Local politicians and businesses react to Budget

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Budget prompted a mixed response among local politicians and businesses today.

Mr Hunt’s announcements included a 2p cut to National Insurance contributions, increasing the child benefit threshold from £50,000 to £60,000, raising the VAT registration threshold for small businesses to £90,000 and £3.4 billion for the NHS.

We asked local politicians and businesses to respond to give their verdicts.

Andrew Jones: Budget will drive ‘economic growth for years ahead’

Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, praised today’s Budget.

He said the fall in inflation from 10% to 4% had allowed Mr Hunt to “further ease the tax burden for thousands of working people in Harrogate and Knaresborough”.

He also welcomed the extension of the Household Support Fund for a further six months, which he said has “helped many households in my constituency who have struggled with the higher cost of living”.

Mr Jones said:

“It is good to see that the representations North Yorkshire Council made to the Chancellor highlighting the scheme’s positive impact have been heard.

“Following the cut already announced in last year’s Autumn Statement, today’s news of a further cut for National Insurance contributions means a saving of £900 for the average worker earning £35,400. There have been other measures to reduce the cost of living which include maintaining the cut in fuel duty and the freeze of alcohol duty which will also help the hospitality sector.”

Mr Jones also said he “strongly supports” the additional NHS funding, which will go towards improving technology and IT systems.

He added:

“I have heard first-hand from many clinicians and those working in the NHS about how their IT systems are slow and out-of-date.  This investment will free up clinicians to carry out more procedures and for different parts of the NHS, such as hospitals and GP practices, to better communicate with each other.

“The economic forecasts have been upgraded and there was some very positive news on investment from businesses, plus measures to boost business investment further. This was a budget which will drive economic growth and strengthen resilience for the years ahead.”

Lib Dem labels Budget a ‘desperate deception’

But Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for the Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats, criticised the Tory government’s financial plans.

Mr Gordon said the Budget will “barely touch the sides” for local families and pensioners who face “soaring mortgage bills while the cost of the weekly shop goes through the roof”.

He added:

“People in Harrogate and Knaresborough know that their tax bills will remain sky high after this Budget, and the Chancellor is attempting a desperate deception after years of income tax hikes.

“People don’t want more Conservative empty promises while our local health services are left on their knees. They want proper change through a general election so we can kick this Conservative government out of office.

“It’s clear the choice locally at the next election will be between the out-of-touch Conservatives or a fresh start with the Liberal Democrats.”

Budget shows ‘little to directly benefit’ Knaresborough businesses

Knaresborough and District Chamber of Trade said it sees “little to directly benefit our businesses” in the town.

A spokesperson for the group said:

“Perhaps the headline for the sector is the increase in the VAT threshold from £85,000 to £90,000, but this increase falls well below increases in inflation over several years since the current level was set.”

The chamber acknowledged the town had “recently benefitted” from levelling up money, delivered through the Shared Prosperity Fund, and said the viability projects funded by this money could “significantly increase future footfall” in the town, adding:

“It would therefore increase economic prosperity, so perhaps there is something in the small print that commits to continued support to such projects, but the underlying trading conditions for many of our town businesses will see little short term benefit from this Budget.”

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Local brewery welcomes alcohol duty freeze

A Masham brewery praised the extension of the alcohol duty freeze.

Mr Hunt had planned to end the alcohol duty freeze in August, but today announced it would continue until February 25 in a bid to support hospitality venues.

Richard Bradbury, managing director of Theakston’s Brewery, welcomed the Chancellor’s decision against a backdrop of “continually rising running costs for pubs”.

He added:

“From increases to the national minimum wage, rising energy costs and reduced spending due to the cost-of-living crisis, the pressures pubs face continue to mount so it is a comfort to know that at least one cost is held.

“According to the Campaign for Real Ale, more than 1,200 pubs have closed in the past year alone so measures which give pubs a fighting chance to survive should be welcomed.

Ripon BID feels alcohol freeze ‘does not go far enough’

But Ripon Business Improvement District felt the extension was not sufficient.

