‘Our home is ruined’: residents face up to aftermath of Knaresborough floods

Residents in Knaresborough are facing up today to the aftermath of last night’s floods, which affected about 30 homes.

Firefighters battled for two hours to pump water from homes and some residents even used buckets to remove water from their houses.

We ran a live blog last night and have followed up concerns — denied by the council — that the state of the drains played a part.

Today, we visited Knaresborough to speak to some of those whose homes were flooded.

Outwardly, the town appeared to be back to normal, with little sign of the impact of the storm. But the homes of those affected tell a very different story.

‘It feels pretty desperate’

Ann and Richard Briscoe, who live in St Margaret’s Gardens, said the house they have lived in since 2007 had been ruined.

A holiday let attached to their home, which was being rented out, was also affected.

Ms Briscoe said the rain began around 5.30pm. She contacted her daughter about the “size of the rain drops” just before their garden and downstairs flooded.

She said:

“By around 6pm, the manhole cover in our garden started to lift and just three minutes later water was coming over the front door. By 6.30pm, our entire lounge was flooded.”

The tenants in the holiday cottage, who had to relocate to Scarborough, began piling chairs and sofas on top of tables to limit the damage as much as possible, the couple added.

The flooding at the door and outside their home.

Besides the inconvenience, the storm will have a considerable financial impact on the couple. Ms Briscoe said:

“The carpet is absolutely soddened, and I suspect it’s sewage water because a lot of the water came from the burst manhole.

“We’ve contacted our insurance company, but we’ll have to cancel a lot of our holiday let bookings. I don’t know how much it’ll be, but that will be a real loss of income for us.”

The couple said neighbours and family members rushed to their house to help, with some lifting furniture onto bricks to prevent it being soaked.

Firefighters arrived to assist the Briscoes, but the couple said “most of the water had dispersed at that point”.

They, along with many others, feel the state of Knaresborough’s drains was a key factor.

Ms Briscoe said:

“I feel as though our home is ruined – I mean it feels pretty desperate.

“The drains are definitely an issue and whoever is going to fix them will get my vote.

“We just need help getting these drains sorted out. At our age, we can’t have this hanging over our head.”

Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents a part of Knaresborough, said he agreed the drains were a contributory factor — although the council has denied this.

Cllr Walker has also been part of a joint emergency response involving the emergency services, North Yorkshire Council and Knaresborough Town Council, which led to four people being found alternative accommodation. Welfare checks are being carried out today.

However, the couple said they did not receive any offers of alternative accommodation last night.

Ms Briscoe added:

“They can notify us that our bins will be emptied a day late, but where is the message offering us help in this situation?”

One of the flooded rooms.

‘Stuff was floating through our house’

Firefighters pump water from the home.

The Robinson family, who live on Dentdale Drive in the Eastfield area of the town, were forced to evacuate their home last night.

Nichola and Mark Robinson told the Stray Ferret they had gone to watch their son play cricket at Knaresborough Cricket Club yesterday afternoon.

The couple said there were “bright skies” until lightning halted play.

Ms Robinson said:

“We just sat in the car while there was lightning waiting for the coaches to say whether the match would go ahead. Then the rain came in at around 5.30pm and the match was called off, so we set off home.

“The rain was absolutely torrential – it was horrendous driving home.”

By the time they arrived home, the water was already above their ankles.

Ms Robinson said the rain was so heavy she could “barely see” it had run into their house. She added:

“Mark called to me, ‘the water is in the house’ and that’s when I realised it was already about a foot-high against the wall and garage door.

“The first thing we thought was the electricity, but luckily it been taken out by the storm.

“Mark went into the house and our lounge was just completely flooded. Stuff was floating through the house.”

The height at which the water reached is evident on the wall.

The couple said the fire brigade arrived at around 7pm to pump out water.

Ms Robinson also feels the state of Knaresborough’s drainage system and new housing developments could be to blame:

“Our home is destroyed. The smell is unbearable, and our furniture is ruined.

“There is an overarching problem with drainage infrastructure in Knaresborough. Everyone is saying the drains need sorting out.

“So many new homes have been built, I don’t think the drains can cope with the sheer amount of housing and no improved drainage systems. It worries me that it could be a potential cause of the problem.

“We have a new-build estate behind us and if there has been no improvement on drains, where is the water supposed to go? Water was bubbling up through the grass.

“The road was like a river. If a car came down, waves were forming.”

The couple also said they too were not offered alternative accommodation by the authorities and instead stayed with family nearby.

Mark and Nichola Robinson’s home after the flood.

Chain Lane drop-in session

North Yorkshire Council said in a statement this afternoon:

“The agencies involved in supporting the communities impacted by flash flooding in Knaresborough last night (Sunday) are out on the ground again today, including Knaresborough Town Council and North Yorkshire Council.

A range of help, advice and support is available via a community drop-in centre supported by Chain Lane Community Hub, Chain Lane, Knaresborough, HG5 08S.

“There are also highways crews out inspecting local drains to see what debris has been swept into them by the intense rainwater.

