Planners have rejected a bid to build 20 homes and 12 glamping pods at the former Nidd Valley Saw Mills.
Wakefield-based Milner Homes submitted plans to redevelop the former mill alongside the River Nidd at Dacre Banks.
The mill was sold to the developer in 2020 after its former owner retired.
Milner Homes, planned to convert the mill into five homes, and build a further 15 two to four-bedrooms homes, as well as a dozen glamping pods.
It said the proposal, submitted last year, would “create a distinctive residential development which is sympathetically designed to respect the surrounding built and natural environment” and “promote sustainable tourism”.
But North Yorkshire Council refused the application this week.
The housing and glamping pod scheme as outlined for the Nidd Valley Saw Mills site.
Trevor Watson, assistant director of planning, listed nine reasons for refusal.
He said “no exceptional circumstances” for the scheme, which is outside the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35 for development, had been demonstrated.
Other reasons included “a significant, adverse landscape and visual effect upon the landscape and scenic beauty of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”, “insufficient evidence that the continued use of the site for employment purposes is not feasible or viable” and flood concerns.
Mr Watson added:
“The proposed layout creates a scheme that is of poor quality, does not create a safe and accessible environment or reflect the principles of good, sustainable layout design.”
Hartwith cum Winsley Parish Council objected because the application was outside the local plan boundary and also because of highways and noise concerns.
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Local MPs vote in favour of Privileges Committee report
The two local Conservative MPs voted in support of a report last night that found Boris Johnson deliberately misled MPs over lockdown parties.
The Commons backed the report by 354 votes to seven — however 225 MPs either abstained or did not turn up to vote, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Andrew Jones, who represents Harrogate and Knaresborough, and Julian Smith, who represents Skipton and Ripon, were among the 118 Tories who supported the report by parliament’s Privileges Committee.
Mr Smith tweeted afterwards “upholding the rules of parliament is key to our democracy”.
Tonight I voted to support the cross party privileges committee report. Boris Johnson did a number of positive things as Prime Minister, but upholding the rules of parliament is key to our democracy https://t.co/YFJIsOs1zU
— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) June 19, 2023
Mr Jones indicated his intentions last week when he said:
“I called for the Privileges Committee investigation into this issue and I have supported its work. I will be voting on Monday to accept their recommendations in full.”
The cross-party committee’s report found Mr Johnson committed repeated offences when he said covid rules had been followed at No 10 at all times.
The Selby and Ainsty constituency, which covers part of the Harrogate district, does not currently have an MP following Nigel Adams’ resignation.
A by-election will take place on July 20.
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Posters go up as search for missing Sophie continues
Hundreds of posters have gone up around Harrogate and Knaresborough in the search for missing Sophie Lambert.
Four nights have now passed since Sophie, 22, was last seen at her home in Starbeck.
The police search is focusing on the area near the river at Bilton in Nidd Gorge after a member of the public found Sophie’s mobile phone, bank card and jumper there on Saturday morning.
Sophie was last seen on Friday night.
A Facebook group to co-ordinate the search has been set up and already has over 1,000 members. You can visit it here.
Knaresborough printers Sid Horner and Son printed 1,000 posters yesterday showing a photo of Sophie and urging people to report any sightings.
Inspector Graham Waller, the critical incident inspector based at Harrogate, said yesterday there had been “no positive sightings” of Sophie since she vanished and nothing has emerged overnight.
Numerous groups took part in searches along the river and around the Bilton area last night and are continuing to do so this morning.
North Yorkshire Police has said in a statement:
“Sophie is described as white, 5ft 3in, aged in her early 20s, slim build, with long dark brown hair that is possibly plaited or wavy.
“She has a distinctive scar on her forehead which is likely to be noticeable.
“It is unknown what clothing she has on, but her family said she tends to wear jogging bottoms and has dark green Adidas trainers with a white sole.
“If you have seen a woman matching Sophie’s description or photograph, please call North Yorkshire Police immediately on 999 quoting reference 12230110845.”
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Search for missing Sophie Lambert finds her mobile phone
A mobile phone, bank card and a top belonging to missing Sophie Lambert have been found, police said today.
The possessions were discovered by a member of the public on Saturday morning near the river at Nidd Gorge, which is the focus of the search for the 22-year-old from Starbeck.
North Yorkshire Police revealed the news at a media call today, at which they said a 30-strong search party consisting of police, mountain and underwater rescues had been combing the 500-metres area around where the items were found in Bilton.
Sophie Lambert
They added helicopters and dogs had also been employed in the operation.
