Police in Harrogate have made six arrests – including a 15-year-old boy – during a national week of action to target County Lines drug dealing. 

North Yorkshire Police made a total of 26 arrests across the county, seizing cash, suspected drugs, mobile phones and weapons including two machetes, three samurai swords, two knuckledusters and a pistol.

The week of action took place from Monday, October 9 to Sunday 15 and was coordinated by the National County Lines Coordination Centre.

Across the county, officers executed 14 warrants, seized over £70,000 in cash suspected to be linked to criminality, as well as several class A, B and C drugs, including 1-2 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of £70,000 from one vehicle in Scarborough. 

Teams from across the force carried out proactive enforcement against people with suspected links to drugs offences, as well as patrols at rail and bus stations with a specialist drugs dog. 

A plain-clothes police officer on a County Lines drugs raid.

Harrogate arrests

In Harrogate, the County Lines Intensification Week saw five incidents result in arrests.

In one, police stopped a vehicle on Cheltenham Parade and searched a 24-year-old man. They found 10 bags of compressed white powder, a knuckleduster, scales, cash and four mobile phones. He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a class-A drug, interviewed and released under investigation. 

In a separate incident, officers from the force’s Expedite Team witnessed a suspected drug deal taking place on Albany Avenue in Harrogate and arrested a 27-year-old man for being concerned in the supply of a class-A drug. He was interviewed and released under investigation. 

British Transport Police arrested a 15-year-old boy for theft and being concerned in the supply of a class-A drug and a class-B drug. A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a class-A drug and class-B drug. Both were released on conditional bail. 

Acting on a tip-off, North Yorkshire Police investigated suspicious activity taking place at a property linked to the supply of drugs. They searched a 36-year-old man and found class-A drugs, scales and a mobile phone.

The man was ultimately charged with eight offences relating to the possession and supply of cocaine, heroin and cannabis and remanded in custody to appear at York Magistrates’ Court. 

Finally, officers from the force’s Operation Expedite team stopped a vehicle on Church Lane in Harrogate that had been identified as being linked to drug supply. They arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of drug driving and entering the UK illegally. He was released under investigation for the driving offence and passed to immigration officials to be dealt with. 

Safeguarding

County Lines takes its name from the mobile phone lines used by dealers to communicate between towns and advertise drugs for sale. Vulnerable people – including children – are forced to deal drugs and dealers will often use local properties as a base for their activities; this is often acquired by force and referred to as ‘cuckooing’. 

As part of the week of action, proactive safeguarding and welfare checks were conducted at hotels and bed and breakfasts where vulnerable people are known to be living. In total, officers safeguarded 73 people who are known or suspected to be vulnerable to county lines exploitation. 

The force also held County Lines drop-in stalls in public areas for engagement within communities and members of the public. 

Read more:

• Police seize £100,000 cash in crackdown on Harrogate ‘county lines’; drug dealing
• Police arrest five in Harrogate as part of national county lines action
• 18 charged with county lines drug dealing in Harrogate

Detective chief inspector Andrew Simpson, who led the initiative for North Yorkshire Police, said: 

“Last week’s targeted activity demonstrates how we are working tirelessly to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs and protect the young and vulnerable in our communities who are exploited by them. 

“It’s important to stress that this is just one week’s activity, and this type of disruption and safeguarding is taking place in communities across North Yorkshire all year round. 

“As a force we are committed to cutting these County Lines and to protecting vulnerable people. But we cannot do this alone, our work with partners is important and we also need the support of the public.  

“It’s vital that everyone who cares for or knows young and vulnerable people understands the issue and knows the warning signs.” 

Children

To help raise awareness among children, the force worked with Christina Gabbitas, the popular children’s author of the No More Knives and Trapped by County Lines campaigns, to deliver talks alongside neighbourhood policing officers in several schools across the county. 

Christina said: 

“After the success of working together with North Yorkshire Police, I was commissioned to write a sequel story Trapped in County Lines. 

