Cornish Bakery to open on Harrogate’s James Street

A Cornish Bakery is set to open on Harrogate’s prestigious James Street.

The eat-in or take-out bakery will be based in the former Paperchase unit that closed at the end of May.

Cornish Bakery , which has more than 50 shops in the UK, sells pasties, breakfast pastries, cakes and coffees. It also provides a mail order service.

It is one of six new bakeries planned this year by the firm, which in February announced pre-tax profits of £3.1 million in the financial year ending May 2022. Its nearest store is currently in York.

Agents acting on behalf of Cornish Bakery founder Stephen Grocutt have submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council to display new signs outside the building.

Paperchase closed in May.

Recruitment adverts for positions within the company in Harrogate have also appeared online.

The planning documents do not say when the store will open. However,

The shop will be close to the Cornish Pasty Bakery in the Victoria Shopping Centre as well as two town centre Greggs, which also sells pasties.

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Local by-election candidates accuse BBC of bias

The three Independent candidates in this week’s Selby and Ainsty by-election have accused the BBC of bias.

Harrogate-based Andrew Gray, Tyler Wilson-Kerr and Nick Palmer issued a joint statement last night claiming they had been marginalised by the broadcaster.

The statement said:

“Absence of the Independent candidates from BBC coverage gives the electorate the impression that they are not able to win; that they are not working hard.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. The mood of the constituency is one of change. Most people we speak to do not align with any political party.”

Opinion polls suggest the by-election is a two-way fight between the Conservatives and Labour.

Betting company OddsChecker has Labour 1/7 to win, with the Conservatives at 11-2 and the Liberal Democrats at 100-1.

Conservative Nigel Adams, who won the seat in 2019 with a 20,137 majority in 2019, triggered the by-election when he resigned last month. It is one of three by-elections being contested on Thursday.

If Labour wins, it will be the biggest ever overturn of a Conservative majority. The party is expected to send several front bench heavyweights to the constituency this week as part of a final push.

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Thirteen candidates are standing in Thursday’s ballot.

The joint statement highlight how Independents came third at last year’s  local elections in Selby and adds:

“With so many candidates, the likely margin of victory is likely to be small. The State Broadcaster’s position could sway this election.

“Tyler, Nick and Andrew all bring valuable experience to this election. The habit of mainstream media to treat elections as a largely binary choice is both insulting to Yorkshire voters and damaging to democracy.”

32,000 chickens killed in fire in Harrogate district

More than 32,000 chickens have been killed in a fire on the edge of the Harrogate district.

Firefighters from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon were called to commercial premises near Upper Dunsforth yesterday afternoon.

The water bowser from Boroughbridge was also summoned.

Station manager Tony Walker tweeted:

“No injuries reported but sadly over 32,000 chickens have perished in the blaze.

“Significant damage to the building. Fire Investigation underway.”

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said the fire occurred to a shed measuring about 250ft x 50m and help was requested at 3.37pm.

Station manager Tony Walker tweeted several photos of the incident, including these below.

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Ex-Harrogate teen sentenced to 18 months for indecent images of children

An 18-year-old former Harrogate man has been sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders institute for making and distributing indecent images of children.

Dylan Paul Ansell also admitted possessing extreme pornography and a prohibited image.

Besides his 18-month sentence, Ansell was handed a 10-year sexual harm order, ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and given a five-year restraining order when he appeared at York Crown Court yesterday.

Ansell, now of Camping Close, Haddenham, Ely, but formerly of Harrogate, answered “no comment” when first quizzed about content found on devices seized from his address on August 20, 2021.

However, during a trial at York Crown Court he later pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent photographs of children, three counts of distributing indecent photographs of children, one count of possessing extreme pornography and one count of possession of a prohibited image.

Ansell also pleaded guilty to stalking — he used false social media accounts to repeatedly target a victim, which has had a lasting impact on their day-to-day activities.

Speaking today after sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Sullivan of North Yorkshire Police‘s online child abuse team said,

“The devices seized from Ansell’s home were found to contain hundreds of illegal images and videos – including category A indecent images of children, prohibited images of children between the ages of three and 17 years, as well as extreme pornography.

“Ansell also manipulated photos of children that he knew and shared them with others online, without their knowledge, for sexualised purposes. He was also actively involved in an online network that created and shared indecent images of children.”

