Flora Grafton, Author at The Stray Ferret

Plans approved to convert Tockwith tennis court into multi-use games pitch

A planning application to convert existing tennis courts into a multi-use games pitch in Tockwith has been approved.

The plan, which was tabled to North Yorkshire Council in January, outlines plans to re-surface the two current tennis courts, install LED floodlights and erect new fencing.

The Stray Ferret reported on the proposal in February and spoke to Mike Corbett, chair of Tockwith Sportsfield Trust, which submitted the application.

Mr Corbett said at the time the new site would have an all-weather surface, adding:

“The current tennis courts are hard courts, but the surface is poor and weeds are coming through.

“Of course, we’re doing this to improve the club itself, but also to attract young people and give them something to do, rather than just being on their phones.”

A drawing of the proposed new site.

He said the new pitch will be suitable for tennis and five-aside football, adding the trust also planned to install basketball provisions at the open-air site.

Mr Corbett previously told the Stray Ferret the new fencing could also make the pitch suitable for padel tennis.

The trust planned to fund the project partly through section 106 monies, paid by developers who are building new housing developments in the village.

It will also be funded by the football club and Tockwith Festival. North Yorkshire Council approved the plans on Monday, April 22.

The Stray Ferret contacted Tockwith Sportsfield Trust about the approval, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Man, 31, dies following collision on A1(M) near Boroughbridge

A man has died after his HGV lorry collided with an overhead bridge on the A1(M) this morning.

North Yorkshire Police said the incident, which happened at around 2.10am, occurred on the southbound carriageway of the motorway between junction 48 (Boroughbridge) and junction 47 (Allerton Park).

Police closed the A1(M) this morning to respond to the incident. The force said the southbound carriageway is now expected to be open after 4pm.

In an updated statement, the force said the HGV lorry collided with an overhead bridge near the Allerton Waste Recovery site. The driver died at the scene.

It added:

“The southbound carriageway was closed to allow emergency services to attend the incident and investigate the scene. It currently remains closed for scene recovery work to take place, two lanes are expected to open to traffic after 4pm.

“We’re now urging anyone who saw the collision or the HGV involved in the collision prior to it that has not already made contact to get in touch. Our officers are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have any relevant dashcam footage.

“Anyone with information is asked to email mcit@northyorkshire.police.uk or phone North Yorkshire Police on 101 and speak to the Force Control Room.”

Quote reference number 12240071188 when passing information.

Officers also took to social media this afternoon to ask motorists not to use their phones when driving.

It came after several people drove past and filmed the scene of the collision on the A1(M).

Police said it would be taking action against the drivers. A spokesperson for the force added:

“We have taken registration details of approximately 30 vehicles, and we will follow up with action against the drivers – this will ultimately be points and a fine, but they may end up in court.”

Former Harrogate Arms to reopen as café tomorrow

The historic Harrogate Arms is set to reopen as a café tomorrow.

The grade two-listed building, which closed a decade ago, will finally be brought back to working order.

Originally built in 1844 by Henry Wright, the then-owner of the estate, the Harrogate Arms and Bath House were set in pleasure gardens, which are now part of The Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden Harlow Carr.

The Harrogate Arms had several faces during its time, including a hotel, inn, nightclub, restaurant and pub, before closing to the public in 2014.

But the RHS was granted listed building consent in 2019 to convert the site into a café.

The horticultural charity today said it has been “working hard to restore the premises”, which will offer indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a menu focused on “seasonal ingredients”.

It added the café will offer a breakfast, lunch and an all-day menu, along with artisan coffee.

The new landscape of RHS Garden Harlow Carr by planners Gillespies.

In a press release, the RHS said:

“Each day will feature a special menu utilising produce directly from our Kitchen Garden to champion the use of fresh ingredients.

“It will also showcase some fantastic ways for preserving foods from the garden from the summer so they can be used in the colder and less productive months. Think anything from pickled cucumber to chilli oils and kimchi!”

New jobs will be created as part of the café opening, the charity said, adding it hopes to use as much locally sourced produce as possible.

Liz Thwaite, head of RHS Garden Harlow Carr, also said:

“We can’t wait to re-open this building which holds so many memories for members of the local community and really look forward to welcoming them back to the brand new Harrogate Arms Café.

“This project has been a long time in the making, as we wanted to create something fresh and exciting for our visitors that celebrates our rich heritage.”

The Harrogate Arms Café will open to the public from around 11am tomorrow (April 25), an RHS spokesperson said.

New pilates studio to open in Harrogate next week

The latest addition to Harrogate’s fitness and wellbeing scene will open next week.

Harrogate Pilates Studio, based on Claro Court Business Centre, will offer a range of pilates classes, including reformer, matt, stretch bar and yoga.

Owner Emma Ryder, 26, has spent her life dancing. She began aged three and went on to become a professional dancer.