“Ready for Anything volunteers are also coming to help on site.”

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Harrogate pub to expand accommodation

A pub near Harrogate is set to expand its accommodation offering.

Shoulder of Mutton, in Kirkby Overblow, submitted a change of use application to North Yorkshire Council in January.

It outlined plans to convert a former women’s clothing store on-site, Best Kept Secret, into accommodation. The building is adjacent to the pub.

The council approved the application last Monday (April 29).

The building has been vacant for several months after Best Kept Secret moved into the centre of Harrogate in December.

The pub and on-site properties are owned by Heineken, but business owner Kate Deacon, who has been at Shoulder of Mutton for 20 years, today told the Stray Ferret the converted building will become a “junior suite”.

She said the construction work is “mainly cosmetic”, since the building is already in place, and the room will include a seating area, a super king size bed and ensuite bathroom.

Shoulder of Mutton began offering accommodation before lockdown, which Ms Deacon said has since “really taken off”.

It already offers three rooms in what was formerly a barn.

Ms Deacon said the converted suite will be open for use by June 1.

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Knaresborough pet show to return today

A Knaresborough pet show is set to return this May bank holiday.

Knaresborough Pet Day, which takes place in the grounds of Knaresborough House, is a chance for local owners to show off their four-legged friends for the day.

The event, which was set up more than 30 years ago, will include dog shows, an obedience demonstration and a ‘sausage retrieval’ session.

Organiser Val Rodgers told the Stray Ferret the pet day has since become popular with animal charities.

She said the dog shows will be judged by representatives of Dogs Trust, while the Blue Cross, Tia Greyhound Rescue, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Harrogate Cat Rescue will all have stalls to raise money for their organisations.

Ms Rodgers added there will be refreshments on offer in Knaresborough House, which will be provided by Miss Mollies Dog Rescue. She said:

“I am hoping that the weather is kind, everything goes smoothly, and the charities make money for their individual organisations.”

The pet show will be broken down into different categories, including best rescue, prettiest bitch, most handsome dog and dog fancy dress.

There will also be food stalls and a tombola.

The event is free to attend and will open at 10.30am. Dog show entries cost £1 per class.

Knaresborough Pet Day will take place today (May 6).

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Free gym classes for children in Harrogate and Knaresborough this month

Children and young people can access free fitness classes in Harrogate and Knaresborough this month.

The move comes after North Yorkshire Council said this week it hopes to encourage young people to “get active” following statistics released by Sport England.

In a press release, the council said the data showed 2.2 million young people do less than 30 minutes of physical activity per day.

To tackle the problem locally, the authority is offering free fitness classes throughout May at the two Brimhams Active-run leisure centres, which reopened last year following a multi-million-pound revamp.

Children aged six to 12 can take advantage of the offer.

The council’s corporate director for community development, Nic Harne, said:

“We have a wide range of programmes and activities for children in all our leisure centres as we foster increased participation which is not only good for their health and wellbeing but encourages social activities too.

“Those classes range from our learn to swim programmes and junior gym sessions to our new music classes in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

“We also have a range of local sports clubs that deliver variety of sports and fun sessions in our swimming pools and sports halls.”

The council said the ‘Born to Move’ classes will offer sessions merging movement and play to “experience the joy and vitality of moving to music”.

One of the teachers, Zoe Murray, added:

“These are really great classes for getting young people into a group exercise environment and feeling really comfortable with it at a young age. All the kids have a great time.”

The offer is free throughout May and sessions will cost £5 thereafter. Born to Move classes will be broken down by age groups.

Sessions will be held on Fridays at 5pm in Harrogate and 10.30am on Saturdays in Knaresborough.

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New agricultural group set up for Harrogate district women

A new social group has been set up for local women who live and work in the world of agriculture.

Flock Ladies, founded by Rachel Bain, invites women who have some involvement in the farming industry to get together and socialise.

Ms Bain told the Stray Ferret the new group is for people of “all sorts of backgrounds” and said it is not limited to those who live on a farm.

She said:

“Everyone is welcome: farmers, farmers’ wives or girlfriends, people that work in agriculture, women that are interested in farming or want to get into farming.

“Our members come from all over: Nidderdale, Masham, Ripon, Bedale and the surrounding areas.”

Flock Ladies will host monthly meetings, during which members will visit farms, attend workshops with gamekeepers, host socials, fundraisers and listen to guest speakers.

When asked why she set up the group, Ms Bain said:

“I wanted to create a social group for ladies who understand what it’s like to live and work in agriculture and to create an opportunity for them to get out and socialise. The pressures of farming can be difficult and many of the ladies juggle work, farms, families and are the backbone of their home life.

“Having a group of women who ‘get it’ and that monthly event to look forward to has been really well received. Being a part of Flock means that ladies commit to an evening out of their normal routine to have fun, catch up with friends and do something worthwhile.”

She said the group plans to meet on the last Thursday of each month. Flock Ladies does not have a fixed hub, Ms Bain said, adding that this is due to the group wanting to “get out and about to visit places”.