He added:

“His actions have caused significant distress to his victims, including one of whom he repeatedly stalked using false social media accounts. In addition to this he has shown blatant disregard to the bail conditions that were put in place, by repeatedly attempting to contact the victim, causing additional stress and anxiety. He has shown absolutely no remorse for this.

“I’d like to commend the bravery of that victim and their family, who due to Ansell’s repeat offending had to endure a prolonged investigation. They have all shown strength and determination throughout our enquiries and the resulting court process.”

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Three schools near Harrogate to share executive head under new agreement

Three village schools near Harrogate and Knaresborough have agreed to work in partnership in a move leaders say will benefit pupils and staff.

Goldsborough Church of England Primary School and Sicklinghall Community Primary School formed the Goldsborough Sicklinghall Federation in 2015.

Now the federation has entered into a less formal “collaborative agreement” with Admiral Long Church of England Primary School at Burnt Yates.

The move will see federation executive headteacher Zoe Ellis also become executive headteacher at Admiral Long in September and work across all three sites.

Admiral Long Primary School in Burnt Yates

Admiral Long Primary School in Burnt Yates.

A letter from to parents from Cerys Townend, chair of the federation’s governing board, said it was “approached by the local authority to enter into a collaborative agreement with another small school”.

It added the move “provides an exciting new opportunity to learn and develop as well as building the financial resilience of all three schools”.

The letter said the schools “share core values rooted in Christian beliefs and practice” and “high quality learning opportunities”. It added:

“By sharing knowledge, expertise, and resources, the schools can enhance their educational offerings and provide a more enriching experience for their pupils.

“Collaboration enables the schools to pool their strengths, resulting in a wider range of learning opportunities, improved teaching practices, and a more comprehensive curriculum.”

Admiral Long is 11 miles from Goldsborough and 10 miles from Sicklinghall.

‘Exciting opportunity’

The Stray Ferret asked the council why the collaboration was happening and what impact it will have on staffing and finances.

Amanda Newbold, assistant director for education and skills at the council, replied in a statement:

“This is an exciting opportunity for Admiral Long CE Primary School to work in collaboration with the Goldsborough Sicklinghall Federation, led by executive headteacher Zoe Ellis and her team from the start of September.

“The collaboration will help the schools to work together, share expertise and resources for the benefit of pupils, staff and the wider school communities.”

Electric vehicle parking strategy being drawn up for Knaresborough

North Yorkshire Council has said it is working on a strategy for electric vehicle parking in Knaresborough after a petition was launched against the current arrangements.

Ten parking bays in Chapel Street Car Park, which were set aside for electric vehicles at the end of last year, are frequently empty.

Town centre parking in Knaresborough is notoriously difficult and the sight of empty bays while shoppers in petrol and diesel cars struggle to find spaces has infuriated traders, who say they are losing customers and taxpayers are being deprived of parking revenue.

The problem is particularly acute on Wednesday market days and Saturdays.

Five shops are displaying the petition, which was launched on Monday, calling for the council “to enter into urgent dialogue to discuss a phased transition to full electric vehicle provision”.

Traders want to see some of the EV charging stations available to all vehicles until demand for electric vehicle parking increases.

Chapel Street car park EV electric vehicles

Empty bays in Chapel Street Car Park.

Hairdresser Kelly Teggin, who launched the petition on Monday, has said the current arrangements are losing Knaresborough 500 to 1,000 shoppers a week.

She aims to get 500 signatures, which would require North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee to debate the matter. About 300 have signed so far.

The Stray Ferret asked the council to respond to some of the traders’ concerns.

Barrie Mason, the council’s assistant director for highways and transport, provided written responses we have quoted below.

1 Engagement with the council has been almost non-existent

“The electric vehicle charging bays were installed as part of ultra-low emission vehicle strategy in 2019, with economic growth at its core.

“In March this year, our officers attended a public meeting with parties such as the town council. The session was to inform the public about the latest developments in electric vehicle parking provision in the local area and the feedback was positive.

“In the last few weeks, our officers met with local councillors to agree to collecting data which will help us build a picture of parking in Knaresborough. We can use this data to inform a strategy moving forward.”

2 Do non-electric car drivers get tickets for parking in the EV bays?

“The regulations are currently being re-written for all the car parks in North Yorkshire to include EV charging bays.”

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3 Do electric vehicles have to pay for parking while they charge?

“Yes, electric vehicles must pay to park whilst they charge during the chargeable hours of the car park.”

