Knaresborough’s Dower House to reopen in 12 days

The Dower House in Knaresborough will open with a new name and a completely fresh look on September 4.

The venue has undergone a major refurbishment since it closed last summer.

The Inn Collection Group, which has bought the venue along with other historic hotels in Ripon and Harrogate, has renamed it the Knaresborough Inn.

The Newcastle-based owners have 32 venues in northern England and north Wales, which are marketed as ‘inns with rooms’ rather than hotels.

The Knaresborough venue will therefore no longer have a spa and gym but it does have an extra nine bedrooms and will focus more on food and drink for local people.

A new portico entrance has been built on the Grade II-listed 15th century building.

New signs have gone up.

Meanwhile. the Ripon Spa Hotel is due to reopen as the Ripon Inn in October. A precise date has not been revealed.

The Harrogate Inn, formerly the St George Hotel, reopened on July 3 after a 152-day refurbishment.

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Council ‘urgently’ considers policy on recognising local people

North Yorkshire Council has said it is urgently considering coming up with a policy that recognises local people;

However, it has no said whether it will rename Harrogate Hydro as the Rachel Daly Leisure and Wellness Centre.

The Hydro is due to reopen on September 4 following a £13.5 million refurbishment as Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre.

But Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club is campaigning for it to be named after their former player and England star.

The council-owned leisure centre in Ripon set a precedent when it was renamed after Olympic diving champion Jack Laugher.

Daly, who has 428,000 Instagram followers, was part of England’s Euro 2022 winning team last year. This year she has won the Golden Boot for being the top goalscorer in the Women’s Super League and played in the Women’s World Cup final. She is also on the shortlist for the PFA Player’s Player of the Year award.

The former Rossett School pupil has retained close links with Killinghall Nomads, whose ground is close to the Hydro, and even sent a message to the club on the eve of the World Cup final.

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The Stray Ferret is supporting the club’s campaign calling for the council to honour Daly. You can sign the petition here.

North Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les said last week the council “will consider a policy for how we might recognise the achievements of local people”.

We subsequently asked whether the council had any plans to consider naming the Hydro after Daly before it reopens in less than two weeks.

A council spokesman said today:

“We can add to Cllr Les’s statement that we are looking at this matter with some urgency.”

Emergency workers rescue person trapped after crash in Pannal

Firefighters and paramedics rescued a person who was trapped following a two-car collision in Pannal today.

The crash happened on the main A61 at about 10.30am.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough responded to the collision, which involved a Range Rover and a Mazda.

It added:

“Male occupant of Range Rover was not trapped or injured.

“Two occupants in Mazda, one of which was trapped. Released by fire crews under paramedic supervision and taken to hospital with minor back and hip injuries.”

Firefighters made the vehicles safe and left the incident with police.

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Safety audit rules out traffic lights at notorious Killinghall junction

A safety audit at a notorious Killinghall junction has ruled out introducing traffic lights.

North Yorkshire Council, which conducted the audit after a pedestrian was badly injured in February, has also rejected installing a mini-roundabout.

Instead it has recommended repainting the yellow box junction and investigating other measures, such as shortening the length of the Ripon Road bus shelter to create more space for cars going in and out of the Tesco car park.

Councillor Michael Harrison, a Conservative who represents Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate, updated residents in a recent email.

Cllr Harrison instigated the safety audit after February’s accident heightened longstanding concerns about the Ripon Road and Otley Road junction.

The new Tesco has added another dimension to the issues facing motorists and pedestrians in the centre of the village.

His latest email said the council discovered about 4,600 vehicles exited the B6161 Otley Road junction every 24 hours. of these, 90% turn left to Ripley. A third of the right-turning traffic then go to Tesco.

Cllr Harrison’s email concluded that “we know this junction is not ideal, but working out what to do about it remains a challenge”.

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Villager Tom Beardsell remains in favour of traffic lights. He said:

“I feel a fully smart signalised junction is the most sensible and safe before there is a fatality at this junction.

“There is far too much going on around that junction especially now the Tesco connivence store is in full swing.

