A Harrogate woman, who allegedly put a used toilet brush in the bath while a child in her care was bathing, has appeared before magistrates.

The woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the children, pleaded not guilty to two charges of assault, neglect or abandonment of a child/young person to cause unnecessary suffering at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday.

The court heard the children came under the woman’s care in 2015 after their birth mother died and their father was in prison.

Alex Steadward, prosecuting, said the woman was a friend of their late mother and took legal guardianship of the children following her death.

Mr Steadward said the woman “emotionally and physically abused” both victims — one for nearly six years and the other for nearly three years.

He added she smacked and punched the victims, withheld food from them and even put a used toilet brush in their bathwater, putting “faeces in the water”, the court heard.

Andrew Tinning, defending, claimed it was her partner that faced the latter allegation, but his solicitor denied this.

Partner used ‘martial arts moves’ against victims

The woman’s partner, who also cannot be named to conceal the victims’ identities, pleaded not guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm against one of the victims.

The man, of the same address, appeared at the same hearing yesterday.

Mr Steadward alleged the man “strangled” one of the victims and used “martial arts moves” against him, on February 2, 2017.

Brian Nuttney, defending the man, said his client denied these allegations.

The pair were released on unconditional bail and will appear before York Crown Court on March 18, 2024.

Read more:

• Bishop Monkton man with ‘flagrant disregard for court orders’ jailed for 26 weeks
• Harrogate teen jailed for terrifying knifepoint robbery

The latest addition to the Starbeck takeaway scene will open its doors next week.

Portside Fish and Chips, which already has two sites in Leeds and one in Pontefract, will open in the former Karen’s Bistro unit on the high street.

The company, which launched in 2020, told the Stray Ferret its food is prepared in vegetable oil and cooked to order to “ensure the highest quality for customers”.

A portion of fish and chips costs £10, but the takeaway offers other traditional chip shop items including battered sausages, scampi and pies, as well as vegetarian options.

Kully Roda, owner of Portside, told the Stray Ferret:

“Regarding our Starbeck store, we are excited to become part of a vibrant high street, alongside esteemed brands, and local businesses.

“Understanding the economic challenges faced by our customers, we have tailored a meal deal menu to provide extra value. We have also introduced a lunchtime loyalty scheme, where customers can collect stamps per meal, redeemable for a lunchtime meal.”

The site, which will employ eight people, will provide competition for two nearby fish and chip shops Drake’s Fish and Chips and Bradleys as well as numerous other takeaways.

Portside will open its doors on Tuesday, February 20. It will be open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 8pm, and 3pm to 8pm on Sunday.

It follows the opening of national food franchise, Pepe’s Piri-Piri, which came to Knaresborough Road earlier this month.

Read more:

• Harrogate gets two new takeaways
• Daytime disco comes to Harrogate 
• Fundraiser launched in support of Harrogate businessman David Simister

Traffic lights on Fountains Road at Ripley, which have been in place since early December, look set to be removed soon.

The lights were installed after storms in December flooded a notorious stretch of road (pictured), which runs between Ripley and Sawley.

The Stray Ferret reported on the issue last month after there appeared to be no end in sight for the traffic lights – despite a brief dry spell and respite period from flooding.

At the time, we asked North Yorkshire Council when the lights would be removed and what long-term flood prevention measures would be put in place. A spokesperson said:

“Before the traffic lights are removed, we must jet the gullies and inspect the carrier drain.

“Officers hope to be on site in the next few weeks.”

The council has now provided an update.

Melisa Burnham, the council’s highways area manager, told the Stray Ferret yesterday:

“The traffic lights were installed following heavy rainfall, resulting in an area of flooding.

“We appreciate the inconvenience the disruption has caused, but the safety of the travelling public is our top priority.

“Our officers finished unblocking the gullies on Tuesday (February 13) and the water has drained away. The road will now be repaired by the end of the week, and it can then reopen.”

Read more:

• Karate and yoga studio to open in Ripon city centre
• Business Q&A: Sophie Hartley, Sophie Likes

North Yorkshire Council has confirmed work to fix a Knaresborough wall has been completed five weeks earlier than expected.

The £200,000 project began after a section of the wall on Briggate collapsed on to the road last September. Nobody was hurt, but rubble remained on the road for almost three months after.

Initial repair work began at the end of November and paused over Christmas, but resumed last month to fix another section of the wall.

Two-way traffic lights were put in place on January 8 by the council, which said the maintenance work was due to be completed by Friday, March 14.

However, traffic lights were removed last Friday (February 9) – just over a month after the work began.

The Stray Ferret contacted the council to ask if the work had paused or finished. We also asked if it had been carried out with effective long-term maintenance measures in place after a reader in Calcutt got in touch to say he didn’t see any reconstruction of the wall take place and “most of the work was repointing”.