4 Why was a four-hour stay car park chosen when it takes eight hours to fully charge vehicles?

“The funding used to deliver the chargers states that the bays must be free for residential use between the hours of 6pm to 8am to encourage residential uptake of electric vehicles in areas with little or no off-street parking.

“It is expected that a visitor charging their vehicle for the four hours allowed in Knaresborough between 8am to 6pm would add around 120 miles to the range of the car.

“North Yorkshire’s electric vehicle infrastructure strategy, adopted in May 2023, aims to guarantee that charging is available for all those that need it.

“We want to ensure that people can charge their vehicle whilst they spend time in that place, hopefully increasing their spending with local businesses.

“The increase in range for visitors over four hours should offer enough charge to either get home or go to the most convenient rapid charging point.”

International money launderers from Ripon spared jail

Two people from near Ripon have received suspended prison sentences for helping to smuggle more than £100 million from the UK to Dubai.

Jonathan Johnson, 54, and Jo-Emma Larvin, 43, a model and former girlfriend of boxer Joe Calzaghe, were found guilty in April .

Yesterday at Isleworth Crown Court, Johnson was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years, while Larvin received 24 months suspended for two years,

The pair, both of Grantley near Ripon, were charged with removing cash from England and Wales which they knew or suspected was acquired through criminal conduct.

Both acted as couriers and were convicted alongside Beatrice Auty, 26, from London and Amy Harrison, 27, from Worcester Park in Surrey.

£104 million smuggled to Dubai on 83 trips

The National Crime Agency investigation discovered the network smuggled more than £104 million from the UK to Dubai during 83 separate trips between November 2019 and October 2020, overseen by ringleader Abdullah Alfalsi, 47, who was jailed for more than nine years in July last year.

The couriers, who were paid around £3,000 for each trip and would be booked on business class flights due to the extra luggage allowance, communicated on a Whatsapp group called ’Sunshine and lollipops’.

Larvin made two trips to Dubai in August and September 2020.

On one trip with Amy Harrison they took seven cases between them containing £2.2 million and on another with her partner Jonathan Johnson they took eight suitcases containing £2.8 million.

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Larvin and Johnson were arrested at Manchester Airport in March 2022.

The network collected cash from criminal groups around the UK, which was believed to be the profits of drug dealing, and took it to counting houses, usually rented apartments in central London.

The money was then vacuum-packed and separated into suitcases which would typically each contain around £500,000, weighing around 40 kilos. They were sprayed with coffee or air fresheners in an effort to prevent them being found by Border Force detection dogs.

NCA senior investigating officer Ian Truby said:

“These couriers smuggled cash out of the UK on an industrial scale, at the behest of organised crime groups.

“They were prepared to travel out to the UAE for a holiday in the sun, in return for a cut of the profit.”

Harrogate residents demand action after tree crashes into garages — again

Residents on a Harrogate street are demanding action after a mighty oak tree crashed down into neighbouring gardens twice in the space of a year.

The multi-trunk oak forms part of a row of mature trees overhanging gardens at Sherwood Drive in Hookstone.

One of its three trunks splintered in July last year, destroying the fence and badly damaging the garage roof belonging to Keith Crawford.

The incident prompted Mr Crawford and several neighbours to urge North Yorkshire Council, which owns the land the trees are on, to undertake pruning to prevent a repeat.

But nothing was done and a second trunk from the oak fell into the garage roofs of two properties alongside Mr Crawford’s at 4am on Sunday morning.

Trees overhanging back gardens on Sherwood Drive.

He said the state of the trees posed a risk to people and property that the council had failed to act upon.

“It took until December to sort out my garage and fence and now it’s happened again to my neighbours.

“The trees are just not being managed properly. People are scared.”

Mr Crawford said he couldn’t recall any maintenance taking place during the 17 years he’d lived on Sherwood Drive and the trees were now far too big for residents to attempt to prune.

Christine Amour, who lives next door to Mr Crawford, was woken on her birthday last weekend by the sound of the tree crashing down. She said:

“I was so upset, I was shaking. I just stood on the steps of my back door saying ‘oh no, it’s happened again’.”

The Stray Ferret met other neighbours at Sherwood Drive last night who were equally concerned about the situation. They said their concerns to the council had also gone unanswered.

Keith and Christine Amour besides the fallen trunk, with their homes in the background.

The trees are situated on a cycleway and footpath that leads to Panhandle Park so they also pose a risk to passers-by.

We asked the council how many residents had complained about the trees on Sherwood Drive, why it had not taken action and whether it would now.

