A man has been arrested in connection with an alleged robbery and sexual assault on Bogs Lane in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police said last night a woman had sustained facial injuries while walking in the Bogs Lane area, which is off Knaresborough Road, in an incident on Tuesday night.

in a brief update this afternoon, police said the man, who is aged in his 20s, was arrested today and remains in police custody for questioning.

Officers said yesterday that people in the Bogs Lane area might see an increased police presence as inquiries were carried out.

Read more:

• Harrogate couple’s dismay after tree crashes on Porsche for second time
• Starbeck special needs school set to get another 45 pupils

Storm Otto hit the Harrogate district with a vengeance this morning.

The Stray Ferret provided live coverage as tree after tree fell, causing widespread travel disruption and damaging cars. Thousands of homes also lost power.

Here’s a look back at what happened.

2.21pm Power slowly being restored

Northern Powergrid is reporting a far lower number of homes are without power across the Harrogate district this afternoon.

It says power has been restored to many in Nidderdale and areas around Ripon, though engineers are still working to reconnect several dozen homes in the area.

The National Trust said Fountains Abbey will remain closed this afternoon as it is still without power.

❗️UPDATE❗️ Friday 17 Feb 2023: Due to the high winds, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is without power and will remain closed today.

— Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust (@fountainsabbey) February 17, 2023

Several hundred homes around Goldsborough, Spofforth and Follifoot are still cut off this afternoon, with expected reconnection times varying between 7.30pm and 1.15am.

2.14pm RHS Harlow Carr reopens

With the weather warning now lifted, conditions have improved significantly across the Harrogate district.

After a delayed opening, and then parts of the gardens remaining closed, RHS Harlow Carr confirmed it has now fully reopened.

https://twitter.com/RHSHarlowCarr/status/1626576626376138752

2.09pm Fallen trees at Ripon Rugby Club

David Uffindall has sent us photographs of three large trees that have fallen around the pitch at Ripon Rugby Club.

One in the first picture even appears to be scoring an impressive try between the posts.

The second team is due to play at the Mallorie Park ground tomorrow afternoon, against Harrogate Pythons.

The club members have already been out to begin the clear-up operation now the winds have died down.

The extent of the storm damage this morning. Big thanks to the team that is tackling the clear up operation at the moment. pic.twitter.com/IwI7bGfeiH

— Ripon Rugby Club (@RiponRugby) February 17, 2023

12.58pm: Police alerted to 20 fallen trees in two hours in Harrogate district

Harrogate police station

North Yorkshire Police has it has been “inundated” with storm-related 999 calls this morning — especially from the Harrogate district.

It said in a press release that the force control room dealt with three times the usual volume of calls between 7am and 10am.

It received 80 emergency calls and 136 non-emergency calls between between those hours today compared with 22 and 51 yesterday.

Many were notifying them of fallen trees. The release added:

“The Harrogate district was one of the worse affected areas with over 20 reports of fallen trees in two hours. Officers in Harrogate didn’t have to travel far before they found a fallen tree as one even came down in the police station car park.

“A private car was damaged, but thankfully no one was injured.”

Officers have also dealt with five incidents involving heavy good vehicles on the A1(M). Three HGVs overturned, one lost its roof and one shed its load.

An overturned vehicle on the A1

12.01pm Some attractions ready to open this afternoon

Now the weather has taken a turn for the better, tourist attractions are beginning to open their doors.

RHS Harlow Carr, which had remained closed this morning because of the high winds, says its gates will be opened to the public from 1pm, though some areas will remain closed.

⚠️ Garden opening update – Friday 17th February ⚠️

The garden will reopen at 1pm today, apart from the Woodland, Alpine House and Play Area. pic.twitter.com/tYD8sGboek

— RHS Harlow Carr (@RHSHarlowCarr) February 17, 2023

However, other attractions have said they will not be reopening just yet.

Fountains Abbey is affected by an extensive power cut across Ripon and the surrounding area, while Birchfield Farm in Nidderdale is also without power.

The latter had made the decision to stay closed today but intends to be open as usual over the weekend, assuming power has been restored.

11.28pm Another fallen tree

A tree is blocking Wood View in the Duchy area of Harrogate.

It has fallen from the garden belonging to a house that was visited by Liz Truss last summer, as part of her successful campaign to be elected as leader of the Conservative party.

11.15am Bins in the wind

With recycling collections due in some areas today, there is plenty of debris blowing around.

Expect to see rogue black recycling bins skidding across the road and blue recycling bags caught in trees and hedges when you’re out and about.

