Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill won’t return this year

Plans to bring back the original Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill this year have been abandoned — but it could return in 2024.

The organisers have had all their suggested dates rejected by the council, on the grounds they clash with events like the Knitting and Stitching Show at Harrogate Convention Centre and the Stray bonfire.

Harrogate Christmas Market was held annually on Montpellier Hill from 2012 to 2019 until it was halted by covid.

Organised by local people, it had 170 traders and 53 coaches booked to attend in 2021 when Harrogate Borough Council refused to grant a licence.

Instead the council organised its own Harrogate Christmas Fayre in conjunction with Market Place Europe, a specialist market company based in Greater Manchester.

candy cane express

The new Christmas market includes an ice rink and the Candy Cane Express road train.

The organisers of the Montpellier Hill event hoped the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council would lead to a change of fortune under the new North Yorkshire Council.

But in an email to supporters today, co-organiser Brian Dunsby confirmed the event will not go ahead this year.

Mr Dunsby said the company submitted an updated event management plan to North Yorkshire Council in April, adding:

“I am sorry to report that in spite of our very best efforts, North Yorkshire Council has finally rejected all our efforts to gain a licence for a resumption of the traditional Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpelier Hill and St Mary’s Walk on any date in November or even the end of October – due mainly to alleged conflicting events.”

He added “some personnel at the former Harrogate Borough Council” appeared to be  “doing all they can” to convince the new council not to allow the event to return.

Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill in 2019.

He said Harrogate Christmas Market was told the final two weekends of October would not work because of nearby roadworks; the first weekend of November clashed with the bonfire; the second weekend clashed with Remembrance Sunday; the third clashed with the Knitting and Stitching Show and the fourth clashed with the council’s Harrogate Christmas Fayre.

Mr Dunsby, however, said he had finally secured a meeting with the new council to discuss plans for a market in 2024 after five months of trying to arrange a date.

He said he was confident this year’s event would have attracted 200 stalls — which would be considerably more than the number the new event has attracted so far.

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Classic car stolen while being repaired in Beckwithshaw

North Yorkshire Police today appealed for help finding a stolen MG Midget.

Police said in a statement:

“The red 1965 MG Midget, with registration number DUC 434C, is thought to have been stolen from Crag Lane, Beckwithshaw whilst being repaired at a garage in the period between July 2022 and July 2023.

“The last time the car was seen by the owner was July 2022.”

It urged anyone who has seen the vehicle, or knows where it is, to call the police on 101.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12230139521.

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Knaresborough traders set to escalate electric vehicle parking row

Traders in Knaresborough look set to escalate their battle with North Yorkshire Council over electric vehicle parking.

Last night’s Knaresborough and District Chamber meeting discussed the possibility of legal action because of concerns about the legitimacy of the consultation as well as the impact on businesses.

It also heard a petition calling for change had passed the 500-signature threshold, which means it will be discussed by the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee.

The Liberal Democrat-controlled committee is an advisory body to the council so it cannot change laws but it can put pressure on the council’s Conservative leadership.

Ten electric vehicle charging bays were installed in Chapel Street Car Park shortly before Christmas last year.

Hairdresser Kelly Teggin told the meeting businesses were fed-up at the sight of seeing most of the bays empty while petrol and diesel cars struggled to park, particularly at weekends and on Wednesday market day.

Her petition, which has been displayed by several businesses in town, calls for some of the bays to be made available to all vehicles until demand for electric vehicle charging catches up with supply.

Kelly Teggin and Steve Teggin at the launch of the petition.

Ms Teggin said:

“These bays are still not being used. They are still empty and the town is suffering. Everyone is absolutely fuming. Businesses have had enough and are talking about legal action.

“Something needs to be done now, not in six months time.”

Councillor Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West, agreed the situation was inadequate and supported calls for a meeting between local business and residents and council to resolve matters.

Cllr Walker added he understood the council had signed a seven-year contract with a company to provide electric vehicle charging bays in North Yorkshire and was reluctant to change anything through fear of being in breach of contract.

He also said he had also been told there was no date yet for activating the eight electric vehicle charging bays at Conyngham Hall.

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Those bays remain coned off to all vehicles, meaning most of Knaresborough’s 18 electric vehicle charging bays are frequently empty.

This is costing the council parking revenue and driving away shoppers in a notoriously difficult town for parking, said Ms Teggin.

