We are speaking to the North Yorkshire County Council about ways they may be able to improve the public right of way.”

Yorkshire Water also encouraged anyone worried about the diversion route to visit other reservoirs, such as Fewston and Thruscross.

 

Search to find Harrogate’s best Christmas shop window begins

Harrogate Business Improvement District launched its annual Christmas window competition today.

The annual contest was featured in the Channel 5 documentary, Harrogate: A Yorkshire Christmas, last year.

It aims to promote the town centre’s shops and encourage people to shop locally using the BID’s online directory of shops.

Shops have until 8am on December 8 to dress their windows. After a few days of deliberations a winning window will be announced.

The judges will be looking for three elements: illumination, innovation and the sprit of Christmas.

Read more:

The contest will be restricted to 50 businesses within the BID’s quarters of Kings, Montpellier, Victoria and West Park.

As in previous years there are three separate categories for large, medium and small retailers.

Winners will be presented with a framed certificate to display on December 14. The overall winner will receive the prized rose bowl.

This year Harrogate BID has partnered with the Rotary Club of Harrogate on the initiative. One of the club’s members, Graham Saunders, said:

“More than ever we need to encourage residents and visitors alike to venture into Harrogate and view the wonderful Christmas display the town is famed for.”

Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID acting chair, said:

“We would encourage everyone to come in to Harrogate town centre, but in a Covid-safe way, and wherever possible, do all their Christmas shopping with local traders.

“The Harrogate Gift Card is also a great Christmas present and ensures every one pound loaded onto a card is one pound spent within local community.”

Housing case study: 75 homes forced on Killinghall after appeal

Towns and villages across the district were targeted by developers while Harrogate had no local plan or five-year land supply.

A proposal by Gladman Land to build 75 homes in Killinghall was initially refused planning permission by Harrogate Borough Council.  

It said the development “would cause significant harm to the form of the village and to the landscape character, which includes the Nidd Gorge Special Landscape Area and a number of public rights of way, by its manner of extending the built form of the village into open countryside”. 

In October 2016, the company appealed against the decision 

The Planning Inspectorate dismissed the draft Harrogate local plan as being “of little weight”, saying that it considered the main issues to be whether the council could now demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing land.   

After hearing arguments from both, he concluded that Harrogate needed to make provision for 3,857 homes over the period 2016–2021.  

This was considerably higher than the 390 per year originally calculated by HBC.  

‘Suitable location’

The planning inspectorate determined that the site “was a suitable location for the proposed development having regard to national and development plan policies in respect of sustainable development and the delivery of new housing”.  

Its report concluded that the failure to evidence a five-year land supply by the council was the planning consideration to which he attached most weight.  

Had Harrogate met its statutory planning obligations, there may have been a different outcome to the thousands of homes given approval between 2014 and 2020. 

At the time Killinghall conservative councillor Michael Harrison, who was also Cabinet Member for Planning, was reported in the local press as saying Gladman was targeting Killinghall because the council lacked a local plan and five year housing supply.

He said:

“Villagers are right to be upset and feeling that the village is under siege from developers. They are correct.

“It is, in my view, an unacceptable way to get planning permission and it deprives the local residents, and the local council, of the right to have their say on how the district should be developed.”

Killinghall is just one of the areas in the district which feels it is “under siege from development”.

Residents fear the whole fabric of the village has changed as more and more houses are built.

With growing congestion and a lack of local amenities, they worry the formerly small settlement is fast becoming a suburb of Harrogate. 

Read more

 

Hidden gem: Harrogate traditional bakery on the rise

Flour, water, salt and yeast. This small hidden gem of a Harrogate bakery may keep the ingredients simple but there is so much more that goes into its bread.

The Secret Bakery, on Knaresborough Road, has been on the rise ever since it opened the doors just over a couple of years ago.

Sarah White, who has been involved from the very beginning, believes that there is a real and growing demand for more traditional bread.

The bakery had a humble start in life out of the previous owner’s house in the Saints area of Harrogate. But requests soon flooded in from the likes of Fodder and Weetons.

“Good homemade bread and cakes has always been the ethos of the business. It is tiring work but it is worth it.

“People like the homemade bread, it is a labour of love. They can tell we bake the bread here and they really appreciate it,” Sarah said.

Small bakeries used to be the heart of towns and villages. While factories and supermarkets make the majority of bread these days, the independents are staging a comeback.

It has never been work for the feint of heart. The staff are often at work around 5am to start mixing, folding and shaping.

Read more:

As an essential business, The Secret Bakery has been able to keep its doors open throughout the year.

There was plenty of demand in the first coronavirus lockdown, with people queuing of the door and down the street to try and get a slice.

It was difficult at first as some staff had to give up their roles to look after children when schools closed but the bakery got through and thinks it helped put them on the map.

James Spencer has just taken over The Secret Bakery, allowing Sarah to spend more time doing what she loves: baking.

