A Harrogate care home has opened a nine-hole putting green within its grounds on the recommendation of a 93-year-old resident.

Alistair Scott moved into 115-bedroom Harcourt Gardens, which provides residential, dementia, respite and palliative care, in 2021 following at heart attack.

Mr Scott, a keen gardener, started helping the onsite gardener and spotted a gap in the grounds for a putting green.

Graeme Lee, chief executive of Springfield Healthcare, which owns Harcourt Gardens, said:

“I was so impressed with Alistair’s knowledge and enthusiasm for gardening that I instantly appointed him ‘head gardener’ of Harcourt Gardens.

“Alistair then made a very smart suggestion to develop a nine-hole putting green as there are many residents at the home who were keen golfers throughout their lives.

“It made sense to create a safe space where residents and their friends and family could enjoy a round of golf together.”

The opening of the putting green.

Debbie Daniels, care home manager at the site, said:

“I’ve worked in care for many years, and this is the first time I’ve seen, or even heard of a putting green being developed at a care home – it’s quite unique.

“From the minute Alistair was appointed head gardener he has taken the role very seriously directing the gardeners as to what should go where.

Graeme Lee and Alistair Scott

Mr Scott, who got a hole in one on the day of the official opening of the putting green, said:

“I didn’t play golf until later in life during my retirement – in my day it was classed as a rich man’s sport, but I’m really enjoying it now.”

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• American diner in Harrogate appoints liquidators

Rachel Daly will hope to power England into the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup this morning.

The Lionesses take on Nigeria at 8.30am at Brisbane Stadium in Australia in a match broadcast live on BBC One.

The winners will play either Columbia or Jamaica in the last eight on Saturday.

Harrogate-born Rachel Daly has played a major role in the Lionesses’ success so far, even though she has been selected as a left-back rather than as a striker.

The former Killinghall Nomads player, whose mother still lives in Harrogate, scored in the 6-1 rout of China in the final group match. Daly also played the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat of Denmark and came on as a substitute in the opening win against Haiti.

England, who have reached the last two Women’s World Cup semi-finals, are firm favourites to advance from this morning’s match.

But the tournament has seen numerous shocks already, with defending champions the United States crashing out yesterday on penalties to Sweden.

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An American-themed 1950s diner in Harrogate has appointed liquidators and applied to be wound up.

The Hub Caffe Ltd, which trades as The Fabulous 50s Diner, opened two years ago on the site of the former Cafe Rita on Bower Road.

An announcement on official public record website The Gazette said Richard Hunt of SFP Restructuring Limited in London had been appointed liquidator on July 21.

The Gazette also reported a general meeting of the company on the same date resolved to voluntarily wind-up the business.

The announcement, dated July 27, is authorised by director Wagdy Mansour.

The diner, which is still trading, has images of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley outside. Its menu includes milk shakes, ice-cream sundaes, waffles, burgers and hot dogs.

Mr Mansour and his wife Shirley ran Cafe Rita for eight years.

When the venue reopened as The Fabulous 50s Diner after covid, Mr Mansour told the Stray Ferret they had decided to go for something completely different. He said:

“We thought it was time for a change. So we thought about a theme and realised we didn’t have any American diners in Harrogate.”

The diner has not replied to the Stray Ferret’s requests for comment.

Read more:

• Liquidators appointed at Harrogate conference company
• Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill won’t return this year

North Yorkshire Police has defended its decision to stop providing Remembrance Day traffic management.

Thirty-two smaller Remembrance Day parades in the county will be affected annually from this year.

They include the one organised by Knaresborough Royal British Legion, whose vice-chair David Houlgate warned this week it could prevent the town’s annual parade going ahead.

Assistant chief constable Elliot Foskett said it was a “difficult but lawful decision”, adding:

“Under the Traffic Management Act 2004, which placed the responsibility on the local authority and event organisers, the larger Remembrance Day events in our area have utilised traffic management companies to ensure public safety.