“Re-painting the road markings and yellow box area will help initially, but it doesn’t distract from the fact there is limited visibility from the Tesco carpark in both directions especially when a bus is at the stop.”

Tesco Killinghall

The Ripon Road entrance to the Tesco car park.

Mr Beardsell added he didn’t see any benefit in widening the Tesco entrance and would prefer to see the bus stop moved elsewhere.

He said:

“I first reported the issues at this junction in late January this year, eight months later we are here and there continues to be incidents. How long will it take to make the solution clear and be implemented?”

Asked by the Stray Ferret what he would like to see done, Cllr Harrison said:

“I would like to see a bypass for Killinghall – that is the only solution to remove all of the issues.”

Stunning rainbow over Nidderdale this morning

Nidderdale is known for its fantastic views, which were made even more beautiful this morning when a full rainbow appeared in the sky.

Reader Joyce Liggins captured the optical phenomenon at about 9.30am from her bedroom in Pateley Bridge.

It shows the view looking towards Greenhow Hill — a sight Joyce is familiar with having lived on the same street all her life.

Joyce, who took the photo on an iPad, said:

“If I see something that looks nice, I take a photo of it.”

We love receiving your photos. Don’t forget you can send in your images to letter@thestrayferret.co.uk to be featured in our photo of the week on Sunday.

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Barn destroyed after bonfire spreads at Blubberhouses

A large barn containing farm vehicles and machinery near Harrogate was destroyed by fire last night.

Nearby trees were also damaged by fire after a bonfire got out of control and spread.

Firefighters from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Skipton and Tadcaster were summoned to Meagill Lane at Blubberhouses at 9.09pm.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said the crews responded to reports of a bonfire which had spread to a barn and surrounding woodland.

“The barn, which measured 60 metres by 40 metres, and it’s contents –  various farm machinery and vehicles, were 100% destroyed by fire.

“Crews used two hose reel jets, main jet, ground monitor, thermal imaging camera, lighting, hydraulic cutters and small tools to deal with the incident.”

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‘Miracle’ cat Charlie returns to Harrogate home after four-week search

An overjoyed Harrogate family is today celebrating the return of a cat who went missing for four agonising weeks.

Erika Hartness spent hours a day searching for seven-year-old Charlie after the Tonkinese disappeared on July 22.

She plastered the area with posters, flooded social media with appeals and put up a £500 reward.

But when Charlie, who had never been away for more than two nights, did not return after a few days she began to fear the worst.

Nevertheless, she and 17-year-old son Jack continued to search under hedges and explore every possible lead and then last night the family received the best surprise ever.

Erika recalls:

“Me and my husband Paul were in separate rooms at home when we heard this almighty miaow. We both thought ‘that’s Charlie’ and ran to the back door.”

It was indeed a bedraggled, emaciated but very much alive Charlie. He had lost half his weight, but otherwise seemed fine.

This image taken today shows how emaciated Charlie is.

A trip to the vet today confirmed Charlie requires nothing but food and tender loving care.

The family is still unsure what happened but Erika believes the wandering moggy got trapped, perhaps in a shed, and was eventually let out — possibly by someone who had just returned from holiday. She said:

“We don’t know how he survived for four weeks without food or how he got water. It’s an absolute miracle he’s alive.

“Even the vet said he should be dead.”

Charlie is now recovering at home, miaowing profusely for food and cuddles. He hasn’t ventured outdoors.

One of the posters.

He used to sleep alongside Raffles, the family Labrador, who died five weeks before Charlie’s disappearance.

Erika wonders whether Charlie went looking for Raffles on the day he went missing.

The family, which even enlisted the support of a company that helps to find missing pets, was overwhelmed by support. Erika said:

“We want to say a really big thank you to everybody. The help we’ve had has been amazing.”

She remains curious about Charlie’s missing month and said if anyone had any information to get in touch.

“There’s probably an entirely innocent person out there who saw a cat shoot out of a shed and didn’t think much of it.”