Inspector Graham Waller, the critical incident inspector based at Harrogate, said there had been “no positive sightings” of Sophie in the 72 hours since she disappeared.
Insp Graham Waller pictured at the police search scene today.
He added the search would widen and continue “as long as necessary” during daylight hours if Sophie is not found. He said:
“We are very concerned for Sophie’s welfare.
“It’s totally out of character for her to be away from home for this long.
“At the moment we don’t have any suggestion she has come to harm but we are keeping an open mind.”
Asked what people could do to help, and whether they should take part in search parties, Insp Waller urged people to “remain vigilant” and contact the police if they had any information but said he would “discourage” members of the public taking part in search parties because of the “difficult terrain” in Nidd Gorge.
In today’s update, police said Sophie was last seen at home by her family at 6.50pm on Friday night and then captured shortly afterwards on CCTV camera at 7.06pm.
She was wearing dark trousers, a black top with a white adidas logo and dark shoes with a white sole. She had her hair tied back and was carrying a bottle with a pink lid.
Read more:
- CCTV footage released in search for missing Sophie
- New photo of missing Sophie as concerns grow for Harrogate woman
Men jailed for £143,000 burglaries at new housing sites in Harrogate district
Two men have been jailed for their part in stealing newly-installed boilers and other equipment worth £143,000 from housing developments in the Harrogate district.
Shaun Andrew Finley, 34, of Goldthorpe, Barnsley, and Stephen William Case, 43, of Dunscroft, Doncaster, targeted boilers, furniture and other equipment belonging to building companies and contractors.
They struck at homes in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Killinghall, Kirk Hammerton and Dishforth.
Finley was jailed for five years and Case for four years and two months when they were sentenced at York Crown Court on Friday.
The court heard that between June 1 and December 15 in 2020 they targeted prestigious new build developments 22 times.
According to a North Yorkshire Police press release today, officers identified a pattern in the burglaries which involved the same method of breaking into the properties and removing the items.
The press release added:
“They specifically targeted houses that were ready for occupation. This caused considerable disruption and upset to the homebuyers and added cost and inconvenience to the developers.
“Through detailed analysis of CCTV and automatic number plater recognition data, the investigation team were able to place the vans and cars they were using – often driving in convoy – in and around the new build locations that they burgled.
“They also uncovered that Finley and Case were actively avoiding detection by registering, and insuring, their vehicles in the names of innocent members of the public. They also used cloned registration plates. This resulted in the arrest of two men who had nothing to do with the crimes, as well as numerous speeding tickets.”
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At the sentencing, Judge Sean Morris commended the work of detective sergeant Steve Peachman, the now retired detective sergeant Marcus Dawson, and analyst Libby Edison for the effective investigation which secured the convictions.
The Judge said they were “a credit to North Yorkshire Police and the people of North Yorkshire”.
DS Steve Peachman, from the force’s operation expedite unit, said:
“The outcome of our investigation shows that if you choose to embark on conspiracies with organised crime groups, you can expect lengthy custodial sentences.
“We proved that Finley and Case were principal participants in committing crime in North Yorkshire.
“They used a high degree of sophistication, but it was not enough to escape justice.”
Taxi driver killed in crash near Harewood Bridge
A man died in a crash near Harewood Bridge that led to the closure of the A61 for more than 12 hours yesterday.
Police said today the man, who has not been named, was a taxi driver in his 40s.
He died at the scene of the crash, which occurred at about 1.20am yesterday morning on the A61 Harrogate Road at Dunkeswick. The road reopened at 3.20pm.
North Yorkshire Police is now appealing for witnesses to the collision, which involved a grey BMW and a black Peugeot taxi.
It said in a statement today:
“Sadly, the driver of the taxi, a man in his 40s died at the scene. His family have been informed and are receiving support form specially trained officers.
“The driver of the BMW, a man in his 20s remains in hospital.
“The stretch of road was closed until 3.20pm on Sunday afternoon to allow officers to investigate the scene.
Anyone who saw the collision or has dashcam footage is urged to dial 101, select option 2 and ask for Steve Hawkins.
Alternatively, you can email DC 55 Steve Hawkins on Steve.Hawkins@northyorkshire.police.uk
Quote reference number 12230111568 when passing information.
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Teenage Ripon golfer to complete 100 holes in a day
Ripon Grammar School sixth former Samuel Cann is aiming to complete 100 holes of golf in a day for charity this week.
The teenage golf fan, who only started took up golf two years ago, estimates the five-and-a-half rounds will take about 16 hours to complete.
