Artist opens gallery in Pateley Bridge

An artist whose gallery officially opened in Pateley Bridge last weekend has thanked local people for their support.

James Owen Thomas is known for his environmental activism through art.  Much of the art on display in his gallery highlights issues on this topic and in particular single use plastics.

He was recently commissioned by Whitewoods Wellbeing near Bewerley, where he is the artist in residence, to create a collage of trees.

His latest collage involved collaging a Van Gogh portrait using discarded national lottery scratch cards. This was sold to a buyer in Leeds who visited the gallery.

James, who has lived in Pateley Bridge for more than 10 years, said:

“This is an area of outstanding natural beauty so I feel very lucky to live here and I am inspired in my art by all the nature in the local surroundings.”

“The idea of the official opening was to invite everyone local as a way of thanking them for their support and for them to see how I am developing my art business. “

Among those attending the opening was North Yorkshire deputy lieutenant, Professor David Hill, who gave a talk on environmental issues and praised James’ art for making a positive statement.

The gallery is open 11am to 3pm Wednesday to Friday. The Ripon City Photographic Society is also exhibiting at the gallery until July 30.

James (right) displays one of the pieces in the gallery.

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Ripon man used Snapchat to engage girl, 13, in sexual communications

A Ripon man has been jailed for attempting to engage a 13-year-old girl in sexualised communications.

David Wesling, 48, a former cellist and chorister with Ripon Cathedral Choir, was sentenced to 32 months at York Crown Court today.

Wesling, of Littlethorpe Lane, Littlethorpe, was caught when he contacted a child profile on Snapchat.

He pleaded guilty to the following offences, which occurred between 27 April 2023 and 16 May 2023.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Kerri Jones, of North Yorkshire Police’s online child abuse team, said:

“This case sends a message out to adults attempting to engage in online sexual activity with children, that this behaviour will not go unnoticed.

“This is not the first time that Wesling has attempted to have sexual communications with a child. He is already a convicted registered sex offender, after being found guilty of similar offences in 2019 when he was jailed for 12 months and issued with a sexual harm prevention order.

“Wesling has shown blatant disregard for the law and his conditions by committing similar offences again. Despite his attempts to deny these offences when interviewed by police, the overwhelming evidence against him has resulted in him being remanded and pleading guilty at court.”

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Dropped cigarette causes late night shed fire in Harrogate

Firefighters from Harrogate dealt with a shed fire that spread to a garden fence last night.

The incident happened shortly before 11pm on Skipton Road,

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log said two appliances from Harrogate and one from Knaresborough were summoned.

The fire spread to a conservatory, approximately 15 metres of garden fencing and 20 metres of plastic guttering . The log said:

“Crews used two breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets, two thermal imaging cameras and lighting to extinguish the fire.

“The cause of the fire was accidental, due to a dropped cigarette.”

A ventilation fan was used to clear light smoke damage in neighbouring properties.

Shortly afterwards, at three minutes past midnight, Harrogate firefighters were mobilised again to a Ford Mondeo engine fire on Grove Park Avenue.

Crews used breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire. The incident log said:

“The cause of the fire is believed to be an electrical fault. Advice was given to the vehicle owner.”

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North Yorkshire Council spends £171,000 a year on weather services

North Yorkshire Council has agreed to pay £171,000 a year on weather services for the county.

The council uses weather forecasting and data to plan highway services, such as gritting.

It awarded three-year contracts to MetDesk and Vaisala in 2018 to provide forecasting and weather stations respectively.

The contracts were renewed for two years in 2021 and the council has now agreed to extend them for a further two years.

Vaisala’s contract was for £114,000 and MetDesk’s was for £57,000.

James Gilroy, team leader for highways asset management at the council, said in a report to councillors, who approved the deals last week:

“The weather forecasts from Metdesk enable an overall winter maintenance plan to be established. The real time data from the Vaisala weather stations allow this plan to be more finely tuned to the situation on the ground.

“Extending the contracts is the lowest cost option and given the current performance of the respective contractors it is a low-risk approach.”

Vaisala weather North Yorks

A council photocall at one of the weather stations last year

The report added 10 new solar/wind-powered weather cameras and two new weather stations had been bought at the cost of £200,000 in autumn 2021.

Sixteen original weather stations were also upgraded at a cost of £265,000 “to broaden the coverage we have across the county”.