Chamber members said they had been unable to ascertain from the council whether petrol or diesel cars would receive parking tickets for parking in the empty electric vehicle charging bays or even whether electric vehicles that weren’t charging were entitled to park there.

There are no signs in the car park explaining the situation.

Some members even floated the idea of leaving their cars in the charging bays as a test case to see if they received a ticket.

Ms Teggin said:

“The whole idea of this is to stop pollution yet people are driving round and round Knaresborough to park and then leaving. It’s insane.”

Lucky escape as tree falls outside Harrogate school

A Harrogate resident has spoken of her relief that nobody was hurt today when a tree from her garden fell outside a school.

The 50-foot beech tree crashed across Oatlands Drive at about 1pm, glancing the wall of St Aidan’s Church of England High School opposite.

Fortunately it happened out of term time. However, Oatlands Drive is still a hive of activity at that time of day, with numerous pedestrians and vehicles passing by but fortunately nobody was doing so when the tree came down.

It fell from a garden belonging to Rowena Wright, who said:

“I’m just so grateful nobody was hurt.”

Pedestrians navigate the fallen tree.

Ms Wright said she was working upstairs when she heard a noise and assumed it was caused by a workman next door.

Minutes later a motorist, who ironically turned out to be a tree surgeon on his way to a job, knocked on her door to tell her what had happened.

Oatlands Drive was blocked to traffic and pedestrians had to climb over the tree.

The tree looked healthy and Ms Wright, who has lived in the house for 30 years, thinks a combination of heavy rain weakening its roots and the weight at the top may have contributed to the incident.

The roots of the tree.

She added:

“We have regular tree care. If it had looked like it was dying we would have had it cut. It’s quite bizarre.”

See the Stray Ferret’s Facebook page for a video of the scene shortly after the incident.

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Five traffic lights stolen at roadworks in Knaresborough

Five sets of traffic lights have been stolen from one of the busiest junctions in Knaresborough.

The lights were taken from the junction of York Place and King James Road, close to King James’s School.

Northern Gas Networks is carrying out roadworks at the junction. Work is due to end on Friday next week.

The theft of the lights was not reported to police until at least 14 hours after it happened.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said:

“The theft of five temporary traffic lights in Knaresborough was reported at 2.38pm on Monday.

“It happened on King James Road and York Place between 11am on Sunday, July 30 and midnight.”

The Stray Ferret asked how much the lights were worth. The spokesperson replied “thousands of pounds”.

Councillor Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West on North Yorkshire Council, said the theft was both unusual and unwelcome. He added:

“It has caused disruption, delays and additional costs to the works.

“I am working with officers on how repeat occurrences can be prevented and a reduction in the town’s vandalism and anti-social behaviour.”

Anyone with information can contact the police by dialling 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The police reference number is NYP-31072023-0313.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate energy firm lands £10m deal with Norwegian giants

A Harrogate company that helps firms reduce their energy bills has agreed a £10 million deal with a global aluminium manufacturer.

Energy Oasis, which is based on Victoria Avenue, will operate at four UK sites belonging to Norwegian giants Hydro.

The 18-month contract will see it install intelligent LED lighting, replace roofs and install solar photovoltaic on Hydro’s sites at Birtley, Cheltenham, Bedwas and Tibshelf.

Mike Kaye, managing director of Energy Oasis, said:

“We are really happy to be working with Hydro on their journey to net zero.

“The combination of technologies means that we are having a dramatic impact on their carbon footprint and energy security.

“They now have a fixed cost for a proportion of the electricity they need as a business by generating green electricity on their sites.”

Harrogate legal firm makes marketing hire

A Harrogate legal firm has appointed a new marketing and communications manager.

Oliver Denton has taken up the role at Truth Legal, which is based on Victoria Avenue, after working in higher education, the charitable sector and textiles.

The move comes as the legal firm continues its expansion after it recently hired Sarah Doyle as a litigation executive.

Following the appointment of Mr Denton, Georgia Parkin, managing director at Truth Legal, said:

“Oliver’s appointment reflects how we are looking to build our presence in our core areas of work, drive further brand awareness of Truth Legal and to promote our mission to provide justice for all, regardless of their financial circumstances.

“He has already shown us he is excelling in the role and making a significant contribution in helping us drive forward with our business ambitions.”