If you have any information, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will pass on the message to Erika.

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Harrogate Town life president George Dunnington dies

Harrogate Town life president George Dunnington has died.

The club announced today that Mr Dunnington, 86, who had been involved with the club for seven decades, died yesterday.

He was first involved with the club as a player in the 1950s.

When his playing days ended in the 1980s he helped the club build a new stand, floodlights, terracing, turnstiles, changing rooms and much more with a team of workers.

Mr Dunnington was elected chairman in October 1986, a position he held until 1998.

He was then elected club president In 2012/13, before being one of the inaugural inductees in the club’s Hall of Fame in 2023.

The club said in a statement:

“George was an inspiration to everyone at the club, his positivity, friendly nature and determination leaving a lasting legacy at the club he dedicated such a big part of his life to.

“Our thoughts are with George’s family and loved ones at this time.”

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Police dogs to be given collar numbers in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire Police has started issuing dogs with collar numbers.

Assistant chief constable Elliot Foskett said the move was in recognition of dogs being colleagues rather than just assets.

The animals will also have their names added to a new Police Dog Roll of Honour at the force’s headquarters at Northallerton when they retire or are killed in the line of duty. Their police handlers will be presented with a ceremonial dog collar.

In another move, North Yorkshire Police has created a memorial garden for police dogs at Northallerton. PD Dixon, who died in March last year has been given the first collar number PD0001.

PC Josh Hunsely with Rhun 

ACC Foskett said:

“Our police dogs are not simply force assets, they are our colleagues. They work alongside us every day and along with their handlers, are responsible for catching some of the most prolific and dangerous criminals operating in our communities.

“I was delighted to be able to recognise their importance to us as a force and the wider public.”

North Yorkshire Police also announced today it has introduced a new animal welfare scheme that will see unannounced checks on its kennels.

North Yorkshire Police dog handler Sergeant Gareth Gummerson said:

“Animal welfare is paramount, not only to me as an individual, but also as a police dog handler and I share this passion with my colleagues on the force’s dog section.”

PC Tony Barnes with Molly, who is trained to find drugs, cash and weapons.

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Plans to create new traffic-free greenway submitted

Plans have been submitted to create a 1.6-mile traffic-free cycleway called the Hammerton Greenway.

The greenway would link Green Hammerton and Thorpe Underwood and cost an estimated £84,600,

Green Hammerton Parish Council began work on the scheme after the 2014 Tour de France passed through the area.

A planning application to change the use of land to facilitate a cycleway has now been submitted to North Yorkshire Council.

Planning documents submitted to the council in support of the application said:

“This will be a greenway for all users and will be designed to give a smooth dry surface for year round use on foot, by cycle, and with children’s buggies or by those in wheelchairs.”

Green Hammerton is surrounded by main roads, which limit access to the network of relatively quiet country roads into the vale of York.

The greenway would link with Great Ouseburn, four miles away, which is part of the Way of the Roses cycle route running from Morecambe to Bridlington.

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The parish council asked path construction specialists David Gray and John Grimshaw to prepare a report detailing how best to deliver this project.

Funding is now thought to be in place thanks to contributions from developers that have built housing in the area.

Upgrading paths

Creating the cycleway will mainly involve upgrading existing paths with a more even and levelled surface.

The planning documents add:

“Furthermore, the work will require the replacement of an existing bridge with a new, North Yorkshire Council standard cycleway bridge, the installation of potential street furniture (benches, bollards, and gates) and new/enhanced boundary treatments in the form of hedge planting and where necessary fencing.”

Cycling groups Harrogate Wheel Easy and Harrogate District Cycle Action support the scheme.

Gia Margolis, chair of Harrogate Wheel Easy, said in planning documents:

“The proximity of this route to the growing cycle network in this area is very exciting.

“The success of the Nidderdale Greenway and the Spofforth to Wetherby and Thorp Arch cycleway are major contributors to encouraging more people to cycle.

“Children and adults who have the opportunity to cycle along traffic free routes gain confidence and skills that cannot be done on our busy roads.”