“The story aims to educate children and young people on the dangers of becoming involved with county lines through the power of storytelling. 

“Children and young people can sadly be victims of exploitation from organised crime groups. County Lines is a harsh reality of life, and in my opinion shouldn’t be sugar coated.”

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

After a period of deflation, the housing market showed modest signs of stabilisation this month, the latest data from Rightmove suggest.

Property asking prices edged upwards by an average of £1,950 or 0.5% this month, but Yorkshire and the Humber saw a slightly a bigger increase of 0.6%.

This means the average asking price in Yorkshire and the Humber now stands at £248,000, which is a 1.8% increase on this time last year.

However, the national monthly increase of 0.5% is the smallest average asking price increase at this time of year since 2008, and well below the historic norm in October of 1.4%. The number of sales agreed is also 17% below this time last year, as those sellers who are struggling to adjust their price expectations to match current activity levels are finding their homes left on the shelf.

Rightmove said the number of buyers enquiring for each available home for sale is 8% higher than in the more normal, and pre-Covid, 2019 market. It also revealed that a property that receives its first buyer enquiry on the first day of marketing, rather than after two weeks, is 60% more likely to find a buyer.

Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacre, Son & Hartley, which has 20 offices across Yorkshire, including branches in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge, said:

“Accurate pricing is vitally important in the current market to generate immediate momentum when launching a property to market. There are buyers waiting for the right homes to come onto the market, but most will steer clear of anything overpriced.

“Although it can be tempting for sellers to price high initially on the off chance there’s a buyer waiting in the wings, and then reduce the price later when it doesn’t sell, this can be a risky strategy in the current market.”

Independent school in charity tie-up

Families living in poverty across Yorkshire will benefit from a new charity link-up after pupils at Ashville Prep School in Harrogate chose Zarach as their charity for the year.

Zarach delivers beds and basic provisions to children living in poverty and was set up by Leeds primary school teacher Bex Wilson after she found that some of the children she taught didn’t have a bed to sleep in.

Pupils at Ashville Prep School donated food at their harvest festival service.

Phil Soutar, Head of Ashville Prep School, said:

“The new link-up reflects Ashville’s values of openness, respect for others and a sense of social responsibility. It is not just about raising money or gifting goods for this great charity, it’s also about raising awareness about the daily hardship faced by people in our community.

“We’re immensely proud of the thoughtfulness and empathy shown by our pupils, as we explore more ways in which we can help others and give back to our community.”

The partnership got off to a successful start at the prep school’s harvest festival service, and the Prep School Charity Club will continue to raise money for Zarach for the remainder of the academic year, helping to pay for “bed bundles” which include a mattress, pillow, duvet, pyjamas, sheets, toothpaste and other sanitary and bathroom products.

Last year, the Prep School Charity Club raised more than £2,500 for Guide Dogs.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Cedar Court managers launch new company
• Business Breakfast: Masham brewery announces leadership changes
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate environmental firm appoints director

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has expressed concern at a proposal to build an asphalt factory next to the Allerton Waste Recovery Park six miles east of Knaresborough.

The proposal has been re-advertised after the company making the application, Tynedale Roadstone Ltd, submitted an updated environmental statement to accompany the plans.

As well as the asphalt plant, the application includes plans for a site office, car parking, material storage bays, lighting, hard standing and the removal of trees.

Mr Jones said:

“I worked with residents’ groups and parish councils campaigning against the incinerator being built. Part of our objections were the potential for ‘industrial creep’ in the area. This application is precisely that.

“I have already registered my objection when the application was at an earlier stage of the planning process. I have read the new documents the applicants have submitted and I do not believe the concerns I raised have been adequately addressed.

“Those concerns include the potential for further industrial creep, the pollution caused by the production process, the traffic movements during the working day which ends, according to the planning statement, at 11pm and the potential for ground water contamination. I am concerned too that the plant will, in due course, become a 24/7 operation.

“Because this is an update to the planning application I have submitted a further objection and I encourage those in the neighbourhood who want to make their own representation to do so urgently. The deadline is 25 October.”