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Man rescued from public toilets in Knaresborough

A man had to be rescued today when he got stuck in public toilets in Knaresborough.

Firefighters were called to the toilets at York Place car park at 4.46pm this afternoon.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are not known.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report gave only brief details. It said:

“A crew from Knaresborough released a male, unharmed, from a public toilet block, using a door enforcer.”

The public toilets at York Place are operated by North Yorkshire Council.

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Knaresborough firefighters had responded to a fire at the Tiger Inn at Coneythorpe early this morning.

Today’s persistent rain also saw firefighters respond to several flooding incidents in North Yorkshire.

One came from a home on Harlow Oval in Harrogate at 2.37pm. The incident report said:

“An officer responded to reports of flooding in the garden, approaching the doorstep. This posed no threat to the property, and no action was taken.”

 

Andrew Jones MP urges police to continue Remembrance Day traffic management

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has called for police to continue providing traffic management for Remembrance Day parades.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed yesterday it will no longer close roads or manage traffic for Remembrance Day parades in the county.

Knaresborough Royal British Legion has said its annual parade along the High Street is in jeopardy as a result of the decision, which could threaten other local parades on November 12 and in subsequent years.

Elliot Foskett, North Yorkshire’s assistant chief constable, said the decision was based on national guidance that will allow police to focus on fighting crime.

Conservative MP Mr Jones today called for a rethink. He said:

“This decision from North Yorkshire Police has taken everyone by surprise. I am both surprised and disappointed.

“Every year in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Starbeck and further afield hundreds line the streets to watch parades to war memorials.  Simply put, it is part of the fabric and tradition of our community remembrance.

“I have contacted Zoë Metcalfe, police, fire and crime commissioner, asking her to speak with the leadership at North Yorkshire Police and reinstate the force’s assistance with closing roads to allow parades to take place.”

Lib Dem leader criticises ‘outrageous’ decision

Councillor Pat Marsh, the Liberal Democrat leader in Harrogate and Knaresborough, described the police’s decision as “outrageous”.

She has also written to Conservative Ms Metcalfe.

Cllr Pat Marsh

Cllr Marsh’s letter says:

“This seems a ridiculous decision and I really hope you reverse it, nobody I have spoken to can understand the logic behind your decision.

“Please can you reconsider this so we can all pay our respects safely  to those who gave their lives for our freedom?

“How will we be able to pay our respects to those who gave their lives so we can live freely today? This proposal is outrageous and I wonder where else in the country that people are not bring kept safe as they pay their respects to these very brave individuals who gave their lives.”

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Met Office issues weather warning for rain in Harrogate district

The Met Office has issued a weather warning for rain across the Harrogate district this morning.

Following prolonged downpours, the Met Office said the warning was in place from 11am until 8pm today.

The warning covers most of the eastern half of northern England.

The Met Office said “a few” homes and businesses were likely to flood and bus and train services were likely to be affected.

Drivers were warned to expect spray and flooding on roads and power supplies could be interrupted.

The wet spell is expected to continue until the middle of next week, when temperatures are finally expected to rise.

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Village pub near Knaresborough suffers second fire in three years

A village pub near Knaresborough has suffered a second fire in less than three years.

Firefighters were called to the Tiger Inn at Coneythorpe at 6am this morning.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has yet to provide any details of the incident but eye witnesses have told the Stray Ferret nobody is believed to have been injured.

The back of the pub is believed to have been most badly damaged.

The Harrogate Bus Company tweeted at 8.24am to say the 21 bus had been diverted because of the incident.

However, a villager said all roads had now reopened but firefighters remained at the scene.

The pub is not expected to be open today.

We will provide more details when they are available.

Previous fire

Today’s fire appears to be far less devastating than the one that gutted the Tiger Inn in November 2020.

Fire crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Acomb spent six hours battling the blaze, and the pub underwent a major refurbishment before reopening 11 months later.

Firefighters tackle the blaze at the Tiger Inn, Coneythorpe, back in November.

Firefighters tackling the blaze at the Tiger Inn in 2020.

When the pub reopened, owners Ian and Barbara Gill donated £5,000 to the Firefighter’s Charity as a thank-you.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said at the time of the blaze that fire broke out in the pub’s kitchen and the cause was believed to be accidental.

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