“However, for many years, North Yorkshire Police has continued to provide a traffic management function to the smaller Remembrance Day events.”

ACC Foskett said the force was acting on legislation as well as guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing that policing should not take responsibility for closing roads or managing traffic, other than in an emergency.

He added:

“This is to make sure police resources remain focused on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

“With immediate effect, North Yorkshire Police has repositioned to fully comply and will not be undertaking routine traffic management for any Remembrance Day events in 2023 and in subsequent years.”

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• Andrew Jones MP urges police to continue Remembrance Day traffic management

ACC Foskett said police were “working closely with North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council to assist the affected event organisers to put in place the necessary arrangements in time for November, including obtaining a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order”.

The senior police officer, who is also a forces veteran, added:

“The upset caused by this change is fully understandable, but it is categorically wrong to suggest North Yorkshire Police no longer supports Remembrance Day.

“We simply could not continue to act outside of the legislation and national police guidance.”

He said officers would still lay wreaths at services and were “proud to pay our respects as we have throughout our history”.

Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones said he was “surprised and disappointed” by the decision and has called for a rethink.

Reform UK has announced its prospective parliamentary candidates for Harrogate and Knaresborough and Ripon and Skipton.

The right-wing party was founded as the Brexit Party with support from Nigel Farage in 2018.

It was renamed in 2021 and is now led by Richard Tice.

Reform UK has said it will field candidates in every constituency at the next general election, which must take place within the next 18 months.

It has selected Richard Brown to contest Harrogate and Knaresborough and Simon Garvey to stand in Ripon and Skipton. The seats are currently held by Conservatives Andrew Jones and Julian Smith respectively.

We spoke to both candidates, neither of whom has stood for political office before.

Harrogate Station Gateway ‘ridiculous’

Mr Brown (pictured), an accountant from Harrogate, said he believed local authorities should be more open and accountable.

He described the £11.9 million Harrogate Station Gateway initiative as “ridiculous” and accused the council of wasting public money on schemes most people didn’t want. He cited the £10,000 spent on a fountain in Valley Gardens as another example.

Being an accountant, he said he’d “like to see the figures” before forming a view on what should happen to Harrogate Convention Centre, which has unsuccessfully sought funds for a £49 million upgrade.

Mr Brown said he decided to put his name forward after attending some Reform UK meetings and being “impressed by the quality of people”.

Many Reform UK members had Conservative or UKIP backgrounds, he said, but he hadn’t voted consistently for any party since the days of Margaret Thatcher. He said he voted for the Conservatives at the last election to achieve Brexit.

He said:

“My clients have always told me I should stand as an MP. I thought maybe that’s an itch I ought to scratch.”

Mr Brown said he wasn’t campaigning to make up the numbers. He said people were disillusioned with the Tories and not impressed by Labour or the Liberal Democrats and there was an opportunity to appeal to disaffected Tories.

He said he hoped Reform UK would have a “Berlin Wall moment” by shocking the established political parties and winning in places such as Harrogate and Knaresborough.

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‘I backed Boris to get Brexit done”

Simon Garvey (pictured) said he was a mainstream Conservative with no political ambitions who decided to stand because of recent political developments.

Mr Garvey, who lives with his wife and children in Ripon, said:

“I backed Boris to get Brexit done and feel disenfranchised now after Boris was ousted. If Liz Truss was given a chance I would have backed her too as she was chosen by the membership but from a democracy standpoint I don’t feel I can support Rishi Sunak as I don’t think you can have un-elected leaders.”

Mr Garvey has a background in education. Besides teaching in Ripon, he set up Inclusive Learning Systems to develop software for schools.

He cites education, and “good teachers being forced out of the system”, as one of his main concerns, along with the drive to carbon net zero, which he said had affected many people financially.

Mr Garvey said:

“We had an open goal with Brexit. Boris could have led us to a great place financially. But forces outside the political sphere are influencing where the country is heading.”