Mr Jones is not alone in his concern over the proposals – during the consultation process, two local parish councils also registered objections, citing dust, odours, noise and increased traffic among their reasons.

In its official response, Arkendale, Coneythorpe & Clareton Parish Council pointed out that when the Allerton Waste Recovery Park was approved in 2014, North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) – which has since been superseded by North Yorkshire Council – had assured residents that it would be a one-off installation and would not lead to further industrial ribbon development along the A1(M) corridor.

It added:

“If this development is allowed to proceed, what NYCC promised these local communities will have been proven to be false and we would be right to feel let down by the democratic process.”

The response from Goldsborough & Flaxby Parish Council was more blunt, asking:

“Why is a ‘dirty’ process such as this be even considered at Allerton? Why is it even needed at all? It should not be in a rural location and should not be allowed to be erected next to an incinerator that is already spoiling a rural location.”

Tynedale Roadstone is part of Durham-based MGL Group and currently operates two asphalt production plants, one in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and another at Barton, north of Catterick in North Yorkshire.

Asphalt is a mix of aggregates and bitumen – which is distilled from crude oil – and is commonly used in roadbuilding.

The Stray Ferret has contacted MGL Group for comment.

Read more:

• Harrogate district councils object to Allerton Park asphalt plant plan
• Environment Agency calls for Allerton Park asphalt plant to be rejected
• Plans to build asphalt plant beside controversial Allerton Park incinerator

Bettys has long been popular with visitors to Harrogate, but the business gained two more high-profile fans this month when Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp dropped in. 

The couple were in town to play a gig at the Royal Hall and later took to social media to pay effusive tribute to the tearooms. 

In their latest YouTube post, Robert, who is widely regarded as one of the world’s best guitarists, called Bettys “a quality establishment which resonates”, and said: 

“I’d been to Bettys in York before, which was superb, but this was something of a pilgrimage.” 

Toyah added: 

“You may think we’re complete idiots for being so in love with this experience, but it was the heart and soul of humanity. We could talk to everyone, everyone really cared, it was kind, it was utterly amazing.” 

They described a cake they’d saved from their visit as “the nectar of paradise” and “a relic from the shrine of St Betty”. 

Toyah, 65, is best known for her string of hit singles in the early 1980s, including It’s a Mystery, I Want to be Free, and Thunder in the Mountains, but has also had a long acting career on both stage and screen. 

Robert Fripp, 77, was the founder of progressive rock band King Crimson and has also collaborated with the likes of David Bowie, Blondie and Talking Heads.

The couple have been married since 1986 and came to national attention during the Covid lockdown, when they started their YouTube channel, Toyah and Robert’s Sunday Lunch. 

In their latest post, their praise was not just confined to Bettys – they loved the whole town. 

Toyah said:

“Robert’s never been to Harrogate and he absolutely loved it, and I loved it too. It’s such a special place, and if ever you’re visiting the UK or just having a holiday in the UK, and you’ve not been to Harrogate, go – it’s beautiful!” 

Read more:

• Yemi’s Food Stories: A ‘sweet day’ at Bettys Cookery School
• ‘Once you’ve been to Bettys you’ve done Harrogate’, claims Ripon councillor

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

The senior management team at Cedar Court Hotels has launched a new hotel management company in a bid to boost Yorkshire’s hospitality industry.

The directors launched NorSpark officially on Tuesday at the Independent Hotel Show at Olympia, and said they hoped it would help independent hotel owners create more profitable businesses, “sparking” success.

The move comes at a time when many businesses in the industry are struggling to cope with challenges including inflation and rising energy costs, recruiting and retaining staff, sustainability and net zero targets, and understanding digital marketing. Over the last year, 10% of businesses in the sector have filed for administration.

Cedar Court Hotels is reported to be Yorkshire’s largest independent hotel group, with a flagship hotel overlooking the Stray in Harrogate and other hotels in Bradford, Huddersfield and Wakefield.