Met Office among bidders

A council spokesperson said the weather forecast it used “requires more detail that than the standard free to access services”.

They added the services were put out to competitive tender in 2018, when the Met Office was among the bidders.

The report said there are 10 climatic domains within North Yorkshire’, which are defined as areas with similar weather characteristics.

The domains are Northern Dales, Central Dales, Western Dales, Harrogate, Vale of York and Vale of Mowbray, Selby area, North York Moors, Vale of Pickering, Northern Wolds and Howardian Hills, Eastern North York Moors and Coast and Scarborough and Filey.

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Asked why it was necessary to have 27 weather stations in North Yorkshire, the spokesperson said:

“Weather stations are placed across the county and monitor humidity, road temperature, air temperature and wind speed. Some stations have cameras on them, allowing you to see the road conditions. This helps road users to make more informed travel decisions.

“As you know, weather conditions can change rapidly. Having a wider coverage of stations allows us to make more informed and accurate decisions on gritting.”

Greenhow by John Benson

Greenhow is the highest area around Harrogate. Pic: John Benson

Of the 27 sites, four are located in the Harrogate district, on the A6108 near Masham, the A658 Harrogate bypass, the A59 at Kex Gill and at Greenhow village.

The council is also able to access sites managed by National Highways on the A1(M) near Dishforth.

A list of all the locations in North Yorkshire is available here.

Knaresborough’s Conyngham Hall to hold outdoor Pink Floyd classical concert

A 20-strong orchestra will play music by Pink Floyd in the first outdoor concert to be held at Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough.

Paradox Orchestra will perform hits such as Wish You Were Here, Money, and Comfortably Numb in an event on September 3 celebrating 50 years of one of the most influential rock groups in history.

The grounds of the grade two listed venue near the River Nidd in Knaresborough can hold up to 2,000 people.

A number of food and drink vendors will also attend the concert by candlelight to give it a festival feel.

Paradox Orchestra features classically-trained musicians who reimagine rock, pop, and dance classics.

Founder and artistic director Michael Sluman said:

“Like a sonic time machine, Pink Floyd’s music has taken us on a journey through the past 50 years, capturing the essence of each era and leaving an indelible mark on the history of music.

“Paradox Orchestra is looking forward to performing their greatest hits in such a stunning backdrop.”

“We promise audiences an incredibly high-level of musicianship on stage, as well as a showmanship associated with world-class large-scale orchestras.”

Tickets cost £25. Further information is available here.

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Knaresborough’s ex-crime commissioner sells marketing firm

Former crime commissioner Philip Allott has sold a majority stake in the Knaresborough marketing firm he founded almost 30 years ago.

Allott and Associates has become part of the Breakout Media Group, a digital marketing agency based in Stockton-on-Tees, the two firms announced today.

Mr Allott will continue to be involved as a consultant but has relinquished his role as director. Breakout Media founder Mike Lewis will take charge as managing director.

Mr Allott, who set up the business with his wife Sandra in 1994, said the move was “a step into the realms of semi-retirement” although besides his consultancy role he and Sandra remain directors of Boardroom Matters, which provides data protection and legal services.

The former pupil of Knaresborough’s King James’s School has combined marketing with a career in politics, having served as leader of the Conservatives on Harrogate Borough Council and stood unsuccessfully for election as a Conservative MP five times.

He was elected North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in May 2021 but stood down in October the same year in the wake of criticism of comments he made on the murder of Sarah Everard.

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Today’s news creates a fully integrated marketing agency serving with more than 20 staff in disciplines ranging from public relations and direct mail to social media, content marketing and SEO.

Mr Allott told the Stray Ferret he had reached an age where he wanted to wind down and the acquisition presented an opportunity “that’s good for the business and clients”.

He added:

“It’s been an honour to grow Allotts into the agency it’s become, with a very talented team and clients literally across the world from Canada to Europe, Asia to Australia.

“I’m delighted to hand over the reins to Mike as part of the succession plan and equally delighted that I’ll still be involved in the company to see where it takes the group next.”

Breakout Media aims to create a group of specialist marketing agencies covering the whole of the UK.

Mr Lewis said:

“Breakout Media has grown massively since I founded it five years ago and I’ve been looking for a PR and marketing agency with synergy and similar values to our own – and we found them in Allotts.

