Ex-Tory council leader named Harrogate Homeless Project chief executive

Former Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper has been named as the new chief executive of Harrogate Homeless Project.

Richard Cooper, who led the council from 2014 until last year, will relinquish his role as office manager for Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones to take up the role on July 1.

He will succeed Francis McAllister, who is retiring after two years in charge of the charity. Its hostel on Bower Street is close to Mr Jones’ East Parade constituency office and Harrogate Conservative Club

In a press release announcing the move, the charity said Mr Cooper began voluntary work at the hostel in 1996 after becoming “drawn by its vision of ending rough sleeping in the Harrogate district”.

It added Mr Cooper continued to support Harrogate Homeless Project during his time as a councillor, and “regularly gives talks on homelessness, rough sleeping and street begging to community groups”.

Mr Cooper said:

“After so many years being closely connected to the homeless project as a volunteer and supporter it feels like a bit of a dream to become the organisation’s chief executive.

“Preventing homelessness and supporting people sleeping rough is a difficult task and I know we have a small and dedicated team of staff, volunteers and donors who have an amazing impact.

“And I have big shoes to fill. Francis McAllister has led Harrogate Homeless Project through a significant period of change and growth. Our Springboard day centre is a hive of activity providing a wide range of support from an array of partners. The team is better-placed than ever before to support clients. Francis has made a real difference to homelessness in our area.”

Mr Cooper’s last working day with Mr Jones, which will be on June 28, will mark the end of one of the most influential careers in local politics this century.

David Thomas, chairman at the project, added:

“I know Richard understands the challenges facing Harrogate Homeless Project. The economic climate remains difficult, there is a shortage of affordable property for rent and support services are stretched.  Our charity has a big job to do to meet these challenges and with his background in the community and decades-long support for Harrogate Homeless Project I know he will be an energetic leader for the Harrogate Homeless Project team.

“We will miss Francis but respect his decision to retire after a lifetime working for local and national charities. He will forever be a friend to HHP and to the many people whom he helped during his tenure.”

Asked how much Mr Cooper will be paid by the charity, Mr McAllister replied:

“I cannot discuss individual salaries but it is at a similar level to our existing CEO and commensurate with CEO roles at charities of a similar size and complexity.”

According to its latest accounts filed with the Charity Commission for the year ending August 31, 2022, no employees received annual remuneration of £60,000 or more.

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Major changes announced to bus routes in Harrogate district

Two new bus routes are set to be introduced in Harrogate this weekend.

The Harrogate Bus Company said in a press release the services would provide ‘new and improved links for housing developments and business parks’.

The company, which is part of French form Transdev, said it has partnered with North Yorkshire Council to bring the new 4, which will link King Edwin Park and the Harrogate West Business Park off Penny Pot Lane in Killinghall to the town centre.

It will also serve Skipton Road and Ripon Road.

The new route, which is being funded by the King Edwin Park housing developer, will run hourly from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday.

In addition, the 6 and X6 will merge to provide an all-day service to Harrogate’s Pannal Ash, RHS Harlow Carr and Beckwith Knowle.

It will operate every 30 minutes, Monday to Saturday, and hourly on Sundays. Extra buses will run every 20 minutes during peak times.

Harrogate Bus Company said it will operate as the current route, but extending to Beckwith Knowle, where there is a business park.

The firm added:

“The route will change on Otley Road and in Pannal Ash so we pick up on the opposite side of the road – this follows customer requests.”

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Changes to existing routes

Along with the new routes, the Harrogate Bus Company also announced it would be making changes to existing routes. Some of the details at this stage are vague.

These include:

1 Harrogate – Knaresborough: There will be a full timetable change from Monday to Saturday. Buses will still run every 10 minutes.

2 Harrogate – Bilton: Changes will be made to buses at peak times on weekdays.

3 Harrogate – Jennyfield: Changes will be made to buses at peak times on weekdays.

8 Harrogate – Knaresborough – Wetherby: This route will be taken over by 21 Transport on behalf of the council. The firm said Transdev tickets will no longer be valid on this route.