Despite finding work on cruise ships and on TV, she told the Stray Ferret it was lockdown that pushed her to find her true passion: pilates.

She said:

“I spent lockdown doing my matt pilates qualification and have been teaching it since 2021. It was then that I had a moment of ‘wow, this is what I really love’.

“I love it because I can apply a lot of my dance knowledge into my work.”

The reformer machines.

The former Harrogate Grammar School pupil then completed her reformer pilates training in 2022 and has since taught in local gyms and to private clients.

She said it is thanks to growing up in Harrogate that she has managed to build a client base here, adding several clients would “always suggest” opening her own studio.

Ms Ryder told the Stray Ferret she wants to deliver a smaller, more personal service in Harrogate and create a “community”, rather than a “come to the studio and leave environment”.

She added:

“In places like London, there can be just inches between the matts or reformer machines. It’s much more personal here.

“I wanted to create a space in which I can interact with all the people in the room – it’s a high-end service and the space and session should reflect that.

“I’d love it to be the kind of place where you end up knowing the person on the reformer machine next to you!”

Harrogate Pilates Studio boasts six reformer pilates machines, each costing £3,000, as well as eight matt spaces.

Ms Ryder will teach classes along with three other freelance teachers.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“In my opinion, everyone should do pilates. It’s so good for posture, for strength and endurance – everything!

“This studio is also a great place to start if you’re new to it because it’s such small groups and you won’t feel like you’re getting lost. It’s an inclusive space, which is exactly what I hoped for because I know reformer can look scary at first.”

Ms Ryder added she is feeling “nervous but excited and optimistic” about the opening.

All equipment is available to use at the studio, Ms Ryder said, adding people do not have to bring their own matts but can if they would like.

Drop-in reformer sessions cost £20, while drop-in matt sessions cost £10.

A matt membership, which offers unlimited matt classes, will set people back £65 per month, and a monthly reformer membership costs between £65 and £110 dependent on the number of sessions.

Harrogate Pilates Studio will open its door on Wednesday, May 1. Classes will be held throughout the day from Monday to Thursday and Saturdays.

It is based in Unit 5 on the business park, next to Doors Direct. Bookings are now open.

Harrogate blinds and shutters company enters liquidation

A blinds and shutters company near Harrogate has gone into liquidation.

HG – NY Blinds and Shutters Ltd, which was based in a unit on Clint Bank, broke the news in an email on Saturday, April 13.

In the email, seen by the Stray Ferret, the company said the move followed “unforeseen financial difficulties” which meant it is “no longer able to sustain its operations”.

Amanda Simmons, who sent the email, also said:

“As a result, we are in the process of initiating the liquidation procedure. This means that the company will be winding down its affairs and assets to pay off its creditors.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you. We want to assure you that we are committed to handling this process with transparency and integrity.

“Sadly, I had to let all staff go at the end of March, without pay, so I am not able to offer any further fitting services.”

The move comes less than two years after the company, which manufactured and installed blinds and shutters, was set up in May 2022.

According to The Gazette, Cleckheaton based liquidators, XL Business Solutions, were appointed on April 3.

The Stray Ferret contacted the liquidators, who said the process is still “ongoing”, but confirmed the company has ceased trading.

The email to customers also said:

“I have asked the supplier if they are willing to allow me to give you their details to arrange for your order to be dispatched directly to yourself.

“I will inform you of their response asap.

“Thank you for your understanding and co-operation as we navigate through this difficult situation. We appreciate your business and hope for your understanding during this time of transition.”

Details of the liquidation, including a list of creditors and debts, have not yet been uploaded to Companies House.

Grammar guerrilla takes Harrogate road sign matters into own hands

A vigilante has taken action against the council’s decision to eliminate apostrophes from Harrogate district road signs.

The move comes after North Yorkshire Council last week told the Stray Ferret it will abolish apostrophes from road signs after a new sign was installed on St Mary’s Walk.

The new sign, which read ‘St Marys Walk’, sparked concern among local grammar guerrillas – and it seems someone has now taken matters into their own hands.

Shortly after it was installed, someone, armed with a piece of black tape, drew an apostrophe on the new sign, which now reads ‘St Mary’s Walk’ (pictured).

(L) the new sign before being corrected. Another sign nearby (R).

The council said the new format was being adopted by other councils across the country, but it proved less than popular with local residents.

One man, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Stray Ferret last week:

“I do not feel I have been consulted about the council deciding to use poor English language.”

Another upset resident commented on the Stray Ferret’s Facebook post:

“Yes, let’s teach our kids how not to write properly, when the poor English teachers are trying to get students through their grammar tests and, later, exams.

“The teachers are having to waste their valuable time explaining to their students why the teacher knows what they’re talking about and that North Yorkshire Council’s decisions are flawed and incompetent.”

A similar initiative happened in 2014 – which saw a similar fate.

The Guardian reported at the time that Cambridge City Council’s decision to abolish apostrophes led to a backlash from “self-declared defenders of grammar” who used marker pens to fill in missing apostrophes on road signs.

Rivers charity seeks volunteers to join River Nidd improvement project

A charity in Pateley Bridge is recruiting volunteers to take part in a project to improve the quality of the River Nidd.

Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust received £500,000 from Yorkshire Water last year after the company breached its permitted level of sewage discharge into Hookstone Beck, in Harrogate. The incident in 2016 led to the loss of fish and invertebrates.

The trust has now joined forces with the Wild Trout Trust and Nidd Action Group to deliver the iNidd scheme to improve the river and is seeking volunteers.

Charlotte Simons, senior project manager at the trust, said:

“The £500,000 payment has enabled us to redouble our efforts in monitoring the health of the River Nidd and its tributaries, which will help us target our restoration plan.

“The appointment of a river enhancement project manager to oversee this iNidd workstream means that we have been able to start building partnerships and are now ready to recruit a cohort of volunteers, who will be specially trained to support the programme.”

The charity is looking for 20 people to join the riverfly monitoring programme and monitor aquatic invertebrate populations in a certain part of the river.

Volunteers will be required between May and September. No prior experience is needed.

Ms Simons added:

“Riverfly monitoring is a vital tool in establishing the overall health of a stretch of river, since testing the chemistry of the river water only offers a snapshot of actual pollution levels.

“Animals in our rivers respond to water quality throughout their whole life span with many aquatic invertebrates such as caddisfly and dragonfly larvae and nymphs not able to survive in polluted water, so their presence or absence is a very strong indicator of pollution levels.”

The trust said all training, equipment and protective gear will be provided.

To sign up, email jennifer.lee@ydrt.co.uk.

Masham school pupils don’t receive ‘acceptable standard of education’, says Ofsted

Masham C.E Primary School has been rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.

The findings were published in a report yesterday following a two-day inspection in January.

Government inspectors said the school, which has 71 pupils, ‘requires improvement’ in three categories: behaviour and attitudes, personal development and early years provision.

The report said the quality of education and leadership and management were both ‘inadequate’ and gave an overall grading of ‘inadequate’.

Inspectors said pupils “do not receive an acceptable standard of education” at the school, which was previously rated ‘good’ in 2019, adding the curriculum is “disjointed” and “does not meet the needs of pupils”.

They said:

“Pupils have considerable gaps in their learning and do not achieve well. This means that they are not prepared well for the next stage of their education.

“Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities do not consistently receive the support that they need to access the curriculum. This prevents them from developing the knowledge and skills that they need to succeed.”

The report praised the “polite and courteous” pupils, but said occasional misbehaviour is “not managed well enough”. This prevents pupils from learning, it added.

Inspectors said the school has struggled to address “long-term weaknesses in the structure and teaching”, which worsened due to “frequent changes in staffing”. They added:

“Over time, the quality of education that pupils have received has not been checked well enough.

“Pupils’ performance in reading and mathematics is weak throughout the school. This is beginning to improve in early years. However, there remains much to do.”

The report acknowledged some early years provisions have “improved since September”, adding:

“Knowledgeable adults support the children to learn through play.

“Early mathematics and reading are taught well. However, the legacy of children having a poor experience in early years in the past is affecting access to the curriculum in older year groups.”

Ofsted praised the staff and governors, who “care passionately about the school”, and are “deeply committed to their roles”.

However, it concluded:

“There has been a lack of focus on the most pressing areas in need of improvement.

“The school has not shown the capacity to make a rapid improvement to the educational experiences for pupils.”

Educational visits

Despite the low grading, the inspectors did highlight some positive parts of the visit.

They said pupils participate in various clubs and take on responsibilities, such as leading playtime sports or being a school councillor.

Inspectors also said the pupils take part in “educational visits and community events”, and found pupils’ knowledge of religion and fundamental British values to be “developed well”.

Pupils know they can turn to “any adult in the school” if they have any concerns, the report added.

Council ‘committed to supporting the school’

The Stray Ferret contacted Masham C.E Primary School for a response to the recent inspection.

The school asked us to contact North Yorkshire Council for a comment instead.

Amanda Newbold, the council’s assistant director of education and skills, said:

“We’re committed to supporting the school with the changes already identified for the curriculum, we acknowledge the Ofsted inspectors’ recommendations and value the commitment and passion shown by the school community.

“We are pleased to see that the recent changes made, for example in early years and support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, have improved the learning environment of the school and that the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

“Looking ahead, it is imperative that everyone involved in the school community works together to build on the progress made, which will result in improved education for the pupils.”

Harrogate RAF veteran receives 850 cards for 100th birthday

A Harrogate RAF veteran was flooded with more than 850 cards for his recent 100th birthday.

A Facebook group dedicated to the RAF launched an appeal to send Stanley Clark, who lives in Harcourt Gardens Care Home, 100 cards for his milestone birthday.

However, after the post went global, he received more than eight times the anticipated amount – including one from King Charles III.

Mr Clarke, who joined the air force at just 16 as an electrical fitter in 1940, went on to become a servicing commando, RAF pilot and station commander. He served in North Africa and Europe before retiring in 1979.

The veteran woke up to birthday wishes from former service men and women from across America, Canada and Australia.

Mr Clarke said:

“I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who sent me these wonderful cards and gifts, this was totally unexpected and overwhelming but very much appreciated.”

He spent his centenary birthday enjoying afternoon tea alongside friends and family who had travelled from Australia and Canada.

Home manager at Harcourt Gardens, Adelina Pangilinan, also said:

“The cards just kept on coming, it was quite amazing.

“Nobody knew just how well the request would be received and it was absolutely wonderful to see the look on Stanley’s face when we delivered him the cards.

“It’s clear to see that Stanley, alongside all the other brave and admirable veterans are part of a very tight knit community and it’s wonderful see the support and admiration for him.”

Harrogate business owner Rachel Woolford wins The Apprentice

The brains behind Harrogate’s North Studio, Rachel Woolford, was tonight named as the winner of The Apprentice on BBC.

Rachel, who began the 12-week process alongside 17 other hopefuls, has landed herself a £250,000 investment from Lord Alan Sugar.

The lucky winner, who set up her Cold Bath Road fitness business just last year, went head-to-head with Bognor Regis pie shop owner Phil Turner in tonight’s episode.

The investment will go towards expanding her business, which started in Leeds, across northern England. It offers small group fitness classes, including running, boxing, HIIT and reformer pilates.

For their last task, the two finalists had to launch their businesses.

The Apprentice finalists. Pic: BBC Pictures

Rachel Woolford and Phil Turner in the final. Pic: BBC Pictures.

Rachel’s team created a digital billboard and a virtual reality tour around one of her proposed gyms. She also pitched her business plan to Lord Sugar, aides Baroness Brady and Tim Campbell, as well as a room of industry experts.

In her presentation, Rachel said she planned to open five gyms in “bustling locations” in the north, including York, Manchester and Newcastle.

The Leeds woman, who called her company Studio Build in the episode, said her actual business — North Studio — focusses on “high energy and inclusive group fitness classes, which cost a little less than a personal trainer, but still offering that personal feel”.

But her success was not without hurdles, as she faced tough questions from fitness moguls, such as representatives from Barry’s, F45 and Rumble UK.

They questioned how Rachel could replicate the “personal and community” feel she said her business centres around, as well how she will ensure client and staff retention.

North Studio Harrogate

Once pitches were over, the candidates faced the infamous boardroom for the final time.

As Lord Sugar deliberated on his decision, Baroness Brady said about Rachel:

“This business is her life and her passion for it really comes across. The issue really is just how expensive it is to open gyms, and she’ll burn through your investment pretty quickly.”

Tim Campbell, the first ever winner of The Apprentice, added:

“I think the thing with Rachel is that she’s going into a great industry sector and she’s a great advocate for her product and service. It’s about the scalability of that. Can she systemise what she’s done very well at two gyms over at many, many more?”

Former contestants joined Rachel for the final episode. Pic: BBC Pictures.

After one last hit at persuasion from the two finalists, Lord Sugar made his final decision.

He said:

“Let me conclude here. This is a very tough decision, I’ve got to say because I’ve got two very, very credible people in front of me.”

“I’ve got Rachel who claims she’s making money and that she’s going to make even more when she gets the second gym up and running but gyms are with all due respect, two-a-penny.

“Specialist pies are not and it’s a market that I’m very interested in, but how can I be interested in it if there’s no light at the end of the tunnel? There’s a loss-making business at the moment which you tell me is going to turn around and be okay and that’s my dilemma.”

But it was northerner Rachel who took home the crown, and the money.

Lord Sugar concluded:

“It’s very, very hard for me. I’m having trouble here.

“But my gut feeling is telling me that, Rachel, you’re going to be my business partner.”

Now £250,000 richer and Lord Sugar’s newest business partner, Rachel Woolford is one-step-closer to expanding North Studio across the region.

Rachel said in the episode:

“To take part in the process has been incredible and to come out a winner is just something beyond my wildest dreams.

“I was 24-years-old when I started my business. I was just a girl from Leeds and now I cannot believe it, I’m going into business with Lord Sugar and he’s investing in me.”

For now, Lord Sugar’s search for his next business partner is over.

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Educational visits

Council ‘committed to supporting the school’

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