One resident has had a bit of trouble with her wheelie bin too…

https://twitter.com/G_Stockdale/status/1626536380372246533

11.10am Extensive power cuts across Harrogate district

Northern Powergrid’s live map shows extensive problems across the Harrogate district.

Much of Nidderdale is experiencing a power outage, with one area showing 170 homes are currently without power between Darley and Lofthouse, and another showing 140 have been cut off around the Hampsthwaite area.

Ripon and surrounding villages are also experiencing disruption, with 1,050 homes affected. Separate problems are affecting 410 properties around Copt Hewick and 940 homes to the north of Ripon.

Around Spofforth, Follifoot and nearby villages, there are further power cuts to 240 properties.

The estimated times for restoring power are between 7pm and 9pm, with Northern Powergrid saying it is dealing with extensive problems this morning.

Is your home or business affected by the power outage? Get in touch to let us know how you’re managing.

10.54am Power cut at Fountains Abbey

Because of a power cut in the area, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal will remain closed for now.

17 Feb 2023: Due to the high winds, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is without power and is currently closed to the public. We're assessing whether we can open the property today. Please check back for updates.

— Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust (@fountainsabbey) February 17, 2023

The National Trust said yesterday it planned to open around noon once the high winds had subsided, but that won’t be possible until power is restored.

Northern Powergrid is dealing with an unplanned power cut to just over 1,000 properties in the area and its current estimated time for reconnection is 7pm.

10.34am Rail disruption continues

There are likely to be service disruptions on the York-Harrogate-Leeds line for some time this morning.

This video from LNER shows some tarpaulin caught in overhead power lines at Leeds station.

The route out of Leeds is currently closed and passengers are advised they can use tickets to board alternative services.

However, there are also reports of a fallen tree on the tracks between Harrogate and Knaresborough, causing disruption to the timetable.

10.26am Changes to bus services

There is disruption to bus services around the Harrogate district because of the weather.

As well as the 8 and the 3 services being unable to serve stops on parts of their routes because of fallen trees, the 1 services to Knaresborough have had changes made to their departures from Harrogate bus station.

https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1626527369547612160

10.17am: Knaresborough firefighters make sign safe

Knaresborough Fire Station has posted the following on its Facebook page.

“This morning, Knaresborough Fire Crew were called out to a sign hanging perilously over a public area on the High Street due to the high winds. Crews made the structure safe

“Take care if you are travelling this morning – there are a lot of fallen trees across roads in our area.”

10.10am: The sunken Porsche 

We’ve been speaking to Zenya Dunn, seen here standing next to her partner Michael’s Porsche 911 on Granby Road in Harrogate. Look our for more on this story soon.

10am: Tree down on Ripon Road in Harrogate

The main northbound route out of Harrogate is blocked by a tree,

9.48am: Severe travel problems on Leeds Road due to tree

A fallen tree is blocking almost all of Leeds Road near M&S. The road is only passable southbound, so cars travelling northbound are having to wait for a gap in the traffic to get through. Larger vehicles like the 36 bus are having to go onto the pavement to get past.

It has fallen from a neighbouring garden right across the carriageway. Traffic is queuing in both directions and surrounding roads as people look for alternative routes.

9.41am: Delays on Leeds Road into Harrogate

Traffic has generally been lighter this week due to half-term. But there is currently very heavy traffic coming into Harrogate on Leeds Road. We have been told a tree is down near the M&S foodhall.

9.37am: Tree blocking popular Valley Gardens walking route

Tree down on the path from valley gardens to Harlow carr just over the road. Can walk round but if you are coming this way with a wheelchair or pushchair maybe consider going up Otley road #harrogate pic.twitter.com/W1ReEpDowY

— Robbie Duncan (@robbie_duncan) February 17, 2023

9.34am: Cherry tree down on the Stray

Thanks to Ann Leathley for alerting us to this fallen cherry tree on the Stray.

https://twitter.com/HarrogateAnn/status/1626512854412103680

9.31am: Tree problems on main road near Pannal

A fallen tree is blocking the lane approaching Harrogate on the A61 near Pannal, just past the Costa drive-through. The road is wide enough at that point for vehicles to pass without much difficulty.

9.26am: Tree down near Harrogate Borough Council offices

Thanks to Hayley Jayne for sending us this photo of a tree down on the junction of King’s Road and Springfield Avenue, near the council headquarters. Please let us know how the storm is affecting you by emailing contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

9.20am: Tree crashes through roof of car in Harrogate

We have been sent a photo of a tree that has fallen into the roof of a car on Granby Road in Harrogate.

9.16am: A1 partially reopens at junction 51

#A1M in #NorthYorkshire has re-opened north between J51 #Leeming & J52 #Catterick following an overturned heavy goods vehicle.