A spokesperson responded:

“I’m pleased to confirm the work has been completed ahead of schedule.”

The wall pictured at Christmas before the latest repairs.

A  Freedom of Information request submitted by the Stray Ferret revealed the wall was assessed as safe three times in the weeks before it collapsed despite complaints that it was crumbling and damaged by weeds.

Cllr Hannah Gostlow, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough East, told the council in June 2022 that the wall “could potentially be a risk to life”.

‘Lessons must be learned’

Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West, today told the Stray Ferret the “sorry saga would never have happened if the wall had been properly maintained”, adding:

“The cost involved does not represent value for money for the taxpayer. As the work has taken less time than anticipated the council should now look to challenge the price. A local builder told me they could have done the work for a third of the price; had they been asked to tender. I will be asking the council to review its process for tendering and awarding of contracts.

“I would expect as a minimum the wall to be safety checked on an annual basis. Although a schedule of inspection hasn’t been confirmed with me. If residents raise any concerns they should be listened to and acted upon.

“The contractor should be congratulated for getting the work done ahead of time and I now hope the council can get the road resurfaced as planned in April.”

Read more:

• The Great Wall of Briggate saga in Knaresborough
• Cost of repairing Knaresborough wall set to rise to £200,000
• 10-point guide to Knaresborough’s 1,000 new homes

A Bishop Monkton man who drove an uninsured vehicle while disqualified and resisted arrest has been jailed for 26 weeks.

Paul Moehr was also banned from driving for 89 months when he was sentenced at York Magistrates Court yesterday.

Moehr, 51, of St John’s Road, pleaded guilty to four charges: driving whilst disqualified; obstructing a constable in the execution of duty; use of a vehicle on a road without third party insurance and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

The court heard he drove a Vauxhall Vectra whilst disqualified and uninsured on North Street in Ripon on January 20, 2024.  On the same day, he resisted police at the White Horse Inn, in Ripon.

He also admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis when he was taken into custody at Harrogate Police Station on the same day.

Magistrates said he “had a flagrant disregard for court orders”, which played a part in his sentencing, alongside a previous record of offending and persistent driving offences.

Moehr was also ordered to pay £154 to the court.

Read more:

• Driver in Knaresborough reports himself for drink-driving
• Harrogate teen jailed for terrifying knifepoint robbery 

A pub near Knaresborough that suffered two fires in three years has been put up for sale.

The Tiger Inn at Coneythorpe has remained closed since the second fire in August last year.

Now, after months of uncertainty, the inn has been offered for sale for £495,000.

According to Fleurets, the listing agent, the pub was “superbly successful” with a turnover in the region of £900,000 in recent years.

However, it acknowledged “the kitchen was damaged by a fire in August”, adding:

“The business has not re-opened and the tenant has left.

“The landlord has undertaken works to make good the damage caused by the fire, and the kitchen is ready to be fitted out.”

It said the remainder of the property was in “very good condition, unaffected by the fire and ready to trade”.

The interior of The Tiger Inn. Pic: Fleurets.

Fleurets said the two-storey property included a ground floor bar and restaurant and a recently refurbished studio flat upstairs.

It added:

“The front bar is in three sections.. The three sections can accommodate 10, 16 and 18 covers for dining. The right side extends into the restaurant area providing 68 covers.

“[It includes] ladies, gents and disabled toilets, an office and an upland beer store. The catering kitchen is huge, and purchasers may choose to reduce its size prior to refitting.”

The property, which is under a freehold tenure, also still holds a premises licence.

The upstairs flat. Pic: Fleurets.

The Stray Ferret has reported on the fires at the Tiger Inn over the years – most recently in November.

It suffered its first fire in November 2020. The blaze, which started in the kitchen, lasted for six hours and caused widespread damage to the site.

It then re-opened after renovations in October 2021, only for a second blaze, attributed to an overheating ice machine, to occur last year.

The fire in 2020.

Read more:

• Village pub near Knaresborough suffers second fire in three years
• Plans revealed to transform Starbeck’s Harper’s building
• Harrogate teen jailed for terrifying knifepoint robbery

The Duchy Hospital in Harrogate, has been rated ‘good’ in a recent report by the Care Quality Commission.

The hospital, which is part of Circle Health Group, was assessed to be good in all five categories: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

The healthcare watchdog also rated the surgery, outpatients and diagnostic and screen service departments as good.

The inspection, which took place in November, was the first since 2017, after which the hospital was rated “requires improvement”.

Michelle Eardley, executive director of the hospital, said:

“This is a challenging time for people working in healthcare and to have had our culture and delivery of care recognised as making a difference to the patients we care for is incredibly rewarding.

