North Yorkshire Police has said it was lucky nobody was killed when a car ploughed into parked vehicles and overturned outside Harrogate’s largest school this week.

The Stray Ferret reported on Tuesday that a man in his 50s had been arrested following a crash on Arthurs Avenue, close to Harrogate Grammar School, on Monday evening.

Officers revealed further details of the incident last night and appealed for anyone who spoke to the driver to come forward.

The statement said:

“We arrested a suspected drink driver after a car ploughed into parked vehicles and overturned in Harrogate.

“It happened at around 6.30pm on Monday (February 19) on Arthurs Avenue and involved a Renault Clio colliding with parked cars on the street before flipping over.

“The driver of the Renault is believed to have left the scene of the collision on foot after briefly speaking to witnesses.”

The statement added a man in his 50s, thought to be the driver, was “promptly arrested in a nearby street”.

He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and taken into custody.

Police added:

“We’d like to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision, and specifically anyone who spoke to the driver of the Renault Clio.”

Anyone with information can email chris.storey@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101, select option 2, and ask for traffic constable 13 Chris Storey.

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

Quote reference number 12240030987.

Read more:

• Man arrested for driving while unfit following Harrogate collision
• Sneak Peek: The Woodlands in Harrogate reopens after £300,000 refurbishment

One of Harrogate’s best known pubs is to reopen tomorrow after a £300,000 refurbishment.

The Woodlands on Wetherby Road has been closed for about six weeks for work to take place.

The Stray Ferret visited today for a glimpse of the new-look venue, which is owned by Star Pubs & Bars and managed by Paul Caunt and Matthew Carr.

The two men have been in the trade for 30 years and previously worked for Mr Carr’s father, who had the lease of the pub for many years.

Paul Caunt (left) and Matthew Carr display the plans before the refurbishment.

The yellow exterior has a new grey-blue look as well as fresh signs. The interior has also been repainted and although the layout is unaltered the red carpets have been replaced by wooden and tiled flooring to accentuate the more modern feel.

Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars said last month it planned to “transform it into the best family-friendly community and sports pub in the area”.

The dining area.

The new pool table.

Mr Caunt said the sports feel is one of the most noticeable changes. Besides showing live sport, The Woodlands has a new pool table. It will also host twice-weekly quizzes.

The pub will open from noon to 11pm daily and serve food from noon until 8pm except on Sundays, when the kitchen will close at 5pm.

The bar

The Woodlands can seat 50 people for food. Its new menu includes pub classics and a two for £16 deal on weekdays. New beers include Beavertown and Heineken Silver.

Mr Caunt said:

“It’s an opportunity to put the pub back on the map.

“We hope to attract a younger clientele while keeping existing customers. We get a lot of people visiting when anything is on at the Great Yorkshire Showground and we are also close to Harrogate Town’s ground.”

Star Pubs & Bars owns 2,400 pubs, most of which are leased to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Read more:

• £300,000 upgrade of The Woodlands in Harrogate to begin next week
• The pub entrepreneur putting Boroughbridge on the map

Harrogate councillor and former mayor Pat Marsh has been released from custody.

North Yorkshire Police revealed this morning that Cllr Marsh, who was the long-term Liberal Democrat leader in Harrogate and Knaresborough but was suspended by the party this week, remained under investigation whilst enquires continued.

The force said:

“A woman who was arrested in connection with an investigation into anti-semitic ‘tweets’ shared on X has been released under investigation whilst enquires continue.

“She was arrested yesterday (Tuesday, February 20) on suspicion of displaying threatening, abusive, or insulting written material with intent or likely to stir up racial hatred.

“An investigation is underway however it is likely that enquires will take some time. Updates will be provided when appropriate.”

Cllr Marsh, who represents the Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone division on North Yorkshire Council, chairs the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee, which advises North Yorkshire Council on local issues.

A full meeting of the Conservative-controlled council is due to take place at 10.30am this morning. You can watch it on the council’s YouTube page here.

Read more:

• Council accepts offer on Harrogate’s former Viper Rooms building
• Henshaws introduces parking charges

The social enterprise Henshaws has announced it is to introduce parking charges at its arts and crafts centre in Knaresborough.