It told the Stray Ferret the pause “does not go far enough for the hospitality industry”, and said it “echoes” the concerns of The Campaign for Pubs, which aims to protect and support local pubs.

The BID added:

“The campaign called on the government to introduce a VAT cut to at least 10% on all hospitality sales for a year to benefit all pubs, rather than only those offering food and accommodation.

“It also proposed to extend zero business rate relief to small brewers and producers, as well as to take further and “more meaningful action” on reducing energy bills for businesses.”

However, Ripon BID felt “none of this appears to have been addressed in the Budget”.

It concluded:

“The raising of the VAT threshold to £90,000 from April 1 is welcomed, but with a previous seven-year freeze perhaps it will not have the impact first perceived.”

Other key changes in the Budget included a new excise duty on vapes to discourage young people from vaping, as well the abolition of multiple dwellings relief in June and a 40% relief on business rates for the film industry.

Harrogate charity Artizan launches appeal to restore shop roof

A Harrogate charity has launched a crowdfunding appeal to raise money to restore the roof of its shop.

Artizan International stocks products made by differently-abled people in Ecuador in its Oxford Street shop and gives them paid employment opportunities.

Local people with a range of disabilities also create products in the on-site workshop, which are then sold in the shop.

However, the charity said repairs needed doing urgently following “terrible” water damage to the roof and ceiling of the workshop and store room:

“The roof of our Artizan International shop is in urgent need of repair, leaking water into the building and damaging the products made by our artisans.

“The roof is in desperate need of a full strip and recover.

“Years of neglect from before our time have left the tiles in disrepair, allowing leaks to infiltrate various locations in the building.

“The risk of permanent damage looms large, threatening not only the structure but also the invaluable work we do with our members.”

The state of the roof.

Founder Susie Hart, who issued a plea for help on social media, said the damage is ruining a space “so full of joy”.

She added:

“Our artisans in Ecuador wholly rely on us to sell their work here in the Harrogate store, and we couldn’t do that if we didn’t have this beautiful space in which to do it.”

The charity said it is now turning to the community to “safeguard the heart” of the shop and donate money to fund the roof repair, adding:

“Your contribution, regardless of its size, will play a crucial role in securing our roof and, more importantly, securing the future for those we proudly represent.”

Artizan hopes to raise £15,695 by March 31. It has so far raised just under £3,000.

The charity also has a café on Cambridge Road, which employs people with disabilities and learning difficulties and provides them with employment opportunities.

You can support the appeal here.

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Mystery surrounds future of Spofforth Golf Course

The owners of Spofforth Golf Course have remained silent following the apparent sale of the site last year.

The course was listed for sale for £2 million last summer and appeared to be under new ownership in October after agent Lister Haigh changed the listing to sold subject to contract.

But, five months later, there appears to have been no further developments.

The Stray Ferret made enquiries after receiving several emails asking about the status of the club. One said:

“This is the only non-members club in the district offering both nine and 18-hole playing opportunities at affordable rates but it has now been closed for several weeks.

“I am aware the course was up for sale but has the sale been finalised and are the new owners going to reopen the course?  If so, when?

“This course is an important local amenity and I’m sure a lot of golfers in the area want to know what us happening.”

They added:

“The gates to the course are closed, there are no notices on the gates yet the website says the course is open although you can’t book a tee time. In this day and age communication is easy and inexpensive yet the future of the course is unknown.”

The Stray Ferret has approached the golf club for an update but has not had a reply.

We contacted Spofforth Parish Council to see if it could shed light on the situation. It replied:

“The parish council are not involved with the sale of the golf club, although we understand the sale has been concluded.”

The parish clerk added the family that owns the club is “still in residence at the house”, but did not provide any further detail.

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Several people have taken to social media with similar enquiries.

People commented on the club’s Facebook page, which has not been updated since September, asking whether the course is open, with one adding:

“Does anyone know? No one ever picks up the phone or replies to messages/emails.”

Spofforth Golf Course, which opened in 1994, was originally a family-run farm, before becoming an 18-hole pay and play site.

The sale of the 130-acre property included a six-bay driving range, a clubhouse, green-keeping complex and car park, a four-bed detached bungalow, a one-bed stable annexe and a double garage.

