Parent fined for truant child at Harrogate school

A parent has been ordered to pay £260 for their child being truant at a Harrogate school.

The 31-year-old mother pleaded guilty to the teenager failing to attend Harrogate High School regularly for a six-month period this year.

The Education Act 1996 states a parent is guilty of an offence if their child regularly fails to attend the school at which they are registered.

The woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the child, was fined £80.

She was also ordered to pay £150 costs and a £32 surcharge to fund victim services.

The case was heard at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday, November 10.

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GALLERY: Harrogate’s Christmas lights are switched on

The festive season got underway in Harrogate town centre today when the Christmas lights were switched on.

The lights are organised by Harrogate Business Improvement District, which is funded by a levy paid by town centre traders. The levy pays for initiatives that encourage more people to visit the town, such as the lights.

As with recent years, today’s switch-on was a low-key ‘soft’ event rather than a public occasion.

The BID said previously it decided to go down this route based on feedback from members, which suggested they would prefer the organisation to spend its budget in “more impactful ways”.

Below is a selection of images taken today.

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New vision for ‘scruffy’ Harrogate calls for bypass and park and ride

A blueprint for Harrogate has called for a rethink on a bypass and the introduction of a park and ride scheme.

Retired architect Barry Adams devised the document A Vision for Harrogate with support from business group Independent Harrogate in May as an alternative to the £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway.

With new gateway proposals due imminently, Mr Adams has updated the document and says it presents a more joined-up approach to the town’s future than the gateway.

It highlights four fundamental issues. They are: introducing a park and ride; considering a bypass to reduce congestion; smartening up the town’s appearance and the creation of a new masterplan with a coordinated approach to town planning.

The vision says the gateway fails to tackle congestion, adding:

“Despite previous so-called consultations as recently as 2019, the problem of congestion will not be addressed until a bypass or relief road is considered to the west and north of the town linking up at both ends with the existing bypass.

“Even with the increasing number of electric cars and hopefully in the not too distant future the use of hydrogen power this will not automatically reduce the ever increasing levels of congestion.”

To complement this, the document calls for a park and ride “without any further delay”. It adds:

“A high quality sustainable transport system using electric powered buses is a key element to deal with congestion. It is an inclusive vision that would appeal to more people and not discriminate against the majority who cannot or who do not wish to cycle or walk.”

‘No fancy gimmicks needed’

The document goes on to describe Harrogate as “scruffy” and says it needs to be cleaned and tidied better if it is to reclaim its title of ‘the jewel in Yorkshire’s crown’. It says:

“No fancy gimmicks are needed. Harrogate is Harrogate. It has a unique character and ambience of its own.”

East Parade

The document, which uses East Parade as a town centre cycle route rather than Station Parade, also calls for an end to one-off “pocket planning’ projects like the gateway and the creation of a joined-up masterplan, adding the last one from 2016 is out-of-date. It says:

“Input is essential from the business community with all their knowledge, vast expertise and experience of the town. We may then have some joined up writing when addressing issues and when funding becomes available for identified projects.”

Barry Adams

Mr Adams drew up his vision this year as an alternative to the gateway after consulting with Independent Harrogate, Harrogate Residents Association and a residents group in the Granville Road area.

It described the gateway as the ‘wrong scheme at the wrong time”, adding:

“It is not inclusive but purely a highway engineer’s solution with a ‘tinkering’ of urban design as the current proposals demonstrate.

“One that is obsessed with the business of “changing travel patterns and behaviours” to the detriment of much broader concerns such as the visual appeal in the public realm.

“As a result of this lack of design control, we are getting nothing more than a ‘desktop’ design, from consultants with little or no understanding of Harrogate.”

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New Dene Park council houses the most energy efficient in North Yorkshire

Five new homes in Harrogate are the most energy efficient properties ever developed by North Yorkshire Council, the local authority said today.

The three houses and two flats, which have been built on the site of a former car park in Dene Park, in the Woodfield area of Bilton, have air source heat pumps, solar panels, triple glazing and insulation.

The homes, which were developed for £1 million as part of a council scheme to turn redundant land into social housing, will be let to local people.

The scheme sees the council in-house development team obtain unused land, dilapidated garages and anti-social behaviour hotspots, then build properties and let them as social housing.

The Harrogate homes are the latest in more than 50 to be built on  in the former Harrogate and Craven district areas over the last eight years.

The largest house will produce 0.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, compared to an average home creating six tonnes.

Cllr Simon Myers, the council’s Conservative executive member for housing, said:

“This scheme is delivering new social rented affordable homes which make a big difference to the lives and well-being of local families. It is a scheme that has been running in Harrogate and Craven for many years and we hope to expand it across the county.

“Added to that these new homes in Harrogate are the most energy efficient we have developed, reducing fuel and lighting costs for the tenants, making them truly affordable homes.”

Cllr Simon Myers (centre) outside the new Harrogate homes with the council’s assistant director of housing, Andrew Rowe (left) and corporate director for community development, Nic Harne.