He therefore plans to tee-off at Ripon City Golf Club at 4am on Wednesday and finish by 8pm this Wednesday, June 21.
Sam, 18, who will raise money for Prostate Cancer UK, said:
“I am undertaking this challenge in support of friends and members at the golf club who are suffering or impacted by someone suffering from prostate cancer.
“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with around 143 men diagnosed every day, and 1 in 8 men being diagnosed in their lifetime.”
The charity’s Big Golf Race, which has been running since 2020, challenges golfers to take on either 36, 72 or — new for 2023 — the ultra marathon 100 holes in a day.
Sam will be supported by other Ripon City Golf Club members who will join him for a round during the challenge, which he hopes will raise up to £500.
Sam, from Sharow, hopes to study aerospace engineering at the Manchester University after completing his A-levels.
There is a JustGiving page for the event, which you can find here.
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Gallery: Great Ouseburn displays its dazzling gardens
Great Ouseburn may be small but it showed yesterday it has some of the finest gardens in the Harrogate district.
Sixteen private gardens opened for the day as part of the village’s annual garden festival.
They included a wildflower meadow, quirky modern designs, cottage gardens and even one small courtyard garden that doesn’t get any sun for almost half the year.
The festival has grown to become about more than beautiful gardens: there were also concerts by the vocal ensemble Camerata Sonora in St Mary’s Church, a cookery demonstration, wine tasting, gardeners’ question time and displays of Morgan cars and alpacas on the village green.
With cricket on the playing fields and tea and cakes in the school, it made for a quintessentially English experience that even included a downpour, which fortunately did not take place until five minutes before the event was due to end.
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The festival, which raises money for village causes, was the latest of many midsummer open gardens events taking place across the district.
Knaresborough and Marton-cum-Grafton are holding events this weekend.
For further details, click here.
Here are some photos from Great Ouseburn yesterday.
North Yorkshire Police has released CCTV footage in the search for missing Harrogate woman Sophie Lambert, 22.
Sophie was reported missing from her home in Starbeck at 10.10pm on Friday having last been seen by her family at 7.20pm before she left the house.
CCTV footage taken on the night she disappeared shows she was wearing dark trousers, a black top with a white adidas logo and dark shoes with a white sole. She had her hair tied back and was carrying a bottle with a pink lid.
Concerns are growing for Sophie Lambert.
A police statement said:
“Concerns are growing for her welfare and North Yorkshire Police are currently making extensive house-to-house enquiries to help find her.
“Police searches have continued today in the Nidd Gorge area with assistance from search and rescue.”
Sophie is described as white, 5ft 3in with a slim build
She has a distinctive scar on her forehead which is likely to be noticeable.
The police statement added:
“If you have seen a woman matching Sophie’s description or photograph, please call North Yorkshire Police immediately on 999, quoting reference 12230110845.”
Read more:
- New photo of missing Sophie as concerns grow for Harrogate woman
- Police issue urgent appeal to find missing Harrogate woman
Ripon fire victim: ‘We can’t thank everyone enough’
Ripon residents have rallied to support those affected by a fire that ravaged three terraced houses on Friday.
Six teams of firefighters were called to Magdalens Close at 7pm to deal with a blaze believed to have been caused by a gas leak.
The fire spread to two adjoining properties and although one woman was hospitalised nobody was seriously injured.
However, none of the homes is currently fit to live in and those affected have had to find alternative accommodation.
The fire has caused major damage.
The people of Ripon pledged all kinds of support over the weekend.
Alex Ryder, whose sister was in one of the side homes affected, started a gofundme page on Saturday to raise £3,000 for the families affected.
By last night it had raised more than £3,500 — thanks in no small part to an anonymous donation of £1,800.
Mr Ryder told the Stray Ferret:
“We have no idea who it was but we can’t thank them enough.”
Although Sophie’s home was not as badly fire damaged as the one in the middle, smoke and water has ruined all furniture, carpets and the majority of possessions. Mr Ryder said:
“The middle house and house on the left are definitely uninhabitable at the moment and there’s a question mark over my sister’s, they are awaiting advice from a structural engineer as to whether it is safe or if it needs knocking down and rebuilding,”
Firefighters tackling the blaze on Friday.
Sophie added:
“It’s been a horrific couple of days and we are still trying to process everything that’s going on.
“We can’t thank everyone enough for all the support and kind words. As soon as it started the neighbours on Magdalens Close were amazing and have been ever since, offering accommodation, food, water, anything we need.
“The gofundme page just shows how amazing everyone is and has been.”
Read more: