A house has been badly damaged by fire in Harrogate this afternoon.
Firefighters were called to Hill Top Crescent in Bilton at 3.26pm and are still in attendance. The road was cordoned off.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said three fire engines from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon attended.
It did not say whether anyone was injured.
The report added:
“Fire in a garage spread to an attached bungalow.
“Crews have used breathing apparatus, hose reels, main jets and a quantity of firefighting foam.
“The cause of the fire is to be investigated.”
The damaged roof
The road was cordoned off.
Read more:
- Three homes damaged in major fire in Ripon
- Accident reignites safety concerns near Harrogate schools
Cost of living crisis prompts Boroughbridge café to close
A Boroughbridge cafe has announced it will close its doors for good within the next two weeks.
Fourth Stone Café serves breakfasts and brunches on Church Lane.
The business, which has been open for 18 months, posted the news on its Facebook page this week.
It cited the cost of living crisis and rising prices as factors in its decision.
Jack Pinder, the owner, said on Facebook:
“It is with a heavy heart I am having to write this.
“Unfortunately, we will be open for only the next two weeks before closing our doors for good on Saturday, July 1.“The cost of living crisis and continued rises in cost, have caught up with us and like so many small businesses it means we can no longer continue to carry on.“This has not been an easy decision to make but sometimes you have to acknowledge when enough is enough, not just financially but also for the good of your own wellbeing!”
The post prompted numerous messages of support. One customer said:
“It’s so sad to see such a wonderful business close.”
Read more:
Missing Harrogate boy, 12, found safe
Police have confirmed that a missing Harrogate boy has been found.
The 12-year-old went missing from his home in Harrogate on Wednesday (June 21).
North Yorkshire Police has since confirmed that the boy has been found safe and well.
Read more:
Harrogate sign Burnley goalkeeper
Harrogate Town AFC has announced the signing of goalkeeper Lewis Thomas on a one-year deal following his release from Premier League newcomers Burnley.
The 21-year-old will provide stiff competition alongside current goalkeepers Mark Oxley and transfer-listed Peter Jameson within the first-team ranks.
Thomas began his youth career with his local side Leicester before moving to Manchester City in 2016.
Having spent three seasons in the City academy, the stopper then made the move to Lancashire, signing for Burnley in 2019.
After featuring in match day squads, Thomas also enjoyed a brief loan spell with AFC Flyde during the 20/21 season.
After securing his fifth signing of the summer, Town boss Simon Weaver said:
“He’s a huge lad, so walking down the tunnel we’ve got another big unit in there, we think he’ll fit in really well with our goalkeeping department.
“Phil Priestley importantly gave us the nod that he respected the lad and thought he was very coachable and likeable, as well as having all the ingredients to do really well with his career.”
The goalkeeper takes up the number 13 jersey.
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- Two girls arrested after trespassing on Harrogate rail tracks
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Summer solstice yoga in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens today
A free yoga event will be held in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens this evening to mark the summer solstice.
Today is the longest day of the year, with the sun not due to set until 9.42pm in Harrogate.
To mark the occasion, Ebru Evrim, who owns a yoga and pilates studio on James Street in Harrogate, will lead people through 108 sun salutations, which are moves to greet the sun.
The event is open to everyone who brings a mat, and people can take part in as much or as little as they like. Instructors will be on hand to show beginners through modified variations.
It is free but pre-booking is required.
The company’s website says there will be “beautiful calming music in a stunning natural, peaceful setting”, adding:
“It is a truly powerful evening of connection – with self, with others, and with nature and the sun.”
Read more:
- Accident reignites safety concerns near Harrogate schools
- Where to see Open Gardens in the Harrogate district
Accident reignites safety concerns near Harrogate schools
A road accident this afternoon has reignited safety concerns for children walking to school in Harrogate.
A red Fiesta mounted the pavement on Yew Tree Lane — the same street where 15-year-old Rossett School students Fraser and Reuben were taken to hospital with serious injuries following a collision with a vehicle in February.
No further details of today’s incident are known — the Stray Ferret has asked North Yorkshire Police to provide some information.
But the sight of a car on the pavement prompted the father of one of the teenagers who was injured in February to get in touch to say it reinforced the need for safer roads around schools.
He said:
“A lot of people are campaigning for a 20 mph speed limit on roads near schools.
“The issue feels very close to home when I see something like this so near to where my son’s accident took place.”
The Yew Tree Lane area is particularly busy because it caters for children attending three secondary schools — Ashville College, Harrogate Grammar School and Rossett School – as well as primary schools, nurseries and pre-schools.
But the parent said 20 mph “should be the limit outside all schools”, including small village primary schools.
A petition calling for a 20 mph limit to be imposed on streets across the south of Harrogate was handed to North Yorkshire Council last month.
Hazel Peacock, who delivered the petition on behalf of the campaigning parents, said the limit would “change people’s attitudes in regard to comfort around walking, cycling and mobility users”.
Read more:
- Mum of boy seriously injured on school run in Harrogate issues plea for 20mph limit
- Child airlifted to hospital after collision outside school near Ripon
Knaresborough pub wins CAMRA newcomer award
The Track and Sleeper pub in Knaresborough has won the award for best newcomer awarded by the Harrogate and Ripon CAMRA branch.
The pub opened on Knaresborough train station’s platform two in 2021.
Renovations to the building earned the pub an urban heritage award from the National Railway Heritage Award scheme. Now the Campaign for Real Ale, which promotes real ales and cider, has also recognised its efforts.
Alan Gould, chairman of Harrogate and Ripon CAMRA, praised father and son duo Phil and Cameron Paling for navigating difficult trading conditions.
Alan Gould (centre) presents the award.
Mr Gould said:
“The award recognises the risks taken in establishing a new business especially in hospitality but the bar must serve cask beer of a consistent good quality to be considered.
“A number of newer venues in the Harrogate area don’t meet that criterion as they don’t serve any cask beer.”
Phil runs the family’s Mexborough brewery while Cameron manages the bar as well as another pub in Swinton.
Mr Gould also alluded to the idea of a new Rail Ale Trail – when pubs across a certain train line create a pub crawl with participants travelling between the stops on a train.
He suggested a Leeds to York trail could be created as a number of pubs have now opened along this route. The Track and Sleeper would definitely be an important stop on this possible route.
CAMRA has also recently given a number of awards to other pubs in the area. These include: Major Toms for Cider Pub of the Year and Club of the Year going to the Oatlands.
Read more:
- A-ha’s sound man opens record shop and bar in Harrogate
- Brew Bar owner opens new Harrogate coffee shop
Plans rejected for 20 homes and 12 glamping pods in Nidderdale
Planners have rejected a bid to build 20 homes and 12 glamping pods at the former Nidd Valley Saw Mills.
Wakefield-based Milner Homes submitted plans to redevelop the former mill alongside the River Nidd at Dacre Banks.
The mill was sold to the developer in 2020 after its former owner retired.
Milner Homes, planned to convert the mill into five homes, and build a further 15 two to four-bedrooms homes, as well as a dozen glamping pods.
It said the proposal, submitted last year, would “create a distinctive residential development which is sympathetically designed to respect the surrounding built and natural environment” and “promote sustainable tourism”.
But North Yorkshire Council refused the application this week.
The housing and glamping pod scheme as outlined for the Nidd Valley Saw Mills site.
Trevor Watson, assistant director of planning, listed nine reasons for refusal.
He said “no exceptional circumstances” for the scheme, which is outside the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35 for development, had been demonstrated.
Other reasons included “a significant, adverse landscape and visual effect upon the landscape and scenic beauty of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”, “insufficient evidence that the continued use of the site for employment purposes is not feasible or viable” and flood concerns.
Mr Watson added:
“The proposed layout creates a scheme that is of poor quality, does not create a safe and accessible environment or reflect the principles of good, sustainable layout design.”
Hartwith cum Winsley Parish Council objected because the application was outside the local plan boundary and also because of highways and noise concerns.
Read more:
- Plan to convert former River Nidd mill into housing
- Nidderdale Showground to host Parkinson’s charity fundraiser
Local MPs vote in favour of Privileges Committee report
The two local Conservative MPs voted in support of a report last night that found Boris Johnson deliberately misled MPs over lockdown parties.
The Commons backed the report by 354 votes to seven — however 225 MPs either abstained or did not turn up to vote, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Andrew Jones, who represents Harrogate and Knaresborough, and Julian Smith, who represents Skipton and Ripon, were among the 118 Tories who supported the report by parliament’s Privileges Committee.
Mr Smith tweeted afterwards “upholding the rules of parliament is key to our democracy”.
Tonight I voted to support the cross party privileges committee report. Boris Johnson did a number of positive things as Prime Minister, but upholding the rules of parliament is key to our democracy https://t.co/YFJIsOs1zU
— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) June 19, 2023
Mr Jones indicated his intentions last week when he said:
“I called for the Privileges Committee investigation into this issue and I have supported its work. I will be voting on Monday to accept their recommendations in full.”
The cross-party committee’s report found Mr Johnson committed repeated offences when he said covid rules had been followed at No 10 at all times.
The Selby and Ainsty constituency, which covers part of the Harrogate district, does not currently have an MP following Nigel Adams’ resignation.
A by-election will take place on July 20.
Read more:
- Tories select replacement candidate for Selby and Ainsty by-election
- Yorkshire Party mayoral candidate quit after ‘chicken policy disagreement’
Posters go up as search for missing Sophie continues
Hundreds of posters have gone up around Harrogate and Knaresborough in the search for missing Sophie Lambert.
Four nights have now passed since Sophie, 22, was last seen at her home in Starbeck.
The police search is focusing on the area near the river at Bilton in Nidd Gorge after a member of the public found Sophie’s mobile phone, bank card and jumper there on Saturday morning.
Sophie was last seen on Friday night.
A Facebook group to co-ordinate the search has been set up and already has over 1,000 members. You can visit it here.
Knaresborough printers Sid Horner and Son printed 1,000 posters yesterday showing a photo of Sophie and urging people to report any sightings.
Inspector Graham Waller, the critical incident inspector based at Harrogate, said yesterday there had been “no positive sightings” of Sophie since she vanished and nothing has emerged overnight.
Numerous groups took part in searches along the river and around the Bilton area last night and are continuing to do so this morning.
North Yorkshire Police has said in a statement:
“Sophie is described as white, 5ft 3in, aged in her early 20s, slim build, with long dark brown hair that is possibly plaited or wavy.
“She has a distinctive scar on her forehead which is likely to be noticeable.
“It is unknown what clothing she has on, but her family said she tends to wear jogging bottoms and has dark green Adidas trainers with a white sole.
“If you have seen a woman matching Sophie’s description or photograph, please call North Yorkshire Police immediately on 999 quoting reference 12230110845.”
Read more:
- Search for missing Sophie Lambert finds her mobile phone
- CCTV footage released in search for missing Sophie