Harrogate firefighters axed, Ripon military heritage threat and the Champions League comes to Starbeck

Last week was about floods — this week was more about fire. Or fire services, to be more accurate.

Our story last weekend about four Harrogate firefighters losing their jobs in April as part of plans to reduce the number of nighttime fire engines on Skipton Road from two to one caused a lot of concern — not just in Harrogate but also in rural areas like Summerbridge where local fire stations struggle to attract on-call firefighters and rely heavily on full-time crews in Harrogate.

Ripon’s rich military heritage came under threat this week. The soldier-poet Wilfred Owen, whose time in Ripon is commemorated in a plaque on Borage Lane, is part of a story that needs telling more widely, not ripping apart.

It’s been a bad week for shops in the Lower Station Parade area of Harrogate. This week’s stories on Party Fever and Go Herbs followed hot on the heels of the closure of the Fabulous 50s Diner.

On a lighter note, will you be going to Starbeck to see Manchester City’s five trophies? Even for non-City fans, this is surely too good a chance to miss.

This was also the week when Knaresborough got its second Asda Express and fencing went up around one of the last green spaces in the Kingsley area of Harrogate to make way for 162 homes.

If you have a view on any of our articles, or indeed anything else that’s bugging you about life in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham, do email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will consider it for publication in our Stray Views letters page.

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Crime commissioner requests Michael Gove meeting over ‘really disappointing’ council tax limit

Zoe Metcalfe has requested an “urgent meeting” with secretary of state for local government Michael Gove after being told she can only raise the fire service’s council tax precept by a maximum of 3%.

The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is consulting on what the annual police and fire precepts should be from April.

She has put forward increases of 2.99%, 6.2% and 9.2% as well as a precept freeze.

For Band D properties a 2.99% increase would see an extra £2.41 added onto council tax bills to pay for the fire service. But Ms Metcalfe warned this would be inadequate due to rising inflationary costs and staff pay awards.

According to a report that went before councillors at a meeting of City of York and North Yorkshire Council’s police, fire and crime panel in Northallerton this afternoon, four firefighters in Harrogate will lose their jobs in April in a move that will save £210,000.

From April 2025, a further four firefighter jobs will go in Scarborough to save £215,000 as well as seven other members of staff across the county saving another £375,000.

A report described the fire service’s finances as “exceptionally tight”.

Around half of the crime commissioner’s budget comes from council tax with a government grant making up the rest.

Ms Metcalfe told councillors she was “really disappointed” to discover the fire precept can be raised by a maximum of 3%, whereas she said a 5% rise “would make such a difference.”

However, a rise of more than 3% would require a public referendum.

She said:

“I have asked for an urgent meeting with Michael Gove to have a conversation so we can address this and so they can see the real impact it has on North Yorkshire’s fire and rescue service.”

“I’ve always fought really hard to get additional funding and I really hope we can turn it around this time. Unfortunately inflation has had such an impact.”

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Ms Metcalfe received support from councillors including Conservative council leader Carl Les who said the panel would be prepared to write a letter of support to government that asks for more “flexibility” in the council tax precept.

Cllr Lindsay Burr, who represents Malton as an independent, said the financial situation for the fire service gets “grimmer and grimmer and grimmer”.

She said:

“We know you’re trying to do your best. We had horrific floods in Malton and who was there? The fire brigade. It’s such a service that we really depend on. This cannot go on. You can only cut so far.”

Conservative councillor for Romanby, Peter Wilkinson, added:

“When setting the budget every year it seems to get worse or rather than better.”

The precept survey, which is open until January 21, is available here.

Manchester City to display all five trophies in Harrogate

Manchester City are to display the five trophies the club currently holds in Harrogate this month.

City performed the treble last season when they won the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup.

Since then. they have also lifted the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.

All five trophies will be on display at The Forest Club, which was previously called Starbeck Working Men’s Club, on Tuesday, January 23 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Entry is free and people will be welcome to take photos.

The rare opportunity has been made possible through the local branch of Manchester City’s official supporters club.

Harrogate Blues has about 200 members and organises a coach for weekend home games that picks up fans in Boroughbridge,  Harrogate and Leeds.

Ex-players in the Harrogate area include Danny Mills and Micah Richards, although they are not expected to attend on the night.

City fan Peter Arnold said everyone — including non-City fans — was welcome at what will be an informal event where people just turn up on the night.

He said:

“It’s a unique opportunity to see all five trophies together. It might never happen again.”