Ms Bain added:

“Our aim is to have fun, make great friends, learn lots, try new things, do a bit of good (e.g. support local causes) and most importantly have a laugh.

“We’re a newly established group and we’d love to grow our member numbers, so please keep an eye on our social media or get in touch with us to find out what we’ve got planned.

“We’re a really friendly bunch and anyone wanting to find out more is welcome to come along to a meeting before they commit to membership.”

A Flock Ladies membership costs £30 per year, plus £2.50 per meeting.

The group accepts women aged 18 and over.

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Knaresborough pet show to return today

A Knaresborough pet show is set to return this May bank holiday.

Knaresborough Pet Day, which takes place in the grounds of Knaresborough House, is a chance for local owners to show off their four-legged friends for the day.

The event, which was set up more than 30 years ago, will include dog shows, an obedience demonstration and a ‘sausage retrieval’ session.

Organiser Val Rodgers told the Stray Ferret the pet day has since become popular with animal charities.

She said the dog shows will be judged by representatives of Dogs Trust, while the Blue Cross, Tia Greyhound Rescue, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Harrogate Cat Rescue will all have stalls to raise money for their organisations.

Ms Rodgers added there will be refreshments on offer in Knaresborough House, which will be provided by Miss Mollies Dog Rescue. She said:

“I am hoping that the weather is kind, everything goes smoothly, and the charities make money for their individual organisations.”

The pet show will be broken down into different categories, including best rescue, prettiest bitch, most handsome dog and dog fancy dress.

There will also be food stalls and a tombola.

The event is free to attend and will open at 10.30am. Dog show entries cost £1 per class.

Knaresborough Pet Day will take place today (May 6).

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Revamped Masham play area to open today

A Masham play area will reopen today following a refurb.

Westholme Court play area, near Leyburn Road, underwent the makeover after the previous equipment was found to be unfit for purpose.

Councillor Flo Grainger, who has overseen the project on behalf of Masham Parish Council, told the Stray Ferret the play area was left “unequipped” after the developer of a nearby housing estate “claimed bankruptcy in the face of providing the play equipment”.

The parish council applied for the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund, provided by Derbyshire Environmental Trust, to breathe new life into the playground.

Cllr Grainger said the trust’s response was “very positive” and the council secured a £33,995 grant.

Councillors then handed a £3,782 contract to Streetscape, a Selby-based outdoor play equipment firm, to revamp the Westholme Court play area.

The refurb took nine days to complete, Cllr Grainger added.

The new playground includes two animal-themed springers, a roundabout, a large play fort, a seesaw and a new swing-set suitable for toddlers and children.

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Summer timetable announced for Nidderdale Dales Bus

Summer timetables have been released for the Nidderdale Dales Bus service.

The 820 and 821 buses, which start in Keighley, will run on Sundays and bank holidays throughout the summer.

Both services will depart from Keighley Bus Station at 9.25am, through to Norwood, Fewston and Swinsty and Fewston reservoir via Otley.

The 820 service will terminate at Swinsty and Fewston, but the 821 will continue to Scar House reservoir via Blubberhouses, Greenhow Hill, Coldstones Cut and Pateley Bridge.

It will also stop in Wath, Ramsgill and Lofthouse before returning to Keighley from Scar House.

The service has been backed by Yorkshire Water’s beyond nature project.

The firm’s land and property lead surveyor, Lisa Harrowsmith, said:

“Yorkshire Water and Beyond Nature is pleased to continue its sponsorship of the DalesBus Nidderdale service which provides an important link to some of the beautiful attractions of the Washburn Valley and Upper Nidderdale areas.”

All single fares are capped at just £2 in line with the national initiative.

The Dales Bus summer timetable will be in place until October 20.

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Bomb disposal called after WWII bullet found near Harrogate

An area near Harrogate was yesterday cordoned off after a WWII bullet was found.

In a statement by North Yorkshire Police, the force said the “live bullet” was found yesterday (May 2) on Law Lane, in Shaw Mills.

Police said a family, who were walking on a footpath, “stumbled” across the live bullet and another “not so obvious” metal object on the ground.

Officers were called at around 5.10pm.

The statement added:

“To be safe the area was briefly cordoned off and items safely disposed of by bomb disposal.”

No further information has been revealed.

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Person hospitalised after industrial accident near Boroughbridge

A person was taken to hospital following an industrial accident near Boroughbridge on Tuesday.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service today said the incident was reported just after 10pm on April 30.

A spokesperson said the ambulance was dispatched to a unit in the Becklands Close area of Roecliffe.

One patient was “conveyed to hospital”, they added.

The Stray Ferret also contacted North Yorkshire Police about the incident.

A police spokesperson said it received reports of an “industrial” incident but added it was not believed anyone suffered “life-threatening injuries”.

The spokesperson said a police investigation has not been launched.

We also approached the Health and Safety Executive for further information. A spokesperson said:

“At this stage, HSE does not have an active role as the incident has not been officially reported to us through the reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations (RIDDOR)”.

The incident comes just over a month after a man died in an industrial accident at the Macadam garage in Ripon.

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