According to the sale listing, the property is still subject to an agricultural occupancy restriction, which states:

“The occupation of the dwelling shall be limited to a person solely or mainly employed or last employed in the locality in agriculture.”

It also said the sporting rights were included in the sale, so far as they are “owned or exist”.

At the time of the sale, we contacted Lister Haigh for further information, which declined to comment and said it was a “private family matter”.

Kirk Hammerton furniture company withdraws plans for 24 retirement flats

A well-known furniture store in Kirk Hammerton has withdrawn plans to build 24 retirement flats at the site.

Geoffrey Benson and Son Furniture Showroom submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council to build the two-bedroom apartments for over-55s last June.

The company, which has been at the site since 1992, also hoped to build a further four two-bedroom flats on the first and second floors of its existing showroom building, as well as a tearoom on the ground floor.

The application also outlined plans to create new access onto Station Road, car-parking with electric charging points and new landscaping.

However, the application was withdrawn in a decision notice uploaded by the council on Tuesday.

Martin Benson, owner of the site and company, told the Stray Ferret the paddock, which would have housed some of the new apartment blocks, is not included in the current Local Plan set out by the council but the existing showroom building is.

For this reason, Mr Benson was told the plans are a “no go”, he added.

He said:

“The paddock was previously included in the Local Plan, but now its outside of it and I’m told it cannot be developed on.

“Developers that have approached me all want to knock this building down, but I don’t want that, I have an attachment to it.

“I think there is a real shortage of good retirement flats in this area and any money I make from the apartments would be invested back into them to keep making them better.”

A 3D graphic of the proposed site.

Peter Roth of Sayle Roth Architects, who is working with Mr Benson, also told the Stray Ferret the plans have been in motion since early 2021.

He said although the existing showroom building is not of listed status, it is recognised as a building of local interest:

“It’s a building of local and historic interest – it’s been there since the 1920s.

“Many developers want to just abolish the building, which we would be a loss, and Mr Benson is so passionate about it.

“We’re going to amend the plans and re-submit them.”

Mr Benson and Mr Roth both said they hope to put the land forward at the council’s next call for sites, which gives landowners an opportunity to offer up their land to be included in the next Local Plan.

The upcoming call for sites will happen in March and April, however, the revised Local Plan currently being drawn up by the council won’t come to fruition for around another four years.

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Harrogate man to run seven ultramarathons in seven days

A Harrogate man is to run seven ultramarathons in seven days to raise money for research into Crohn’s and colitis, which are the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease.

Kevin Easley, from Plompton, will take on the mammoth 320 kilometre run in March.

He said he was inspired by his own experiences with ulcerative colitis:

“I’m undertaking this challenge, which is nothing like I’ve ever attempted before, because Crohn’s & Colitis UK is a cause close to my heart.

“Having battled ulcerative colitis two decades ago, and witnessing my sister and nephew confront Crohn’s, I understand the impact these conditions have on individuals and their families.

“This challenge is my way of giving back and supporting the invaluable work of the charity.”

Mr Easley will start the run at his workplace, Bannatyne Health Club and Spa, in Leeds.

He will run through various parts of the Harrogate district, including the Plompton Rocks area, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Huby, Kirkby Overblow and Follifoot.

He then hopes to pass the reservoirs at Swinsty, Thruscross and Fewston before heading towards Wharfedale and then around the Harrogate ringway.

On his penultimate day, he will run from Malham to the Pennine Way and out to Horton-in-Ribblesdale, after which will finish at Bannatyne Health Club and Spa in York.

Duncan Bannatyne, chairman and chief executive of the health club, as well as former dragon on BBC’s Dragon’s Den, praised Mr Easley for his efforts:

“Kevin’s dedication to this cause is truly inspirational.

“I am always inspired by the charitable challenges our team and members take on, and Kevin’s is no different. Across the group, thousands of pounds are raised every year for good causes and as a business we support several charities directly.

“I wish Kevin the very best of luck. We’ll have the ice packs ready for his knees at the end of the week.”