“This move is part of an ambitious growth strategy to make Breakout Media Group a dominant force in the UK and international marketing landscape. It’s business as usual going forward, as Allotts has a great formula for delivering for clients – and that can only be improved by the highly complementary skill sets across our teams. I can’t wait to get cracking.”

Harrogate village bridge set for lengthy closure

A Harrogate village bridge looks set to be closed to traffic for a long time after a large crack appeared.

North Yorkshire Council closed the bridge on Church Lane in Hampsthwaite suddenly and without warning on Friday.

It acted after a two-inch wide gap appeared at the side of the bridge, prompting safety concerns. It was possible to look through the gap and see the River Nidd.

In an update today the council said 15 metres of the parapet, which is the safety barrier, on the damaged side of the wall needed to be rebuilt.

No timescale or cost was given but the scale of the work indicates long-term closure is likely.

The update did, however, say plans were being drawn up for pedestrians to use the undamaged side of the bridge, which joins Hampsthwaite and Clint.

Hampsthwaite bridge

The crack in the bridge

It is not yet known if cyclists will be permitted to cross.

The cause of the problem remains unknown.

The statement said:

“Following an onsite assessment by engineers we are able to confirm that the parapet has been pushed out over the edge of the bridge deck and this has damaged several of the corbels that support from beneath.

“These need to be repaired and 15 metres of the parapet taken down and rebuilt using hot lime mortar.

“The bridge will remain closed to traffic – due to ongoing safety concerns and the fact the bridge is narrow – until the repairs can be completed. Engineers are working on a scheme and aiming to get contractors on site to start them in July.

“Plans are currently being drawn up to open a section across the bridge, on the opposite side to the damaged parapet, to allow safe crossing for pedestrians.”

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Simon Armitage poem to be carved in stone at Brimham Rocks

Poet laureate Simon Armitage has been commissioned to write a poem inspired by Brimham Rocks and the surrounding moorland.

The poem, called Balancing Act, will be carved in stone and placed on the moor.

Brimham Rocks is an outcrop of millstone grit rocks formed 325 million years ago near Pateley Bridge. The site, owned by the National Trust, was designated a site of special scientific interest in 1958.

Mr Armitage, who was born in Huddersfield, was appointed poet laureate in 2019. A former geography student at Portsmouth Polytechnic, his work often focuses on northern landscapes.

He appeared at arts festival Feva in Knaresborough and at Ripon Poetry Festival in 2021.

A National Trust representative is due to give a presentation about the poem at Pateley Bridge Town Council tonight.

A trust spokesperson said the poem will “create a permanent artwork and place for reflection” and will be debuted at an official launch on June 22.

Further details are expected next week.

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Harrogate’s Valley Gardens celebrates twinning anniversary

Harrogate’s Valley Gardens has unveiled a new flower bed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its twinning with the town of Barrie in Canada.

The beds will be made up of 3,750 flowers, primarily petunias and begonias in a variety of colours.

The unveiling will coincide with Barrie Day, a holiday celebrated across Canada.

Sir Robert Barrie, the town’s namesake, was married to Julia Wharton Ingilby of Ripley Castle. Both are buried in the family vault at All Saints’ church in Ripley. Barrie was a naval officer instrumental in keeping Canada from joining America in 1812.

Former mayor of Harrogate and trustee of Harrogate international partnerships, Michael Newby,  who is set to visit Barrie, said:

“I am delighted to be going to Barrie to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our relationship, having been the mayor who signed the twinning agreement on behalf of Harrogate.”

Part of the New Zealand flower bed section, as Harrogate is also twinned with Wellington the capital.

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Hollywood star dines at new Harrogate restaurant

Star of Lethal Weapon movies, Danny Glover, enjoyed a meal at a Harrogate restaurant this weekend.

Staff at Efes Bar and Grill took a selfie with Hollywood actor when he ate there on Sunday.

Efes is a family-run Mediterranean restaurant that opened very recently on May 19 and has seen 5 star reviews on Google.

The actor was in town for Yorkshire Comic-Con where fans could get photos and signatures. He appeared alongside John Cleese and Gabriel Luna to fill out the star studded line up.

Glover is most famous for his portrayal of Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon franchise. He has also starred in The Colour Purple and Predator 2. He is also known for his political activism, strongly opposing the Bush administration in America. In 2016 he received the Cuban medal of friendship.

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