21 Knaresborough – Boroughbridge: Changes ‘to improve reliability’ will be introduced.

24 Harrogate – Pateley Bridge: Changes ‘to improve reliability’ will be introduced.

36 Leeds – Harrogate – Ripon: Changes ‘to improve reliability’ will be introduced.

S1 Ripley – Rossett School: A new school bus will serve pupils from Ripley to Harrogate Grammar School and Rossett School. It added people in Jennyfields who currently use the 620H should switch to the S1.

S2 and S6 Bilton – Rossett School: The S2 and S6 will merge into a single route, which will follow the route of the regular 2 bus around Bilton. A large double decker bus will be provided which is sufficient for all customers, it added.

S8 Woodlands – Rossett School: Changes ‘to improve reliability’ will be introduced.

620H Dacre – Rossett School: This route will be taken over by another operator on behalf of the council. Harrogate Bus Company said it does not know which firm will take over, but added it will no longer serve Jennyfields. It advised residents to use the S1 instead.

727H Jennyfield – Harrogate Grammar School

The Harrogate Bus Company, which has not released any further information on the changes, said timetables will be available ‘soon’.

The changes will come into effect on Sunday, April 7.

Robbie Williams and The Killers tributes among line-up for Harrogate food festival

The Harrogate Food and Drink Festival has announced the music line-up for this year’s event.

The festival, which takes place on the Stray, is set to offer a range of world foods stalls, including Japanese, Italian and British cuisine, as well as independent bars and an ale house.

But food and drink are not all people have to look forward to, as the festival has just revealed the entertainment for the weekend.

Among those set to perform are The Killaz UK, a tribute act for The Killers, saxophonist Will Forrester and Liam Gray as Robbie Williams.

The event will feature a range of musical genres, including acoustic singers, punk-rock bands and blues groups.

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People can also expect live cooking demonstrations, children’s entertainment, comedians and a funfair at the festival.

The Harrogate Food and Drink Festival will take place on June 29 and 30.

Woman rescued from muddy bog near Brimham Rocks

A woman was rescued after getting stuck in a muddy bog near Brimham Rocks last week.

Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association was called to the scene on Wednesday, March 27, at around 12.45pm.

Rick Hudson, one of the association’s volunteers at the scene, told the Stray Ferret the casualty had been walking at the National Trust-owned site and became stuck in the mud whilst on her way back to the car park, after the “weather came in quite nastily”.

Mr Hudson added:

“We received an alert from North Yorkshire Police and six team members were called to the scene.

“When we arrived, it was clear the woman was cold and distressed, and was unable to get out of the boggy area.”

Mr Hudson said the woman did not sustain any injuries as a result of the incident.

The association said on social media:

“With assistance she was brought back onto the path and walked back down the track to Fell 2.

“She was driven around to her car parked in Brimham Rocks CP and advised to wait a while before driving back to her hotel in Gargrave.”

The rescue mission took around a total of 15 minutes, Mr Hudson added.

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Environmentalists respond to Nidd and Ure sewage spill figures

Two environmental groups have responded to the news of sewage spills more than doubling in the River Nidd and Ure last year.

It comes after the Environment Agency last week revealed sewage discharge figures for all water and sewage companies in England, including Yorkshire Water.

The Stray Ferret analysed the data for the two main rivers in the Harrogate district and found sewage spills not only more than doubled in 2023, but also saw a total of 27,838 hours of spills.

Investment into infrastructure ‘coming too late’

We contacted Nidd Action Group (NAG), which spearheads the iNidd campaign for improved water quality, about the recent figures.

The group appear less than impressed about the significant increases.

David Clayden, the chair, last week told the Stray Ferret:

“From NAG’s quick look at the Nidd data, there seems to be at least 30% more spills this year for almost double the hours of spilling sewage than last year.

“Bear in mind that Yorkshire Water’s plan, determined by the government, is to reduce the average number of spills per asset to less than 10 per year by 2050 (quicker for Knaresborough if we get Safe Bathing Water Status). Yorkshire Water’s considerable investment in infrastructure is coming too late and won’t get the safe bathing and ecological balance in our river right for many years.

“The numbers are going the wrong way. NAG is looking for reduction year-on-year — not upward blips!