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Councillors refuse Kirk Hammerton retirement homes plan

Councillors have voted to refuse plans for 58 retirement homes with care facilities in Kirk Hammerton.

It was described at North Yorkshire Council‘s Selby and Ainsty planning committee this afternoon as being “the right scheme in the wrong location”.

The homes were proposed at Station Road by the A59 junction and developer SageHaus Living said in documents they would help meet a “significant demand” for this type of elderly accommodation in the area.

Councillors heard from former Labour MP and health minister Stephen Ladyman who is now the director of Oak Retirement, which is the company that would run the facility on behalf of SageHaus Living.

The site would not be a care home but would have on-site qualified care staff, a community hub for people to socialise and a small shop. Mr Ladyman said older people who live in this type of development stay healthy and maintain their independence for longer.

He added:

“Older people don’t want to move out of their local community into urban environments.”

The scheme had been designed as a carbon neutral development to include solar panels on the roof, heat pumps as well as efficient lighting which Mr Ladyman said would result in 90% less energy use.

This was praised by Cllr Arnold Warneken, the Green Party councillor for Ouseburn, who said:

“We should allow planning applications that help us save the planet.”

He also said he had heard from people in the Kirk Hammerton area who would like to work at the facility if it was approved.

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But the plans were recommended for refusal by council officer Kate Broadbank due to its location, which she said would be unsuitable to the village surroundings.

Ms Broadbank also criticised the scheme’s accessibility to public transport. A bus stop on the A59 is nearby but there is no footpath, shelter or road crossing.

However, Mr Ladyman argued that residents would only have to walk five minutes to get to Hammerton railway station, which is on the York to Harrogate line.

Councillors sided with the officer’s recommendation and voted by four votes to two to refuse the plans.

Cllr John Cattanach, independent councillor for Cawood and Escrick, said:

 “I think this is the right kind of scheme we’d welcome in North Yorkshire but I don’t see it as the right location.”

Council set to submit Maltkiln development plan next month

North Yorkshire Council is set to submit to the Secretary of State for Housing a 100-page document that outlines how the Maltkiln new settlement could be developed.

Harrogate Borough Council worked on the development plan document (DPD) for several years before handing it over to the unitary authority due to local government reorganisation.

The potential 4,000-home town and two primary schools would be constructed near the villages of Cattal, Whixley, Green Hammerton and Kirk Hammerton.

As the site is the largest allocation for housing in the Harrogate local plan, the council has a major say in how the scheme is developed. Wetherby-based developer Caddick Group has been chosen to build and sell the homes.

According to a report prepared for councillors ahead of a meeting next week, the draft DPD “sets a clear and ambitious thirty-year vision” for Maltkiln.

It includes details of the site’s boundaries, how the scheme will be developed alongside local transport infrastructure and how homes will be built to combat the effects of climate change.

A site map produced by Harrogate Borough Council.

If, as expected, the document is submitted to the secretary of state in February, it will be scrutinised by a planning inspector who will judge whether the scheme is viable or if changes are needed to be made to the DPD.

This will take place at a public meeting which the public can attend, similar to when a local plan is examined.

But whether the scheme continues in its current form remains to be seen after a key landowner who owns fields around Cattal train station, making up around half of the proposed site, pulled out last year.

The council’s Conservative-run executive agreed last month to consider compulsory purchasing the land as a “last resort” if the landowner doesn’t change their mind.

This led Kevin Bramley from Hunsingore, Walshford with Great Ribston and Cattal Parish Council to compare the housing scheme to HS2, which saw its northern leg scrapped despite millions being spent on compulsory land purchases.

Before the draft DPD is submitted, it will be debated by a council committee on Tuesday. It will then go to the executive and finally full council on February 24.

The report said:

“The development of a new settlement known as Maltkiln is a key part of the Harrogate District Local Plan’s growth strategy, providing much needed homes and jobs in a sustainable location along the York-Harrogate-Leeds rail line.

“The broad location of the new settlement was established in the Harrogate District Local Plan (adopted 2020), but the plan states that the boundary, form and nature of the new settlement will be set through a development plan document.

“A draft DPD has now been prepared which sets an ambitious 30-year vision for Maltkiln and a policy framework to guide how it is developed. Its evolution has been underpinned by evidence base work, community involvement and public consultation.