He predicted if the opinion polls were correct and Labour won the next election, many voters would turn to Reform UK at the following election out of disillusionment with both Labour and the Tories.

Volunteers lined the banks of the River Nidd and its tributaries this week to test water quality as part of a major clean-up campaign.

Nidd Action Group coordinated the activity as part of a bid to achieve bathing water status, which would require organisations to take measures to improve water quality.

It follows concerns about the state of the river and reports of bathers falling ill at Knaresborough Lido.

Nidd Action Group includes conservationists, anglers, academics and residents. Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones is also supporting the initiative by gathering data on the number of people using the river at the Lido.

On Thursday afternoon, 40 volunteers dipped test kits into the Nidd at various points from the upper reaches at Scar House, north of Pateley Bridge, right down to Moor Monkton, close to where the Nidd joins the River Ouse.

Volunteers learning to take samples last month.

A second round of sampling will take place late next month before a bid for bathing water status is submitted to the government.

David Clayden, chairman of  Nidd Action Group, said this week’s sampling appeared to go well.

He added:

“The weather was kind to us, unlike the previous very wet day. The river was running quite high, but I’ve had no reports of any incidents.

“All the samples in their sterilised bottles have been assembled, along with the documentation and the data collected at the river.

“Samples are being analysed in the accredited laboratory in Lichfield, and further samples will be sent to another laboratory on Monday  for less urgent analysis.

A second round of sampling will take place late next month in the same locations but in different weather and river conditions.

Bilton Conservation Group volunteers sampling at Oak Beck on Thursday.

Shirley Hare and Warren Considine with a sample from Oak Beck.

Mr Clayden said the results would then be shared and “we will identify any inferences that can be drawn, and discuss any actions, beneficial to the river, that might be taken”.

Sampling took place ar Scar House Reservoir, Lofthouse, How Stean Gorge, Low Sikes, Ramsgill, Wath, Pateley Bridge, Glasshouses, Summerbridge, Birstwith, Crag Hill Farm, Ripley Beck, Killinghall, along Oak beck in Bilton, Nidd Viaduct, Knaresborough, Crimple Beck, Little Ribston, Hunsingore and Moor Monkton

Mr Clayden commended the volunteers for their commitment and thanked Yorkshire Dales River Trust, a charity based in Pateley Bridge. for assembling the sampling kits and the Environment Agency staff who also undertook sampling.

Read more:

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A new salon will open in Harrogate on Tuesday — days after a longstanding one closes.

Charles Hanson, a unisex salon, will welcome customers in Westminster Arcade on Parliament Street.

Owner Marcus Charles Hanson was previously style director at Dangerfield & Keane on Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road, which will close tomorrow after 15 years.

Several staff at Dangerfield & Keane, including owner Gerri Dangerfield, are involved in the new venture.

Charles Hanson’s premises in Westminster Arcade.

Mr Hanson said:

“For my entire hairdressing career, I have wanted my own business. From when I was just a Saturday boy to recent months as a manager and trainer with a loyal clientele, telling clients that my dream was to have my own salon.

“I have worked at Dangerfield & Keane in Harrogate with some of the most talented hairstylists and I have watched them progress through their journeys. After watching them its now time to start my own. I cannot wait to open the doors to Charles Hanson.”

Gerri Dangerfield and stylist Gill Hawley-Jefferson are renting chairs in the new salon. Two other Dangerfield & Keane staff have also transferred to Charles Hanson.

Mr Dangerfield announced in May he planned to close the salon “to address my work-life balance and spend more time with my husband, Andrew”.

The business was expected to continue until October but Mr Dangerfield said on Instagram “while this is ahead of our previous schedule, the time is now right for the next move”.

He added:

“We want to assure you that we are all very excited to be moving to the next chapter of our careers and lives.”

Read more:

• Harrogate salon to close after 15 years
• 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.

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.

Read more:

• Polish prisoner jailed after absconding to UK to work in Harrogate hospital
• Christmas market on Harrogate’s Montpellier Hill bids to return this year

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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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.”