Mr Easley will begin the ultramarathon challenge on Sunday, March 10.

He will pass through the Harrogate district on March 11, 12 and 14.

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Harrogate man releases UK’s Eurovision song entry

A Harrogate-born pop star flying the flag for the UK at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest has today released his entry.

Olly Alexander, frontman of UK-chart-topping band Years & Years, announced the news that he would represent the UK on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in December.

The contest, which will be held in Malmö in Sweden, will mark the beginning of Olly’s solo career. Now, with just over two months until the competition, he has released the UK’s Eurovision entry song Dizzy to the public.

He said the song was inspired by 1980s artists including Erasure, Adamski and the Pet Shop Boys, adding:

“I wrote the song last summer with Danny L Harle, we started off with the word ‘Dizzy’ because it just popped into my head and I liked it.

“I was thinking about fun things that could make you dizzy and I remember saying “dizzy from your kisses”, so the song is about feeling such an intense swell of emotion for someone they totally turn your world upside down and inside out.”

The music video, which was directed by Colin Solal Cardo, was also released this morning and is already trending on YouTube.

Olly took to social media to tease the release of Dizzy, where he wrote:

“I’m so proud of this song and video, I can’t wait to get going with this new chapter honestly, I’m so excited.”

Despite the competition, which is marking its 68th anniversary this year, being Olly’s first solo venture, the 33-year-old is no stranger to global success.

Since 2015, Years and Years have scored two number one UK albums, 10 UK top 40 singles and, most recently, were awarded the BRIT Billion Award after reaching 6.5 billion global streams.

He has worked with the likes of Sir Elton John, Kylie and the Pet Shop Boys, and also been recognised for his acting skills.

He starred in the Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin, which won best new drama at the National Television Awards and was nominated for leading actor at the BAFTA Television Awards for the same programme.

Olly even has his own figure in Madame Tussauds in London.

All three live Eurovision programmes – including two semi-finals and the final – will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

They will be held on May 7, 9 and 11, 2024.

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MPs Watch: Antisemitism, £380m transport fund and road safety

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In February, the newly launched York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority was allocated £380 million to improve local transport, and a Harrogate councillor came under local and national spotlights following an antisemitism row.

Here’s what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Andrew Jones:

When we contacted Mr Jones for comment, his office sent details of his February engagements.

These included meeting with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to discuss VAT on dementia day care services, as well as meeting with Cancer Research UK to mark World Cancer Day.

Mr Jones also chaired a meeting of public transport providers with Disability Action Yorkshire and hosted the UK Infrastructure Bank in Parliament for a reception.

He hosted the Confederation of Passenger Transport in Parliament to launch its latest report and also met with chief executive of Elevate, Nigel Ashley, to discuss plans for the new primary school in Knaresborough.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Ripon, here is what we found on Julian Smith:

We contacted Mr Smith to see if he would like to share any particular highlights. His office responded with a review of his February engagements.

They included visiting Farewell Funerals in Masham, which offers bespoke and environmentally friendly funeral services.

Mr Smith also welcomed the news of an increase to North Yorkshire Council’s budget, which will see a rise of nearly £45 million for 2024 and 2025, as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement.

The MP also met with local farmers after the Prime Minister announced the government’s plan to back British farmers. This includes investing in sustainable farming businesses, strengthening food security and improving support available to farmers. His office said this is “welcome news” for farmers in Ripon.

Keir Mather, Selby and Ainsty MP.

Keir Mather, Selby and Ainsty MP.

In Selby and Ainsty, which includes parts of south Harrogate, here is what we found on Labour MP Keir Mather:

When we contacted Mr Mather for comment, his office sent details of his engagements for February.

These included meeting with North Yorkshire Council to discuss preparations for flooding, as well as hosting his first cost-of-living advice hub.

Mr Mather also took to X to claim the Prime Minister has “plunged standards in public life to new depths”. This came after Rishi Sunak criticised Keir Starmer’s definition of a woman as the mother of Brianna Ghey, a transgender teenager who was murdered last year, sat in the Commons during the debate.