NorSpark is led by managing director Wayne Topley, who will remain in his current role as managing director of Cedar Court Hotels. He will be supported by commercial director Emily Cox, who has worked for Cedar Court Hotels for eight years, and director of sales Nick Laing, who has spent five years at Cedar Court Hotels and previously worked at the Carlson Rezidor hotel group.

The company will operate the full hotel business including HR, operations, all commercial activity, sales and marketing, compliance, finance, and property/asset management.

Managing director Wayne Topley said:

“Our aim is to deliver unparalleled results for our clients by going beyond hotel operations and developing lasting partnerships built on trust, open communication, and a shared vision. I am very excited to be bringing the skills of our amazing team to help other hotel owners overcome the challenges facing our industry and spark success.”

NorSpark will hold an official northern launch event in the Tiled Hall at Leeds Art Gallery on November 15. Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite.

Environmental risk firm rationalises

Adler and Allan, the Harrogate-based environmental risk management company, has said it will bring all its midstream and downstream fuel infrastructure services together under the Flotech brand.

Flotech designs, builds and manages infrastructure that stores, transfers and distributes industrial liquids, gases and waste.

Adler and Allan’s offices on Victoria Avenue.

In a statement, the company said:

“By merging resources and expertise under one roof, Adler and Allan is providing customers with a superior one-stop-shop for anyone requiring fuel or chemical infrastructure services. The combined offering will ensure customers have access to a more flexible and agile service, in addition to access to a greater range of specialisms.

“This is a great step forward for customers with the new division having the ability to deliver more complex end-to-end solutions, saving both time and money.”

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Masham brewery announces leadership changes
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate environmental firm appoints director

An organist retiring after more than 70 years of playing was given a surprise opportunity to perform a farewell recital at Ripon Cathedral yesterday.

David Wilberforce has been the organist at West Park United Reformed Church on West Park, and before that at Trinity Methodist Church.

Now, he and his wife Ann, who is also a key member at West Park, will be moving to Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, so members at West Park sprang a surprise by arranging for him to play the organ in Ripon Cathedral for a private gathering of church friends.

David and Ann Wilberforce

Despite only having 48 hours’ notice, David prepared a mini-recital of some of his favourite pieces and hymn tunes, performing them with his renowned dexterity and skill.

David told the Stray Ferret:

“We’re about to move house, so I’d packed up all my music, but fortunately I did manage to find some. I’d never played in Ripon Cathedral before, but after a period of terror in the afternoon, I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. Quite a number of people from West Park turned up, which was lovely.”

Originally from County Durham, David began playing the organ at the age of 11. He taught history in various schools, including Silcoates in Wakefield and Woodhouse Grove near Bradford, and played the organ wherever he lived. He retired from teaching in 1999, but continued his passion for music through the church. Well known in Harrogate choral music circles, he arranged the music for the annual Gilbert & Sullivan Festival service. He said:

“Music has been the greater part of my life. I’m not intending to take up a position in music in Buckinghamshire – age and arthritis take their toll – but I wouldn’t mind still being able to play occasionally.”

As a tribute to David, at the joint service between West Park and St Paul’s churches this Sunday, Adrian Selway, organist and choirmaster at St Paul’s, will play the famous Widor’s Toccata as a closing voluntary.

Read more:

• Exhibition to honour Harrogate’s 1,163 war dead
• Kirby Hill to commemorate 150th anniversary of church organ
• Felling trees for Ripon Cathedral expansion presents ‘moral dilemma’, says Dean

This story is sponsored by Allertons.

A hairdressing brand due to open new beauty rooms in Harrogate this month is looking to recruit more staff across all its branches. 

Allertons’ flagship salon is the highest rated in Leeds, and it also has concessions in John Lewis stores in Leeds and Nottingham, with a third due to open in Southampton in November. The Harrogate salon is due to open its brand-new beauty rooms by the end of October. 

The company currently has 19 vacancies for hairdressers and beauticians, as well as six client concierge roles. 