“The next and final stage of the DPD process is submission to the secretary of state for an examination in public. This will allow independent scrutiny of the DPD and allow a further chance for communities and stakeholders to influence the process and the final DPD. If adopted, the DPD will provide a robust framework for the council to guide and manage the long-term development of Maltkiln.”

The draft DPD is available to read here.

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A million more tonnes of sand and gravel to be mined at quarry near Ripon

Councillors have granted permission for a further million tonnes of sand and gravel to be mined at Nosterfield Quarry near Ripon.

Tarmac, which operates the quarry, says it will be the final extension of the Nosterfield site and it will stop mining there at the end of 2031.

The new extraction area is currently two agricultural fields to the northwest of the site.

The plans will also see the rest of the quarry eventually restored to extend the wetlands at Nosterfield Nature Reserve, which is next to the working quarry.

It will also see new areas of grasslands created for nesting birds.

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The nature reserve was created out of a former part of the quarry and is a nationally recognised haven for birds and nature as well as a designated Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).

However, the proposals received an objection from Lower Ure Conservation Trust, a charity which runs the nature reserve.

It said there should be a more “comprehensive approach” approach to mitigating the environmental and ecological impact of the mining.

The RSPB charity also objected due to the impact the expansion might have on curlews.

The birds are declining in the wild but have been successfully breeding at the nature reserve.

Councillors on North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee ultimately decided to approve the plans at a meeting in Northallerton yesterday. There were 12 votes in favour and two abstentions.

A report prepared ahead of the meeting said:

“The application, along with the supporting environmental statement and additional information, has been assessed and it is considered on balance that there is a need for the mineral and there would be no unacceptable adverse environmental impacts resulting from the proposed development.”

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Firefighters called to rescue drunk driver in Harrogate

Both Harrogate fire engines were called out in the early hours of this morning to help free a drunk driver after a crash.

Police requested firefighters’ assistance near Pot Bridge on the B6161, between Killinghall and Hampsthwaite, at 4.25am this morning.

According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report, the car had been involved in a single vehicle crash “with the male driver still in vehicle and believed intoxicated”.

It added:

“As fire crews prepared for a vehicle roof removal, male made his own way from vehicle and into care of ambulance where he was transported to hospital in ambulance complaining of back pain.”

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Cycleway set to be built on Harrogate’s Station Parade  

A cycleway looks set to be built on Harrogate’s Station Parade as part of the reduced £11.2 million Station Gateway scheme.

Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire Council‘s executive member for highways and transport, said today the full business case for the scheme had been submitted to West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

He said it included a southbound cycleway on the same side of the road as the bus station, and maintaining two lanes of traffic.

The details have not been released but the decision to keep two lanes of traffic and build a cycleway raises questions about the future of the taxi rank and loading bay on the other side of Station Parade.

The taxi rank

The loading bay

The council scrapped its previous proposals, which included reducing some of Station Parade to single lane and part-pedestrianising James Street, after admitting its plans were legally flawed.

The original scheme was hailed as a key active travel scheme that would be part of a cycle route to Cardale Park so its abandonment disappointed cyclists.

The revised scheme includes better coordinated traffic signals, footways and crossings, public realm improvements to areas including the One Arch tunnel, a bus lane and a southbound cycleway along Station Parade.

Cllr Duncan, who has been chosen to represent the Conservatives in the York and North Yorkshire mayoral election on May 2, said:

“This represents a significant cross-party effort and many hours of discussions.

“While there has been inevitable compromise, there is encouraging agreement on key elements of the revised scheme which takes us closer to securing £11 million of investment for Harrogate.

“Station Parade will remain two lanes, with no pedestrianisation of James Street.”

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for access at North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Keane Duncan

He added the revised plan “delivers key benefits to all road users”, adding:

“We now standby for approval of the business case before construction can begin, hopefully later this year.

“There will be further public engagement and consultation on the detail of the plan in coming months.”

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Harrogate streets reopen after bomb scare

Several streets in Harrogate town centre closed this morning due to a bomb scare. Harrogate Magistrates Court was evacuated and police blocked Victoria Avenue, where the court is based, along with several other streets. Police, paramedics and firefighters were at the scene until after midday. Here’s what happened.

1.05pm: Police say enquiries are ‘ongoing’

North Yorkshire Police said no arrests have been made following the incident.

Enquiries are ongoing, the force said, but the scene appears to now be cleared.

12.56pm: Evacuated school issues statement about ‘most unusual day’

St Peter’s Church of England Primary School in Harrogate was evacuated as part of today’s bomb scare.