“We are fully committed to delivering the best possible care for patients in Harrogate and further afield. We look forward to building on this to achievement and working towards obtaining an “outstanding” rating across all domains.”

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce to meet tonight

The monthly Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting will take place tonight.

The meeting will focus on corporate social responsibility and will include speakers from Harrogate Spring Water, EnviroVent and the charity Supporting Older People.

Chamber chief executive officer Martin Mann said:

“Corporate Social Responsibility is no longer simply a business buzzword or tick box exercise; it is fundamental to modern business practice.

“Organisations that live and breathe strong social and environmental values positively impact the communities and people around them, making for a better place to live and do business.”

The meeting will be held at The Old Swan Hotel, from 5.30pm – 8pm.

Ripon restaurant nominated for national award

Jaflong in Ripon has been shortlisted for Bangladeshi Restaurant of the Year.

The winner will be announced at the National Curry Awards in Manchester next week.

Salauddin Khan, owner of Jaflong, said:

“Our priority is always to give our customers the best experience in food preparation. We are delighted that our passion for excellence has been recognised in these awards.”

The restaurant, which is on Kirkgate, gained national recognition at the same awards event last year.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Harrogate Food and Drink company to cater the MOBO Awards
• Business Breakfast: The Harlow in Harrogate appoints clinical lead

Several schools and attractions closed early today due to widespread snow in the Harrogate district. Here’s a look back at what happened.

6.04pm: Bus diversion

https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1755649562037862600

5.52pm: No reports of rush hour travel woes

Rail operator Northern has not reported any delays and we are unaware of any major issues on the roads at rush hour. Do let us know if you know otherwise so we can spread the word. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

5.28pm: Angel of Killinghall

Five-year-old Sofia Grace has been making the most of the snow in Killinghall. Here she is making snow angels and riding the exercise machine in the village park.

5.10pm: Gritters out!

North Yorkshire Council has posted on social media that its fleet of gritters is out tonight.

5.04pm: Did highways gritting chief come a cropper on ungritted road?

You may have seen our post earlier in this blog about Cllr Keane Duncan, the executive member for highways at North Yorkshire Council and mayoral hopeful, coming off the road near Pateley Bridge in his campervan this morning,

It appears the road is one not gritted by the council. You can read more here.

4.29pm: Deeper snow in Nidderdale

This post on X shows a fair dollop of snow has settled at Greenhow, near Pateley Bridge.

https://twitter.com/juliatetley/status/1755609043090178543

4.03pm: Children making the most of the snow

The fresh snow is heaven for children, and Tobias, seen here, is making the most of it. Do send us your photos and updates by emailing us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

3.31pm: Two-year-old Tobias enjoying the snow

Tobias, 2, is enjoying the snow in Birstwith.

His family sent us this photo.

Pic: Ann Taylor.

2.46pm: Harrogate College announces early closure and cancelled event

Harrogate College took to social media to say the college will close at 3pm today.

It also said, “due to the heavy snow”, tonight’s Apprenticeship Open Event has been cancelled.

2.21pm: Road conditions worsen towards Harrogate

A nearby resident, who sent us the photos below, told us traffic coming into Harrogate on the A61 is “crawling” from Almsford Bank towards the Oatlands crossroads.

She said road conditions have “got worse” in a short space of time.

2.06pm: Snow sees no sign of easing in Harrogate

Snow is continuing to fall around Harrogate. This is on Leeds Road, where it sees no sign of easing soon.

2.02pm: Further update about Springwater School

Chris Watt provided another update about Springwater School, in Starbeck. He posted this on X and tagged the Stray Ferret.

@thestrayferret @HgateAdvertiser Further update from Springwater School #Starbeck: *weather update*
Further transport providers have asked to collect children early, please contact your child or young persons transport to confirm what time your child will arrive home.

— Chris Watt (@ChrisWatt4) February 8, 2024

1.49pm: Oatlands Infant School to close at 2pm

Oatlands Infant School, in Harrogate, is closing at 2pm today.

1.45pm: Early collection at Bilton Grange Primary 

Parents can collect children from Bilton Grange Primary School early this afternoon. Pick-up began at 1pm.

1.41pm: 2pm collection at Springwater School

Thanks to Chris Watt for posting this on X about Springwater School in Starbeck and tagging us.

@thestrayferret Springwater School in #Starbeck have provided the following snow update: Dignity minibuses and IPT buses have let us know that they will be collecting children at 2pm – please make arrangements to be home to collect your children and young people early.

— Chris Watt (@ChrisWatt4) February 8, 2024

1.36pm: View at highest point in the district

How is it looking at Greenhow Hill, near Pateley Bridge — the highest point in the Harrogate district? Here’s the latest from North Yorkshire Council’s live weathercam.