He has big plans for the shop and told the Stray Ferret:

“Ever since I came in it just felt right. There is potential to get some tables and chairs outside, open up the space in here a bit and get some alcohol involved.

“If it goes well we could tap into the football crowds when they come back. I am also thinking about setting us up on one of the delivery services.”

Harrogate district benches celebrate key workers

Two new benches have taken pride of place in Harrogate and Knaresborough to celebrate key workers.

One of the benches is in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens; the other overlooks the boats on the River Nidd in Knaresborough.

The volunteer group Supplies for Key Workers in and around Harrogate is behind the project.

The group commissioned the benches from Harrogate Borough Council at £1,200 each, using money left over from fundraising events.

Julie Mills, head of the Supplies for Key Workers group, told the Stray Ferret:

“It is just brilliant to see. When I saw that plaque, I was quite emotional. This is what we have all done together.

“We have not really stopped since the first lockdown but it is nice to sit on the benches and reflect on what we have achieved.”

Read more:

More than 3,000 people are in the group, which was set up at the start of lockdown.

The group is still receiving requests for scrubs and visors.

Harrogate’s mixed reaction to James Street planters

Few topics, it seems, generate more debate in Harrogate than the planters on James Street.

The Stray Ferret put a picture of the new car parking blockers on our social media feeds late last night and more than 150 people have already posted comments.

The council had promised to provide “eye-catching” planters to replace the cones it had installed as part of covid social distancing measures on the popular shopping street.

But the reaction, it has to be said, was distinctly mixed. Some approved, albeit with caveats:

“I like them, better than seeing those orange cones everywhere.”

“Better than cones but a bit small, look dwarfed by the space around them.”

But there were concerns about everything ranging from the impact on parking to whether they might be trip hazards or even attract the attention of thieves. Here’s a sample:

“I have just walked through town and I am utterly shocked at how many streets these complete waste of money have been put on. Surely it is not beyond the common sense of the council to realise there are many businesses in town that are not shops and are reliant on this parking for staff and customers?”

“These stupid pots of weeds (well they will be weeds in a couple of weeks) are another nail in the coffin of retail.”

“I’m sure they’ll drag thousands in and increase footfall.
The shop owners must feel so thankful that they have such a far sighted council.”

The social distancing cones on James Street, Harrogate.

The social distancing cones on James Street, Harrogate.

“Trip hazard, hope the council’s insurance policy is up to date.”

“Hazard, someone is going to end up running into them. Are they even visible at night?”

Read more:

One person suggested the road should be cobbled like York and parking restricted to maintain the character and encourage social distancing.

Some people have been having fun with the planters and photoshopped Bill and Ben, the Flower Pot Men, into the picture.

Some people have been having fun with the planters and photoshopped Bill and Ben the Flower Pot Men into the picture.

The issue of cost inevitably was raised.

“Were the cones not working? Shame the money wasn’t spent helping the other streets in Harrogate that have independent businesses all trying to survive.”

It has to be said the majority of comments were not of approval. But some did acknowledge that flowers were better than cones.

“It’s better to have some natural cheer than the typical plastic misery.”

Site revealed for new Knaresborough leisure centre

The new Knaresborough leisure centre is set to be built on the same site as the current one, it was revealed today.

Harrogate Borough Council said it had chosen the existing site on King James Road as its preferred option.

It was one of four options, along with Conyngham Hall, Knaresborough House and Hay-a-Park under consideration.

The council faced a backlash for considering Grade II* listed Conyngham Hall, with Knaresborough Civic Society among those opposing the move.

A Hands Off Conyngham Hall Grounds petition by the Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats attracted more than 1,600 signatures.

But that option now seems to be off the table.

Conyngham Hall

Conyngham Hall appears to be off the table.

Ian Clark, Knaresborough Civic Society’s secretary, welcomed the decision. He told the Stray Ferret:

“This is good news for many people in Knaresborough. Conyngham Hall was not a suitable option for a leisure centre.

“It would not have done the historic building any favours if they built a new site right next to it and replaced park land with a car park.”

The decision is likely to be ratified at a council cabinet meeting on December 2. Residents will then be consulted on whether they agree.

Local property consultants Carter Jonas looked at the leisure centre options.

The council said the decision was based on factors including location, physical appearance, access as well as planning and legal issues.

A new £10 million leisure centre is also being built in Ripon. It will have a six-lane, 25-metre pool, an extended gym and sauna suite, three activity studios and meeting rooms.

Leisure services plans for the district take a step forward

Harrogate Borough Council also announce today is was set to appoint Alliance Leisure Services as its development manager for leisure.

The company, based in Somerset, will be responsible for the delivery of investment in leisure sites in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Read more:

Councillor Stanley Lumley, the council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, will be asked to approve the decision tomorrow.

Cllr Lumley said:

“There are some exciting times ahead that shows our investment in the future of the sport and leisure facilities in the Harrogate district.”