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Happy Mondays’ Bez among headliners for Harrogate dance music festival

The line-up for the “biggest dance music festival to ever take place in Harrogate” has been revealed.

Love to Be, a Sheffield-based record label and house music events company, will bring the festival to the Stray this September — as reported by the Stray Ferret four week ago.

It was revealed today that some familiar faces are set to appear.

Bez, a member of the Happy Mondays, will perform an acid house DJ set on the Café Mambo stage – one of three stages at the festival.

Grammy award-winning DJ Roger Sanchez will headline the main stage, along with Barbara Tucker, who had six US number 1 hits.

Iranian DJ Darius Syrossian, who has performed in some at Ibiza’s Amnesia, DC-10 and Space, will also take centre stage.

Adelphi Music Factory, K-Klass and Carly Foxx are also among those performing at the festival.

Credit: Charlie Mitchell.

Love to Be, which has been hosting events for 30 years, said the event will be a “full festival production” with two arenas, VIP areas and a food court.

It added:

“[The festival] will be the biggest dance music festival ever to take place in Harrogate.

“The response has been absolutely insane and the buzz is real.”

Love to Be Festival will take place on Saturday, September 14, from 1pm to 11pm.

Tickets are available now.

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‘It’s something different for the town’, says owner of Harrogate’s new Irish pub

The news of Harrogate‘s new – and only – Irish bar opening next month generated a lot of excitement with our readers.

Now, the owner of the bar has revealed further details on the newest addition to the town’s hospitality scene.

Paul Kinsey, owner of Harewood Group, told the Stray Ferret opening The Harlow, which will be replaced by Irish bar The Four Leaf, was “always an interim step” in his plans for the John Street venue.

He rebranded the former Pitcher and Piano site in November last year, but said the new bar will be a change from some of the existing “generic” venues:

“There isn’t an Irish bar in Harrogate, which was the appeal to open one.

“There’s a lot of generic bars in the town already, all of which have their own appeal, but we will be providing good food, good drinks, entertainment and good craic.”

Mr Kinsey, who also owned the town’s former nightclub Viper Rooms, said The Four Leaf will “do as it says on the tin” by offering traditional Irish drinks including Guinness and Jameson whiskey, as well as Irish-themed cocktails.

He also said there will be “contemporary bar food with an Irish twist” on offer, including flatbreads and burgers, using some Irish-sourced produce.

He added:

“We’re going to lean into the Irish theme and humour. It’s going to be a place where you can enjoy a party, but it also caters for everyone.

“Families could come and eat here in the day; couples could come on a date or people can just to get the weekend rolling.”

Mr Kinsey said the new bar, which will undergo a £40,000 refurbishment next week, will also focus heavily on live entertainment.

There will be live music on Fridays and Saturdays, a pub quiz with “celebrity quizmasters” on Tuesdays, an open mic night for comedians and musicians on Thursdays and boardgames on offer all week, he added.

The bar will also livestream sports matches for people to watch.

“It’s just something different for the town and it’s also something different for us. But we know we can deliver the core of it — the food, the drinks and the entertainment — it’s exciting to see how people will react to it.”

The Harlow will close on Sunday, March 3, for refurbishments.

It will re-open as The Four Leaf on Friday, March 8.

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Five arrested after county lines drug bust in Harrogate district

Five people have been arrested following a county lines drugs bust in the Harrogate district.

North Yorkshire Police said it seized large amounts of what are believed to be a class A and class B drugs, as well as “thousands of prescription-type drugs” including tramadol and diazepam, at addresses in the Harrogate district and Leeds.

A significant amount of cash and several “offensive weapons” were also recovered in the warrant, the force added.

Officers arrested five men who were aged between their 30s and 50s from the Harrogate, Ripon and Leeds area as part of the operation on Tuesday (February 27).

A North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“The substances will be sent for laboratory testing as part of the investigation.”

Police said the men have been released under investigation to allow for further enquiries.

The force said the raid came as part of an operation to tackle county lines drug dealing, which refers to drug supply lines run by organised crime gangs from urban areas who carry drugs into rural counties.

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