Nick Nicola, who founded the company in 2014, said there was a constant requirement for hairdressers and beauticians, but that they needed to be attuned to the company’s ethos: 

“We’re looking for people who want to look after their clients. It’s not so much about the service you provide – that’s going to be excellent anyway – it’s more about how you make people feel. We want people who will calm and pamper our clients.” 

Allertons gives 30% of the profit generated for the company to the person who generated it, so a good hairdresser can earn up to £40,000 a year. 

In addition, employees receive health insurance, funded training on new techniques and equipment, free hairdressing and treatments, and a ‘friends and family’ discount. Those working in one of the concessions also get discount at John Lewis. 

Nick said it was important that candidates were able to ditch their ego and maintain an “old school” approach to customer service: 

“Some salons promote certain personalities above others. That’s not us – we want to take a sledgehammer to all of that. We’re not about ego and flashiness, which is why we get on so well with John Lewis. 

“We want to debunk that image of the hairdresser who judges clients and thinks they know best what their client should have. People come to us because we listen when they tell us what they want. We’re not fashion and trend-led – we’re 100% customer-led.” 

More information about the vacancies available can be found on Allertons’ website.

If you’d like to apply for a vacancy at any of Allertons’ salons, email nn@allertonsonline.com, or call 0113 359 3420.

This story is sponsored by HIFU Clinics UK.

A Harrogate clinic has taken the title of “skin-tightening specialist of the North” after launching a brand-new treatment not offered anywhere else in the UK. 

HIFU Clinics UK, which opened on Westmoreland Street this summer, is five-star rated on Google and has invested tens of thousands of pounds in state-of-the-art clinical equipment imported from the United States. It specialises in high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and all its treatments are non-surgical. 

Its new HIFU Ultra Dual® therapy combines HIFU Ultra Med with radio frequency (RF) microneedling – sometimes known as Morpheus 8 – to produce what it says is the “ultimate skin-tightening treatment”. 

Michelle Clarke, director of HIFU Clinics UK.

Founder and director Michelle Clarke said: 

“HIFU is the latest and deepest-penetrating skin-tightening technology on the market. It’s particularly popular with women going through menopause, as that’s when a woman’s body starts to show its age at a faster rate, especially around the jawline, jowl and neck. 

“Most of our clients are between the ages of 40 and 70, and they prefer a more natural, rejuvenated look.

“Going under the knife can be painful, invasive, and it doesn’t even address skin quality. My approach is far more natural, and gives a fresher, brighter look.” 

Michelle has been in practice since 2011 and opened her first clinic in Wakefield in 2016. She is also a tutor and trains practioners from across the UK on how to deliver HIFU treatments. 

A Harrogate client who was delighted with the treatment and her experience.

Over the last 12 years, her reputation has grown and clients – some of them celebrities – now come to see her from as far afield as London and Scotland. 

A Harrogate resident (pictured above) who recently had HIFU treatment said she had a “wonderful experience” on her first visit, adding:

“One of the standout aspects of my visit was the exceptional customer service delivered by Michelle. She went above and beyond in explaining the procedure to me, ensuring I understood everything clearly.

“Her expertise and friendly manner put me at ease throughout the entire process.

“The results of the HIFU treatment were beyond my expectations, and I couldn’t be happier.

“I am truly grateful to Michelle for her professionalism and outstanding care. Thank you for making my HIFU treatment experience exceptional!”

Michelle said: 

“They make the journey because they trust us. This is new technology, so the equipment is improving rapidly, but we always make sure we keep up with ongoing clinical developments. My clients know we will always have the latest state-of-the-art clinical equipment, because we specialise in this. 

“This isn’t just another clinic – we’re the skin-tightening specialist of the North, and we offer something you just can’t get anywhere else.” 

Find out more: 

HIFU Clinics UK offers a personalised full skin assessment by appointment only.  

To book your FREE consultation, call 01423 648949 or email admin@hifuclinicsuk.com.