Kirsty Birbeck, manager for provider management at government housing agency Homes England, which contributed a £225,000 grant, said:

“As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities.

“This investment through the affordable homes programme does just that, enabling North Yorkshire Council to build five much needed new homes the people of Harrogate can be proud of.”

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Briggate roadworks likely to last ‘several months’ in Knaresborough

Business owners in Knaresborough have reacted with dismay to the news that roadworks on a main route into town are likely to remain for several months.

Temporary lights were installed on Briggate after a wall collapsed in September.

Two months later, the lights remain. But no repair work has taken place and residents and traders don’t know why it is taking so long or why the rubble cant be removed until work commences so traffic can flow freely again.

Parking in Knaresborough is notoriously tricky, and exasperated traders say this and a spate of recent temporary lights in town, including Briggate, is deterring people from visiting.

North Yorkshire Council has now said lights are likely to remain on Briggate for several months.

The roadworks on Briggate.

Danielle Bartley, who opened The Hungry Caterpillar kids cafe on High Street in September, said just getting in to work from her Calcutt home “takes ages” because of the lights. She said:

“Parking is a massive issue in Knaresborough. A lot of customers pull up outside and say ‘where can I park?’

“I’ve been surprised since we opened how busy Knaresborough is. There’s a lot going on. If you get that much footfall there needs to be something better put in place for parking. It’s also dangerous.”

Rebecca Lombardi, from The Clothing Store of Knaresborough on High Street, has started offering free deliveries to help people who struggle to get into town.

Ms Lombardi said long-term lights near the leisure centre had caused problems during summer and the recent spate of roadworks, especially Briggate, added to the woes. She said:

“We have a really big problem with parking and it puts people off coming into town. People are so busy these days and if they want to nip somewhere they want somewhere to park.

“It’s a challenging time for retailers with the cost of living and every customer counts. It feels like everything is against you as a business.”

Two months after the wall collapsed, the rubble remains.

Hairdresser Kelly Teggin, who has campaigned for better parking Knaresborough, said she didn’t understand why the rubble from the wall couldn’t be removed until work began. She added:

“Most businesses and residents want the road cleared as soon as possible.”

North Yorkshire Council highways area manager Melisa Burnham said:

“We have temporary lights on Briggate as a result of the wall collapse. Work to repair the wall and ensure the safety of the structure will start in the next few weeks. This work is likely to take until Christmas, after which we will carry out maintenance on further parts of the wall, so signals will be in place for several months.”

Ms Burnham said emergency gas works at Abbey Road and Blands Hill had also caused disruption recently, but this was “unavoidable”.

Ms Burnham added the council had “asked Northern Gas Network to man the lights at peak time to minimise the disruption”.

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Flood alerts active on Ure and Nidd as Boroughbridge bears brunt

Flooding is expected in low-lying areas alongside the River Ure near Boroughbridge, the Environment Agency said this morning.

Two flood alerts and one flood warning are active in the Harrogate district, which is at greater risk of flooding than almost anywhere else in northern England and the Midlands.

The more severe flood warning is from Aldwark Bridge to Cuddy Shaw on the Ure, just south of Boroughbridge.

An Environment Agency update for this area at 7.04am today said:

“River levels in the lower River Ure remain high due to recent rainfall associated with Storm Debi. Areas affected are properties at Aldwark Bridge and at Thorpe Underwood in Cuddy Shaw.

“Levels at Aldwark Bridge are continuing to fall but remain high. We expect levels to continue falling today.

“Please put your flood plan in place.”

Environment Agency advice on what to do is available here.

Two people had to be rescued from a vehicle trapped in flood water in Boroughbridge yesterday. The previous night, firefighters pumped two-feet of standing water from a home in the town.

Less severe flood alerts are active for the lower Nidd catchment and the lower Ure.

The flood alert area for the Nidd includes land around the lower Nidd and its tributaries including Sand Beck, Sike Beck, Pool Beck and Great Gutter.

For the lower Ure, the area at risk is low-lying land including agricultural land and local roads in the areas around Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton.

Brighter is weather is expected this afternoon and tomorrow before further outbreaks of rain this weekend.

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Tree campaigner accuses Harrogate Spring Water of ‘greenwash’

Tree campaigner Sarah Gibbs has described Harrogate Spring Water‘s plans to plant 1,200 trees to offset the loss of 450 others as “greenwash”.

The company revealed yesterday it will create a two-acre community woodland if it is granted permission to expand its bottling plant on Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate.

Expanding the plant would involve felling 450 trees in adjoining Rotary Wood, including some planted by schoolchildren in the 2000s.

But Ms Gibbs, who frequently dons a tree costume as part of her campaign to save Rotary Wood, said “the idea that you can offset this destruction is ludicrous”.

Harrogate Spring Water said its plans, which would create 50 jobs, would see three trees replace each one lost and “deliver a 10% increase in biodiversity levels in the area”. It is also identifying other locations in Harrogate to plant an extra 1,500 trees.

How the site would look.

But Ms Gibbs said:

“A sapling is not adequate compensation for the loss of a mature tree.