A spokesperson said:

“We quickly responded to advice from the police and evacuated all staff and pupils  to a local church.  All were calm and happy throughout the process and we would like to thank our staff and our pupils’ parents/carers for their support in dealing with what has been a most unusual day.”

12.48pm: Last police car leaves Victoria Avenue

Things appear to have returned to normal in Harrogate town centre after today’s bomb scare. We still await further information about what happened from the police, but for now it seems the bomb scare is over.

12.37pm: Police cordons being removed

Police are removing cordons and police vehicles are leaving the scene. We haven’t had an official update but it appears the incident may be under control.

Victoria Avenue reopens to traffic.

12.32pm: Aerial view of Victoria Avenue

Brian Simpson has posted this view on X, formerly Twitter. He added:

“I live down the street and there don’t seem to be too many concerns. Certainly they’re not doing a huge amount to stop people moving around Victoria Avenue towards the junction with Station Parade and they’ve even directed some cars that way.”

bomb scare 9 Jan 2023

12.24pm: West Park reopens to traffic

West Park has reopened to traffic. It had been closed at the Prince of Wales roundabout but it has now reopened after the cordon went up on Victoria Avenue.

12.15pm: More cordons go up

Police cordons have now gone up on Victoria Avenue, where firefighters and an ambulance incident response unit are on site, and on Princes Square.

12.10pm: Cordon extended to Raglan Street

The whole of Victoria Avenue is cordoned off, but police have now extended the exclusion area to Raglan Street. Traffic is still blocked from West Park, which leads on to Victoria Avenue, which is the focus of police activity.

12.03pm: Police issue update 

North Yorkshire Police has just issued the following statement:

“We are attending reports of a suspicious vehicle on Victoria Avenue, Harrogate. We ask members of the public to avoid the area for the time being, and we’re very grateful for your patience and understanding.:

11.56am: Bomb scare in car?

An officer at the scene has said the incident is a suspected bomb scare in a car on Victoria Avenue.

Court staff have been evacuated.

11.46am: Police cordons up

Dog walkers heading out of town were turned away from a police cordon across the pavement by the Prince of Wales roundabout.

The Stray Ferret has contacted North Yorkshire Police for details about the incident. We will update this article when more information is available.

West Park is closed to traffic.

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Four Harrogate firefighters to be axed in April

The number of firefighters stationed in Harrogate will be cut by four in April.

The move, which will save £210,000, is part of plans to reduce the number of nighttime fire engines based in the town from two to one.

The Stray Ferret broke the news in 2022 that Zoe Metcalfe, the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner planned to shed frontline firefighting jobs as part of her Risk and Resource Model, which sets out how fire resources will be deployed.

The proposals were later adopted despite widespread safety concerns but they have yet to be implemented.

A report that will be debated by councillors on Thursday  (January 11) about setting the police and fire service precepts for the next financial year gives a brief update.

It says Harrogate will have four fewer firefighters from April this year. Scarborough is due to lose four firefighters next year, saving another £215,000. Another seven firefighters, described as ‘operational staffing reserve’, will also go in April next year, saving £375,000.

The report, which comes after Ms Metcalfe hinted council taxpayers may have to pay more for police and fire services this year,  warns “finances continue to be exceptional tight”.

The Stray Ferret asked Ms Metcalfe’s office how many firefighters will remain at Harrogate after the changes take effect and whether those affected had been offered alternative roles.

A spokesperson said:

“The proposals in the precept report are in line with the consultation and decisions made in relation to the Risk and Resource Model in September 2022.

“The report to which your questions refer will be discussed at the police, fire and crime panel meeting on Thursday, January 11 and it would not be appropriate for us to provide any further information at this time.”

The North Yorkshire Police Fire and Crime Panel, which is a joint committee of North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council, scrutinises the performance of the commissioner.

How will it work?

Harrogate fire station on Skipton Road.

Harrogate Fire Station

Currently, Harrogate Fire Station on Skipton Road has one fire engine which can respond to all callouts and one smaller tactical response vehicle. Both operate around the clock.

The tactical response vehicle will be replaced by a larger fire engine but it will only be crewed during the day.

Ms Metcalfe’s Risk and Resource Model said more fires occur during daytime, and having two fire engines at Harrogate would provide better daytime protection at key times.

But the second Harrogate appliance won’t be staffed between 10pm and 9am, meaning greater dependence on on-call firefighters in Knaresborough when a second fire engine is required at major incidents.

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