Automatic number plate recognition cameras will be in place at the centre at Bond End from April 15.

Parking is currently free and people using the site sometimes struggle to find space as others use it for general car parking. Last year’s opening of the Knaresborough Inn has increased pressure on spaces.

Henshaws said in a statement the move was “a vital step towards ensuring the safety of our artmakers, visitors and staff”. It added:

“In recent months, the car park, which is for staff and those attending the centre, has become very busy and we want to ensure as safe environment as possible.

“As a charity, we have ensured that the charges when the car park is open to the public are reasonable.”

It will become the latest local organisation to introduce parking charges in recent years. Others include Yorkshire Water at its reservoirs, Ripley car park and the Inn at South Stainley.

Parking will be restricted to Henshaws staff and visitors all day only from Monday to Friday. Anyone else will be liable for parking charge notices.

It will cost £1 for an hour, £2 for three hours or £4 for all-day parking on Saturdays and Sundays from 6am to 10pm. Payment can be made by cash: card or mobile phone

There will be a time allowance during weekdays for taxis and support staff to drop-off and collect artmakers.

Anyone without valid parking could receive a £100 penalty charge notice, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

Henshaws added:

“These charges are thoughtfully set to strike a balance between affordability and supporting ongoing initiatives at Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre.

“We trust that these rates are reasonable and acceptable to our valued visitors.”

It added:

“All funds generated through parking charges will be reinvested into Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre, ensuring a vibrant and enriching experience for our community members.”

Further details are available here.

Read more:

• Two Knaresborough over 60s take on Mt Kilimanjaro
• Knaresborough woman to take on 162-mile paddleboard challenge

Police have arrested former Harrogate borough mayor Pat Marsh over anti-semitic messages.

In an update just before 2pm today, North Yorkshire Police said:

“A woman has been arrested in connection with an investigation into anti-semitic ‘tweets’ shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“She remains in custody while enquiries continue.”

The Liberal Democrats suspended Cllr Marsh, who was the party’s leader in Harrogate and Knaresborough, yesterday after details of her social media messages emerged.

Cllr Marsh, who was the leader of the Lib Dems in Harrogate and Knaresborough, said she intended to continue to serve as an Independent councillor.

She chairs the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee, which advises North Yorkshire Council on local issues.

Read more:

• Man arrested after blaze at former Jewson site in Harrogate
• Special guests revealed for Harrogate crime writing festival

A defiant Pat Marsh has said she will not resign as a councillor following comments on X about Jews that have been widely condemned as antisemitic.

In a series of posts made over the past month related to the conflict in Gaza, Cllr Marsh described Jews as “vile”, “evil” and “a disgrace to the world”.

It led the Liberal Democrats to suspend her from the party yesterday but she denied the comments were antisemitic and said they were made to highlight her opposition to the ongoing war and the deaths of thousands of children.

Despite senior councillors on North Yorkshire Council calling on her to quit, Cllr Marsh told the Local Democracy Reporting Service this morning that she intends to sit as an independent for the remainder of her term of office, which is another three years.

She claimed she had received emails of support from residents urging her to carry on serving them in her Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone division.

Cllr Marsh said:

“I do not intend to resign I will complete this term of office as an Independent. I am receiving quite a few emails of support from my residents asking me to remain as their independent councillor.

“I have worked for my residents and the wider community for 33 years and will continue to do so until my term of office ends.”

However, Cllr Marsh’s comments about Jewish people may find her in breach of the council’s code of conduct which all councillors sign up to.

This includes ensuring councillors do not discriminate against any person, treat others with respect and must not bring the council into disrepute.

The Local Government Association says a councillor can be removed from their role by the local authority should they be found to have committed a serious breach of the code.

Council leader Carl Les said a complaint has been made to the council’s monitoring officer which could lead to a referral to North Yorkshire Police.

Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough Andrew Jones raised Cllr Marsh’s comments in the House of Commons yesterday evening during a debate about antisemitism.

He said:

“The most senior Liberal Democrat councillor in Harrogate and Knaresborough has been exposed for tweeting horrendous antisemitic comments for the past five weeks.

“She had hundreds of followers, including many senior local Liberal Democrats; she tweeted over 500 times on the subject, and those tweets were read over 10,000 times, so it beggars belief that no Liberal Democrat knew what she was saying.

“They must have known, but in the five weeks she has been tweeting, they did nothing until it was exposed in the media today.”

A Liberal Democrats spokesperson said there was “literally no evidence” to back up Mr Jones’ “unsubstantiated” claims.

They added:

“Ms Marsh was removed from her role in the party long before Andrew Jones made a comment. Andrew Jones had never raised these appalling remarks with the Liberal Democrats, until this afternoon in a press comment. These antisemitic views have no place in our party or our country.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism said the party had acted in a “swift and decisive” manner following the Tweets.

Read more:

• Lib Dems axe Harrogate and Knaresborough leader over anti-semitism row 
• Andrew Jones MP says Lib Dems ‘must have known’ about local leader’s anti-semitic tweets 

The special guests for this year’s Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate has been revealed today.

The event, which is the world’s largest celebration of crime fiction, will be held for the 21st time at the Old Swan from July 18 to 21. .

Curated by bestselling crime writer and 2024 festival programming chair Ruth Ware, the special guests include Chris Carter, Jane Casey, Elly Griffiths, Erin Kelly, Vaseem Khan, Dorothy Koomson, Shari Lapena, Abir Mukherjee, Liz Nugent and Richard Osman.

Organised by the arts charity Harrogate International Festivals, the event offers fans from around the world the chance to hear from the biggest stars of the genre, discover new talent and enjoy a programme of panels, talks and creative workshops.

Ruth Ware said:

“I’m so proud of the incredible roster of special guests appearing at this year’s festival- together they showcase the strength, breadth and sheer excellence of the crime-writing landscape.

“Harrogate has always been a festival with readers at its very heart, and there really is something for everyone in this glorious celebration of our brilliant and bloody genre.”

Festival highlights

Vaseem Khan, award-winning author of the Baby Ganesh Agency series and the Malabar House novels and last year’s festival programming chair, will open the festival in conversation with Abir Mukherjee, author of the globally bestselling Wyndham & Banerjee series.

Ruth Ware will interview author and television presenter Richard Osman about his multi-million copy bestselling Thursday Murder Club series.

International bestseller Shari Lapena visits from Canada to talk about her latest thriller What Have You Done with Liz Nugent, winner of four Irish Book Awards and fellow Irish crime writer Jane Casey will be in conversation with Erin Kelly, whose new novel The Skeleton Key is published in April.

Big name thriller writers Chris Carter, the bestselling author of the Robert Hunter series, and Dorothy Koomson – the ‘Queen of the Big Reveal’ – unveil their latest novels and festival favourite Elly Griffiths will discuss her new standalone mystery The Last Word.

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said:

“Ruth has curated a thrilling programme with every crime fiction reader at its heart.”

Simon Theakston, chairman of T&R Theakston Ltd, said:

“It continues to be a privilege to support the world’s best crime writing festival as we have over the last 21 years.”

The full programme will be announced in Spring 2024.

Pic credits: Gemma Day, Conor O’Leary and Sara Reeve

Read more:

• Review: Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival celebrates its 20th year
• Council accepts offer on Harrogate’s former Viper Rooms building

The Reform UK parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough has backed Independent Keith Tordoff to be Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

Mr Tordoff, from Pateley Bridge, is the sole Independent candidate standing for election on May 2.

Reform UK is not fielding a candidate but Richard Brown, who will stand for the party in Harrogate and Knaresborough at the general election, has given his support to Mr Tordoff and suggested the alliance could extend beyond May. He said:

“My focus is on becoming the MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, so working strategically with Keith would be beneficial, not just to both us, but the whole region”.

“Having spoken to Keith, I have got to know about him and what he believes in. Working with him now, and going forward would be very useful.

“I think people want to see the country come together. They also want parties to work together, where there is common thinking, to give focus on delivering for the people.”

Mr Tordoff said:

“While I am not affiliated to a political party as an independent, I do of course need to work with other parties going forward.

“It is certainly true that many are watching the development of Reform UK, some welcoming the possibility of change and others still unsure — Reform UK does though, have the potential to change UK politics fundamentally and in my opinion for the better.

“I share their views that there needs to be fundamental change to how politics operates in this country.”

In a statement today announcing the news, both men highlighted concerns about the £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme, which has recently been scaled back after North Yorkshire Council admitted its initial plans were legally flawed.

Mr Tordoff said it “has been fraught with problems from day one, and now we have a project that is proceeding with little focus over the benefits”.

He added:

“Fundamentally it’s an example of a mismanaged project, without a clear set of objectives, and it seems to divide the community, but North Yorkshire Council are pushing ahead regardless.”

Mr Brown described the gateway as a “fiasco”, adding:

“I think we need to develop a better understanding of how the Station Gateway project has gone wrong for Harrogate, and what that means for the project going forward.

“It will give important learning for similar projects that come under the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. We need to do much better than we have done, or are doing.”

Whoever is elected mayor will oversee a new combined authority, and a multi-million budget in areas such as housing, transport and the police and fire services.

Read more:

• Mayoral candidate calls for review of Harrogate fire service cuts
• Lib Dems chose Swinton Park owner to stand for North Yorks mayor
• Tory mayoral candidate to spend 100 days in campervan

Harrogate Civic Society and Historic England have supported plans to convert the former Harrogate Debenhams building into shops and 34 flats.

Debenhams closed on Parliament Street in 2021 after the company went into administration.

Wetherby developer Stirling Prescient initially applied to demolish the building and build 50 flats but withdrew these plans in May 2022 after widespread opposition.

But Harrogate Civic Society and the non-departmental public body Historic England, who were among those objecting, have backed latest proposals submitted to North Yorkshire Council in November last year.

The new application is to convert the first floor into 34 flats and use the ground floor and basement as a ‘flexible commercial space’ or a ‘drinking establishment’.

It also proposes erecting a rooftop extension, the removal and replacement of canopies, shopfronts and the slate roof, and re-cladding the part of the building with a 1960s facade. The plans also include a secure cycle store and seven car parking spaces.

Stirling Prescient has said the development would “provide a high quality and vibrant new residential development” as well as “a new focal point along Parliament Street”.

The civic society submission to council as part of the consultation process says it is pleased demolition is no longer being proposed, adding:

“We are content with the currently proposed uses of the building and are keen to see it returned to beneficial use and retain its positive place in the conservation area

“Loss of the existing façade of the 1960s building next to the Westminster Arcade will not be mourned, likewise the ugly canopy that does the conservation area no favours.

“Overall, we are very pleased to see this proposal for re-use of the building and look forward to it making a positive contribution to the conservation area and the vitality of the town.”

Debenhams on Parliament Street closed in January 2021.

Suzanne Lilley, inspector of historic buildings and areas at Historic England, said in its consultation submission the site at 22-30 Parliament Street “forms part of an iconic commercial street-scene”, adding:

“The proposals have benefited from pre-application engagement with Historic England and we now welcome the approach taken by the applicant.

“There is an exciting opportunity here for a positive restoration and conversion scheme which enables these buildings to be appreciated and enjoyed by the public.”

You can view details of the application on North Yorkshire Council’s planning portal here, entering the reference number ZC23/03273/FULMAJ.

Read more:

• Plan to demolish Harrogate Debenhams withdrawn
• Plans submitted to convert Harrogate Debenhams into 34 flats

Readers’ Letters is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

I have walked in Hookstone Woods with my beloved dogs for over 30 years. For several decades it has been a sea of tranquillity in south Harrogate and an opportunity to enjoy the local nature while taking in the fresh air.

Unfortunately, in the last few years the squash club seems to be on a mission to make it its own territory. Not content with the noise pollution caused by their padel court (which has turned the ponds into an area which can feel like I am at a local shooting range on some days) and light pollution from that court and their new floodlights for the outside gym area, in recent months they have regularly decided to turn the woods into a disco with thumping music that can be heard throughout the area while they run outdoor classes.

It is such a shame that the club is now choosing to put a handful of people exercising ahead of the Harrogate community and wildlife by acting in such an anti-social manner. One of the purposes of Yorkshire Agricultural Society is to protect the environment but in the last year they seemed to have dropped that aim whenever they or one of their tenants can make some extra money.  This is very sad as the society has been a stalwart for Harrogate for many years.

I just hope someone can save this ancient woodland before its character is destroyed forever.

Tim Johnson, Harrogate

Ripon Cathedral urged to bring ‘sham of a proposal’ to halt

This letter was sent to a member of North Yorkshire Council after plans to develop an annexe near Ripon Cathedral were halted. We have covered the ongoing saga extensively. 

We, the undersigned, must reiterate our strong objections to the current delay from the cathedral and ask that you intervene to end this sham of a ‘public consultation’, which consists of: no significant changes to the original submission; newly formatted leaflets with no new information; 70% of ‘drop ins’ during the working day and a lack of record keeping from cathedral staff of comments and suggestions by the public.

We feel that we must question the validity of this ‘pause’ when answers which are received on fundamentally important matters such as the ‘300 trees’ and where they are going to be planted are conflicting. For the majority of 2023, the cathedral claimed that this off-site area would be ‘at Studley’, this changed in 2024 to ‘near Studley’ and now the cathedral state ‘outside the city.’ This is a core pillar in the cathedral’s mitigation plans and there is no evidence of this- indeed the cathedral communications team told me today that the evidence of this planting would not be forthcoming and that:

‘Regarding the off-site land for planting trees: there is an agreement which is between the private landowner and the cathedral and is a private matter.’

This is in direct contradiction to the position from November 2023, when they stated that this evidence would go into the public domain ‘at the appropriate time’.

The cathedral states there is a ‘40 -year-management plan in place.’ For this to be valid, it needs to be covered by a Section 106 agreement, setting out specific locations and specific actions and also giving a cash value for the planting and the cost of the management plan. The cathedral has failed to do this.

As this ‘off-site planting’ is supposed to be compensation to the people of Ripon for the trees felled at Minster Gardens, it is not a private matter, but very much a matter of public interest. This is a material consideration to the proposal.

We urge you to use your powers to intervene and bring this sham of a proposal to a halt before further embarrassment is caused to the city of Ripon.

With best wishes,

Jenni Holman, Andrew Burns, Pat Waterfall, Kevin Hill, Brian McHugh, Valerie Sheldon, Helen M Smith — Ripon

Rewilding the Stray would ‘give back what we have stolen’ from nature

The next two letters follow a feature published by the Stray Ferret last weekend. It discussed rewilding the Stray, in Harrogate, and received a huge response.

Let’s encourage wildlife; we’ve destroyed so much of it.

We need to take accountability and give back what we’ve stolen. I would love to see birds, bees and wildflowers.

The Stray isn’t just for us, it’s for our grandchildren and their children. It would be lovely if we could leave a positive legacy.

Maggie Boyd, Harrogate

Time to listen to the King and David Attenborough

I read the article about the idea of introducing wilder areas to The Stray and have some sympathy for people like Judy d’Arcy Thompson and Pam Grant. Change is often difficult when you’ve had to fight to preserve the status quo (more or less) year after year and when so often, change seems just for the sake of it.

However, the suggestions for The Stray are not just for the sake of it and are not even wholesale.  In this case it’s to provide actual benefits to the whole community (and not even just wildlife). For example, you don’t even need ponds (though they would be great); simply re-introducing boggy areas would not only provide homes for some beautiful plants but also insects and other invertebrates which would help provide food for other animals.  But not only that: bogs help soak up excessive water in the environment but also store water in times of drought.  And we know how floods and droughts are hitting the area.

When the King has said “the greatest challenge we face is to reform our relationship with nature, to put sustainability at the heart of our economy and to recognise that the conservation of nature is not a luxury but a necessity”, and David Attenborough, “surely it is our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on earth” then surely we need to listen and change what we’re doing?

It’s so many of us doing the same thing over and over again which has led us to where we are now but time is running out.

I would like to suggest it’s time to act differently – and that’s not only individuals but also politicians, organisations, town and building developers, businesses etc.  We need development that is built and developed to actively help biodiversity and the environment – rather than to suppress it or pay lip service to it.