“It’s a misconception to say they can be replaced like this. It’s incorrect in terms of the wider impact on ecology.

“Clearly they have not listened to the public. They should leave the trees alone. They were planted by children to avert a climate crisis. This is ludicrous greenwash and I hope North Yorkshire Council steps in and says ‘no’.”

Harrogate Spring Water, which is part of French multinational Danone, secured outline planning permission in 2017, which means the principle of development has been established.

But it still requires North Yorkshire Council to approve a reserved matters application that agrees the details of the scheme.

A previous application by Harrogate Spring Water was rejected by councillors in January 2021.

Managing director Richard Hall said yesterday the company had listened to concerns because the proposed new woodland would, unlike previous plans, be open to the public.

But Ms Gibbs said:

“26,000 single-use plastic bottles an hour, shipped globally. That’s what they produce now. If this development goes ahead this number will increase. Global shipment means lorries, planes will increase, CO2 will increase, water extraction will increase. The only thing that will increase that they care about, is profit margins.

“Who’s to say years down the line they won’t want to expand again and destroy more of our beautiful pinewoods, and planet.

“We need less plastic. We need to protect our existing woodland.”

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Masterchef star Owen Diaram to have stall at Harrogate Christmas Fayre

Owen Diaram, a quarter-finalist on BBC MasterChef UK 2023, has won a competition to have a stall at this year’s Harrogate Christmas Fayre.

He was named as the winner of a competition organised by the market operators to give free trading opportunities at the town centre festive market, which begins on December 1.

The winners of Market Place Europe and Destination Harrogate’s  Jolly Big Business Boost competition also receive business mentoring and PR opportunities.

Mr Diaram, who was yesterday named as this year’s winner, uses his South African Indian heritage to create traditional spice packs that only need to be mixed with two ingredients to produce tasty bhajis.

Mr Diaram said he was “blown away” by being selected, adding::

‘’Harrogate has now been my home for the past eight years and I am so excited to trade at what is a truly fantastic event that will allow me to achieve my goal of bringing South African Indian cuisine to mass audiences.’’

Market manager Nick Rhodes said:

‘’The Jolly Big Business Boost is a fantastic way for local, ambitious entrepreneurs to get their foot in the door and has proven to be very successful.’’

The fayre’s opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 11:00am to 430pm.

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Andrew Jones ‘embarrassed’ after car spotted without valid MOT

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has admitted failing to renew his car’s MOT on time.

The Stray Ferret received an email saying the former transport minister had been spotted outside Starbeck Library driving a diesel Jaguar XE which the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency website said had an expired MOT.

The sender — who called themself Mrs T Neale, Lady Blueberry Blower of Ripon Town — sent photos of the vehicle in Starbeck and the results of an online search revealing the MOT had expired on October 3.

The person said they had contacted North Yorkshire Police, adding:

“Should this DVLA information be accurate, I would presume Mr Jones is therefore driving without valid insurance.

“The police have got back to me, telling me they are forwarding my information to the relevant department.”

Mr Jones admitted he was “embarrassed” by the oversight.

He added it wasn’t the first time he had been “covertly photographed” and that he found the behaviour “odd and slightly disconcerting”.

He said:

“I am grateful to the anonymous individual who reminded me via the media that my car’s MOT has expired. It is currently in my garage as this week I took the train to London as I like to do when diary commitments allow.

“I’m quite embarrassed by my oversight. The car is booked in for its MOT and all the relevant authorities informed and reassured accordingly.”

Mr Jones’ Jaguar pictured in Starbeck.

He added:

“It is odd and slightly disconcerting to know that I am being covertly photographed by an anonymous individual who sends these photos to the media under a pseudonym.

“This is not the first correspondence I and others have received from a person using this pseudonym. Previously they have sent me information about a political opponent, whom I informed of the communication, and also sent my office insinuations about a councillor even going as far as including a photograph of their home.

“Despite this strange behaviour, I remain grateful that I have been reminded about my MOT.”

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Police if it was taking any action against Mr Jones.

A spokesperson replied:

“In line with the College of Policing national, authorised professional practice, we would not confirm the names of anyone who is or isn’t suspected of an offence, nor would we name anyone who may or may not have been issued with an out of court disposal such as a fixed penalty or caution.”

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Two people rescued from car stuck in flood in Boroughbridge

Two people were rescued today after their car got stuck in flood water in Boroughbridge.

Firefighters were summoned to the town at 8.22am, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report said.

It added:

“Crews from Ripon and Knaresborough attended a water rescue involving a vehicle stuck in flood water with two persons trapped inside.

“Crews used water rescue gear to retrieve the individuals and got them to safety.”

No further details, including the precise location, have been revealed.

It comes after firefighters were called to a house with two-feet of water in Boroughbridge last night.

Firefighters were also called to a fire in the lounge of a home near East Parade in Harrogate today.

Harrogate firefighters were summoned at 1.19pm.

The incident report said:

“The fire was out on the arrival but the room was heavily smoke logged.

“The crew ventilated the property and carried out an inspection.”

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