Michael Leah, assistant director for environment at the council, said:

“We visited Sherwood Drive on Monday in order to assess the situation following the adverse weather over the weekend.

“We were initially denied access to neighbouring properties and so returned on Tuesday and held further discussions with residents.

“As a result, we were able to get onto the property directly affected and remove tree debris. We completed this work on Tuesday afternoon. There was no visible damage to the property itself.”

Mr Leah added:

“Over the next three months, we will be carrying out work in the area to thin some trees that are in a poor condition and reduce more overhanging branches.

“Residents can take action to prune trees themselves in order to prevent them reaching the stage where we need to step in. This should be done carefully and with due regard to health and safety. If in any doubt, please call in professional tree surgeons to carry out such work.”

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Yorkshire Water pays £235,000 for illegal Harrogate sewage discharge

Yorkshire Water has agreed to pay £235,000 to charity for illegally pumping sewage into Hookstone Beck in Harrogate.

The Environment Agency said today the company breached its environmental permit by discharging sewage from its Stray Road combined sewer overflow into the beck, which flows between Hookstone Road and Crimple Beck.

Following an Environment Agency investigation, Yorkshire Water volunteered to make amends for its offence.

It agreed to pay the sum to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, which will use the donation on environmental improvements in North Yorkshire including native crayfish conservation and reed bed management at Ripon City Wetlands.

The Environment Agency said the Stray Road combined sewer overflow, near Tewit Well, has an environmental permit which allows a discharge into the beck when the storm sewage facility is fully utilised due to rainfall or snow melt.

On 27 August 2015, it discharged illegally during dry weather and sewage fungus was evident on the bed of Hookstone Beck.

Yorkshire Water has now upgraded its telemetry to allow continuous monitoring of the storm overflow.

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The company agreed to an enforcement undertaking, which is a voluntary offer made by companies and individuals to make amends for their offending, and usually includes a donation to a wildlife charity to carry out environmental

Claire Barrow, Environment Agency area environment manager, said:

“Sewage pollution can be devastating to human health, local biodiversity and out environment. Storm overflows must only be used under strict permitted conditions that control their environmental impact.

“We are holding the water industry to account like never before and while we will always take forward prosecutions in the most serious cases, enforcement undertakings are an effective enforcement tool to allow companies to put things right and contribute to environmental improvements.

“They allow polluters to correct and restore the harm caused to the environment and prevent repeat incidents by improving their procedures, helping ensure future compliance with environmental requirements.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said it had made “significant improvements in our operations since this incident in 2015″, adding:

“When things go wrong, we understand we have a responsibility to make it right.”

A Yorkshire Wildlife Trust statement said:

“Nature is in crisis and we firmly believe polluters causing damage to the environment must make amends, including through clean-up operations and fines.”

Harrogate and District Climate Change Coalition dissolves

The trustees of Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition have agreed to dissolve the organisation and continue its work through Zero Carbon Harrogate.

The coalition was set up by Harrogate Borough Council in 2019 to bring together businesses, local government and the voluntary sector and become an independent charity in 2021.

A statement today announcing the news said it would “help take the district closer to achieving a carbon net zero future”.

Several coalition trustees, including chair Danny Wild, the principal of Harrogate College, have become trustees of Zero Carbon Harrogate.

Jemima Parker, founder and chair of Zero Carbon Harrogate, said:

“This is a really exciting development for both charities and for the future of Harrogate. By coming together we can make a bigger impact in everything we do and help take the district closer to a net zero future.

“The scientific evidence is clear; we must act now to prevent the worst effects of climate change.”

Mr Wild said the move would “create a stronger voice on climate change for Harrogate”, adding:

“All trustees believe that through collaboration we can achieve more thorough local activity and be a stronger voice in North Yorkshire.

“I’m looking forward to working with ZCH over the next 12 months, as we look deliver activities that lead to a more sustainable future.”

Coalition’s short existence

The coalition had a short but rocky existence.

Set up by Harrogate Borough Council, it was rocked by the resignation in 2021 of Pat Marsh, the leader of Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats, who claimed the group had been ‘plagued by inaction’.

The organisation said its acquisition of charitable status later that year put it in a strong position to “accelerate action and increase its local impact”.

This was borne out when it organised Harrogate’s first climate action festival, which included a business conference at Harrogate Convention Centre.

The coalition had 12 trustees, including representatives of Harrogate Borough Council, which ceased to exist on April 1 this year.