Starbeck Working Men’s Club (WMC) has become the latest social club in Harrogate to change its name. 

Now known as the Forest Club, it was founded in 1901 and has played a pivotal role in community life ever since. 

The newly rebranded club does everything the WMC did, but members felt they should move with the times and voted overwhelmingly to rebrand at the club’s annual general meeting back in April. 

The club is working with the CIU (Club and Institute Union) to change the name officially by the end of the year, and in the meantime will be developing a new website, email and logo. 

Club secretary Catriona Patterson said:

“People have an image of what a Working Men’s Club is, and we’re not that – we’re trying to distance ourselves from it. 

“We want to be more family-friendly. We’ve got a large function room, which we’ve used for big family events such as the King’s coronation and a beach party on the August bank holiday. 

“We’re planning to hold another big one on New Year’s Eve, with games for the children and a big screen showing the countdown live from London. People often struggle to get babysitters on New Year’s Eve, so this will allow the whole family to come out and celebrate.” 

She said the name change was a response to a wider cultural shift that has seen many licensed premises – including Working Men’s Clubs – fall victim to the growing trend for home drinking, exacerbated in part by increases in beer duty. She said:

“Covid hit us hard, and habits changed – people just don’t go out as much as they used to – so we had to do something. 

“There isn’t a Working Men’s Club in the country that isn’t struggling, and we need to attract younger members. A name-change will help bring us into a new era.” 

But she stressed that the Forest Club was not about to lose touch with its roots as a Working Men’s Club with over a century of service to the community. She said: 

“We’re rebranding our lounge as the Heritage Lounge, and we’ll be keeping all the old WMC memorabilia there. It’s an important part of our history, and we shouldn’t forget it.” 

The Forest Club’s name change, which reflects its location in the ancient Forest of Knaresborough, is part of a wider trend. Last year, Bilton Working Men’s Club slimmed its name down to simply Bilton Club, and a few months later, High Harrogate Working Men’s Club on Skipton Road rebranded to High Harrogate Bar and Lounge. 

Working Men’s Clubs were first created in the mid-19th century, predominantly in industrial areas outside the south of England, to provide recreation and education for working-class men and their families. 

There are several in our district, including those in High Harrogate and Bilton, as well as Harlow Hill Club, Knaresborough WMC, The Oatlands, and Boroughbridge Social Club. 

The Forest Club will be holding a Disco Inferno night of 70s, 80s and 90s disco classics – for members and non-members – on Saturday, October 28 from 7pm till late. 

Read more:

• Harrogate Working Men’s Club set for major refurbishment and new name
• Bilton Working Men’s Club decides on new name
• Malcolm Neesam History: Harrogate’s thriving working men’s clubs

An interior furnishings brand based in Lincolnshire is to open a new shop in Harrogate town centre. 

Sophie Allport has taken the lease on 43 James Street – where Phase Eight used to be – and a company spokesperson said the new shop would open at the “start of November”.

The shop is currently undergoing a refit but a sign in the window says the company is recruiting new staff – a shop manager, a supervisor and sales assistants.

Sophie Allport, who founded the firm that carries her name in 2007, told the Stray Ferret:

“Over the years we’ve returned to exhibit at places such as Ripley Castle, the Country Living Fair in Harrogate, and the fabulous Great Yorkshire Show. We also had a pop-up shop in Leeds around 10 years ago. We feel we have a real connection to the local area, and we know our customers have been keen to see us back in Yorkshire.”

Some of this season’s designs.

Sophie Allport sells a wide of range of home items in “British heritage” style, and currently has shops in Stamford and Bourne, both in Lincolnshire, as well as a well-developed ecommerce operation. The Harrogate branch will be its first outside its home county, but will it be the first of many?

Ms Allport said:

“Well, that would be telling! We’ve got lots of exciting things in the pipeline for 2024, so you’ll just have to wait and see.”

Read more:

• Secret Bakery set to open new shop in Harrogate station
• Cornish Bakery to open on Harrogate’s James Street