1.16pm: Starbeck Primary Academy allows early collection

Thanks to Starbeck resident Chris Watt for the update. Do let us know how things are where you are so we can update this blog.

@thestrayferret @StarbeckPrimary are allowing parents to collect their children early if they are concerned about travel, but are currently remaining open as normal. #Starbeck

— Chris Watt (@ChrisWatt4) February 8, 2024

1.10pm: Dogs having fun in Harrogate

Snow is settling — and dogs are enjoying it.

1.01pm: Weather warning across UK

The Met Office has published this image showing most of the country is affected by weather warnings for snow, ice and rain.

12.52pm: Harrogate High School to close too

Harrogate High School contacted the Stray Ferret to say it will be closing at 1pm today.

12.47pm: Tory mayoral candidate runs into a spot of bother…

The snow has also caused problems for Tory mayoral candidate, Keane Duncan, who is currently taking on a 100-day campervan trip around North Yorkshire.

Mr Duncan took to social media after Peggy, his van, got stuck in the mud near Lofthouse.

He said the “heroic efforts” of two Lofthouse locals meant he and Peggy were back on the road quickly after.

Pic: Keane Duncan on X, formerly Twitter.

12.40pm: Nidderdale High School

Nidderdale High School is closing at 12.45pm today.

12.37pm: RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate

RHS Garden Harlow Carr, in Harrogate, closed at 11.45am today.

It took to social media to say this was to “ensure the safety of all our visitors, staff and volunteers”.

12.30pm: Harrogate Grammar School

Harrogate Grammar School is officially closing at 1.15pm.

12.30pm: Rossett School

Rossett School is also closing at 1.15pm.

12.30pm: St Aidan’s School

St Aidan’s School said it is officially closing at 1.30pm.

Outwood Academy in Ripon, Ripon Grammar School and Boroughbridge High School all said they had no plans to close early.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Ashville College to end boarding next year
• ‘Warm and welcoming’ Dacre Braithwaite school rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

A cyclist was knocked off his bike in a collision with a vehicle in Harrogate yesterday (Tuesday, February 6).

North Yorkshire Police, which is now appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage, said the incident happened at around 7.30am on the B6161 Oaker Bank.

Both the cyclist and the car were travelling towards the Jubilee Roundabout prior to the collision, the force added.

Police today said:

“The car driver did not stop at the scene.

“The vehicle is believed to be a white Volkswagen Golf, 2014-2019 model. A wing mirror light bar and cover were detached during the collision, and so the car will have distinctive damage to its wing mirror.”

Officers said the cyclist, a man in his 40s, was “not seriously injured”. They added:

“If you were the car driver involved, please contact North Yorkshire Police.

“In addition, anyone who witnessed the collision, recognises the car involved, or is aware of a VW Golf with wing mirror damage, is asked to get in touch.

“Please email david.minto@northyorkshire.police.uk, or call 101, quoting reference 12240022993.”

This is the fourth incident of its kind in less than two months.

It follows a spate of separate incidents, which saw three cyclists knocked off their bikes in Harrogate in just one month.

Read more:

• Police still guarding scene of Harrogate tyre factory blaze
• Police seek man after mass brawl at Harrogate’s Mojo

Harrogate Town AFC manager, Simon Weaver, and winger, Abraham Odoh, have both been nominated for Sky Bet League Two awards.

Weaver, who has been the club’s manager since 2009, has been shortlisted for the manager of the month award after a successful run that has taken the team into the promotion reckoning.

The English Football League said Weaver has gained momentum in the second half of last season and “continues to gather pace in North Yorkshire”, adding:

“The momentum gained in the second half of last season continues to gather pace in North Yorkshire.

“Weaver has made light of recent injuries to guide his side calmly into the promotion race with 10 points from four unbeaten matches.”

Lee Bell of Crewe Alexandra, Graham Coughlan of Newport County and Karl Robinson of Salford City are all up for the manager of the month award.

Read more:

• North Yorkshire fire services buys ‘pre-loved’ fire engines to cut costs 
• Fundraiser launched for former Harrogate BID director with terminal cancer

Abraham Odoh, 23, who joined the club last summer following a spell at Rochdale, is one of four players up for the Player of the Month award.

The EFL said although he is a winger Mr Odoh “pops up all across the Harrogate front line” and “takes on defenders at will”. It added:

“Witness his stunning solo goal against Doncaster and a fine assist at Forest Green. Two goals and two assists in four games.”

Wrexham’s Steven Fletcher, Notts County’s Jodi Jones and Danilo Orsi of Crawley Town are also among those nominated for the award.

Harrogate Town are currently eighth in the league.

The team will play Colchester United at home on Saturday.