“Of course, it has rained a lot this winter but we need to be prepared for changed weather patterns, not just hoping for the best.”

Mr Clayden said the group will “continue to scrutinise what is being planned and what is being achieved for the Nidd”.

NAG will also press Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency for effective and rapid ways to reduce this tide of sewage, he added.

Rivers trust says figures are ‘distressing’

We also contacted the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust (YDRT), a charity that works to protect local rivers, about the data.

Charlotte Simons, catchment partnership manager for YDRT, said the figures come as “distressing news” to the organisation, adding:

“As our population grows and we experience more extreme weather events as a result of climate change, the frequency of these discharges will only increase, unless action is taken. We want to see an end to the practice of discharging raw sewage into our rivers.

“We want to be able to swim, paddle, fish and play in our rivers without risk of getting sick. We want to give our native wildlife a chance to recover, and see our rivers full of life.

“Yorkshire Water has pledged investment over the next five years to tackle this problem. Now we need the government to play their part and approve that spending, to hold Yorkshire Water to account, and to ensure that good decisions are made for long-term environmental and societal benefit.

“This means working with nature as much as possible, looking for integrated solutions that tackle the sewage problem along with other sources of pollution, and deliver more benefits to society too.”

The Stray Ferret reported on the Nidd and Ure statistics last week, which also recorded a total of 2,799 counted continuous spills between the rivers.

Political rivals Andrew Jones MP and Tom Gordon also shared their rather opposing views on the figures at the time.

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MPs Watch: Spring Budget, Kex Gill and Rwanda Bill updates

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 March, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the Spring Budget, which included plans to cut national insurance contributions by a further 2p, and North Yorkshire Council reported a rise in local hate crimes following the Israel-Hamas conflict.

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

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

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

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

These included meeting with business leaders in Harrogate town centre, as well as asking the Health Ministers about boosting dental capacity and the role of dental centres of excellence.

Mr Jones also held an AGM for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport.

In addition, he asked transport ministers about ensuring train driver vacancies are filled and “appropriate training prioritised”.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

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

We contacted Julian Smith for comment, but his office directed us towards the press releases on his website.

They included visiting Ripon’s Prison and Police Museum to mark English Tourism Week.

Mr Smith welcomed a £60 million government package to help businesses create more apprenticeships, which would be delivered across his constituency.

He also supported news of more than £530,000 of funding to the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Service, which will go towards adult social care.

Mr Smith also visited Whittaker’s Gin, in Dacre, and signed a whisky cask.

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 a list of some of his March highlights.

These included visiting Kirk Hammerton Primary School to speak to students about Parliament.

He also welcomed the Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP, to speak to constituents about rural crime.

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New café and bistro opens on Harrogate’s Albert Street

The latest addition to Harrogate’s hospitality scene has opened on Albert Street.

Clementine Café and Bistro, which has taken over the former Suzetta unit, opened its doors last week.

The new site serves a range hot food, including fresh fish and meat dishes, pasta, hot sandwiches and soups.

In addition, it will also offer hot and cold drinks, alcohol, desserts and cakes.

When the Stray Ferret approached Clementine Café and Bistro for comment, a spokesperson said in response:

It will open Monday to Saturday, from 11am to 9pm.

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Nidderdale community group issues plea to find home for refugee family

A Nidderdale community group has issued a plea for help to find a refugee family a long-term home.

Nidderdale Community Welcome (NCW), a voluntary group established at the end of 2020, took to the local parish magazine to seek accommodation for a Syrian refugee family.

The group, which helped to find the family their current Nidderdale home, raised more than £13,000 by April 2022 to fund the initiative.

However, according to a local parish magazine, the family’s tenancy is due to end “in a few months”, and they are on the hunt for a new home.

The group said:

“The children have settled in at a local school, the parents have made good progress with learning English and have been seeking employment opportunities.

“The family would like to remain in the area, where they have been warmly welcomed and have settled well.”

Nidderdale Community Welcome issued a plea to anyone that knows of local rental properties, that would be suitable for the family, to get in touch.

The group said the family is looking for a two or three-bedroom house, which will soon become available, with a monthly rent in the region of £800 to £900.

It said anyone that may be able to help should call Bill Hickson on 07831809246, or email him at wgehickson@gmail.com.

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New ice cream parlour to open in Pateley Bridge

A new ice cream parlour is set to open in Pateley Bridge tomorrow (March 29).

Treats, which will take over the former Pateley Ice Treat unit, will be the latest addition to the High Street’s hospitality scene.

Owner Janet Chambers, who is originally from Liverpool but has lived in Yorkshire for 40 years, told the Stray Ferret she and her husband took over the business after it remained closed for more than a year.

She said Treats will serve Brymor ice cream, ice cream sundaes, banana splits and milkshakes, as well as vegan ice cream and sorbets, cakes and eventually hot sandwiches and soups.

Ms Chambers added:

“I am excited and nervous about opening. We are hoping to be more than an ice cream parlour and hope to collaborate with our neighbours, such as the new bookshop in Pateley, with events for both adults and children.

“As my background is in art and design I am also hoping to offer art classes and a space for children’s parties.”

Treats will serve a range of ice creams and sweet treats.

Ms Chambers also recently applied to the BBC’s Great British Bake Off, she said, but added due to working full-time she “could not put the usual time and effort into her application”. Instead, she and her husband put their savings into buying the parlour. She said:

“Long-term we are going to re-brand to be called Treats.

“I want it to be a place where people feel they can “treat” themselves, friends and family, and to offer the community something all year round.”

Ms Chamber said the parlour will open Friday to Monday this weekend, plus Tuesday if the weather permits, from 11am to 4pm. It will open Saturday and Sunday thereafter, while in its infancy.

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Sewage in Nidd and Ure: local politicians react to increase

Leading Harrogate and Knaresborough politicians have reacted to the news that sewage spills in the River Nidd and River Ure more than doubled last year.

The Environment Agency published sewage discharge figures for all the water and sewage companies yesterday. The Stray Ferret analysed the data to discover the amount of recorded incidents had more than doubled for the Nidd and Ure.

Water quality is likely to be a key issue at the next general election.

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has led a campaign to achieve bathing water status at Knaresborough Lido on the Nidd.

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has attacked the government for its record on pollution and called for a ban on water company directors’ bonuses.

The rivals gave different reactions to yesterday’s figures.

‘A complex picture’

Mr Jones told the Stray Ferret sewage “isn’t the only cause of pollution in rivers – particularly the Nidd”, adding run-off from farmlands also contributed to the issue.

Mr Jones said:

“The combined storm overflows are designed to discharge the contents of sewers into waterways when the sewers are blocked or overloaded.  In 2023 there was exceptionally heavy rainfall which meant the overflows operated more often, stopping sewage backing up into our properties. We need solutions that mean the storm overflows operate less and I am pleased that significant investment is happening and I am pushing for more.

“This shows the importance of a joint effort between water companies, the Environment Agency, house builders and many others to ensure that rainwater run-off into our sewer system is lessened through tree planting, on-site water storage on new estates and separation of clean water and wastewater sewage streams.

“Water quality is a complex picture and to tackle it we need to tackle all the underlying causes.  This underlines the importance of gaining bathing water status for the Nidd. This will mean a five-year plan is developed encompassing all the causes of pollution and engaging all partners in finding a solution.  That is what I have been championing with the local community and I hope to learn the outcome of our bid soon.”

‘A complete scandal’

Mr Gordon went on the front foot by attacking the Conservative’s record on pollution.

The party yesterday claimed the Conservative MPs have “consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis – including Andrew Jones”.

Mr Gordon told the Stray Ferret:

“It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into our River Nidd. Despite our Conservative MP claiming to be campaigning on sewage we have seen the total number of hours of sewage dumped into the Nidd skyrocket, more than doubling.

“It’s beggars belief that Conservative MPs have allowed water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism. Local people are furious that Conservative politicians blocked tougher action on these disgraced firms.

“Here in Harrogate and Knaresborough we have a Conservative MP who has consistently voted against measures to stop the sewage scandal, local residents deserve better. Local residents and our precious environment need actions not words.

“The Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local rivers/beaches including replacing Ofwat with a regulator that has real teeth to clamp down on these polluting firms. We have also called for a ban on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways.”

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