Lane 2 & 3 (of 3) remains closed. Lane 1 is open past the scene.

Please take extra care when travelling today due to very strong winds in the area. pic.twitter.com/SQuhfyY4p7

— National Highways: Yorkshire (@HighwaysYORKS) February 17, 2023

9.11am: Leeds Road disruption cleared

A tree down on Leeds Road near the junction with Stone Rings Lane was partially blocking the road this morning but it has now been moved.

9.10am: RHS closes Harlow Carr

⚠️ Garden closed this morning – 17th Feb ⚠️

Unfortunately due to a yellow weather warning of very strong winds, the garden will be closed this morning. This is to ensure the safety of all our visitors, staff and volunteers. We will review at midday and may open this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/JBVEGiaksk

— RHS Harlow Carr (@RHSHarlowCarr) February 17, 2023

9.07am: Tree down in Burn Bridge

A tree is down on Foot Lane out the back of Burn Bridge. The large pine tree is partially blocking the road

9.01am: Tree down at Wormald Green

Thanks to a reader for notifying us of a tree down on Station Lane in Wormald Green. They said:

“Tree gone in the wind, finding it impossible to contact anyone to remove it. Harrogate refers to North Yorkshire, out of hours here refers to 101. 101 on hold.”

8.58am: Tree down on Pannal Ash Road in Harrogate

There is a fallen tree near the junction with Pannal Ash Drive. It’s not blocking the road but part of it is sticking out so cars are having to pull out to go around it. Again, would be causing a lot more problems on a school day! Looks like someone has already been out and chopped it a bit.

8.46am: Harrogate picture frame still intact despite fallen tree

Our reporter has been on the Stray to see the impact of the fallen tree on the picture frame where tourists pose for pictures and it appears to have withstood the impact of a fallen tree,

8.42am: Tree down on the Stray

8.37am: Tree down on Green Lane in Harrogate

A tree has fallen on Green Lane, close to the junction with Ashville Grove and is blocking a driveway, though the road is largely clear. Fortunately as it’s half-term so Green Lane doesn’t have the usual volume of traffic.

8.31am: Tree down on Bilton viaduct

This has been posted on the Bilton Community Group Facebook page showing a fallen tree on the bridge where Paddington 2 was filmed.

8.22am: Tree overhanging the A61 Ripon Road

Reports of a. overhanging tree on the Ripon Road between Ripley and Ripon.

8.15am: Tree down in Pinewoods

https://twitter.com/PinewoodsHgt/status/1626493951740977152

8.13am: A1 northbound closed at junction 49

The second report of an overturned HGV on the A1 this morning.

https://twitter.com/HighwaysYORKS/status/1626494665510854657

8.09am: Harrogate picture frame takes a hit

The Harrogate picture frame on the Stray, where tourists pose for photos, has taken a hit from a tree.

8.05am: Power cuts hit Harrogate — homes could be off until 7.30pm

#Powercut is affecting HG3 1 & HG5 8 postcode area.

We are expecting the supply to be restored by 7:30 pm.

Report your power cut online to be kept updated – https://t.co/wpHlPZBeOy pic.twitter.com/nGkYa75sgn

— Northern Powergrid (@Northpowergrid) February 17, 2023

8.02am: Bus services in Jennyfields affected

https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1626491876265140225

7.49am: Train lines between Harrogate and Knaresborough down

https://twitter.com/northernassist/status/1626488179871166466

7.41am: Tree down in Knaresborough

Reports of a tree down on the road on the hill down to Mother Shipton’s pub in Knaresborough coming down from Calcutt, cleared much as we could

7.33am: Lorry overturned on AI

National Highways says a lorry has overturned just south of Leeming Bar at junction 51. It isn’t clear if it is due to the wind but it is adding to the morning problems.

Lane 1 (of 3) is closed on the #A1(M) in #NorthYorkshire southbound within J51 #Leeming due to an overturned heavy goods vehicle. @NYorksPolice are in attendance.

Please take care on approach, thank you for your patience. pic.twitter.com/BFAvoZ1cEV

— National Highways: Yorkshire (@HighwaysYORKS) February 17, 2023

7.15am: Power cut in Ripon

About 1,300 homes in the HG4 postcode area have suffered power cuts as Storm Otto hits the area.

Northern Powergrid has said it doesn’t expect services to be restored until 7pm tonight.

HG4 covers Ripon and surrounding villages.

#Powercut is affecting HG4 postcode area.

We are expecting the supply to be restored by 7 pm.

Report your power cut online to be kept updated – https://t.co/SDLE6r1xel pic.twitter.com/BeOKP7dqc8

— Northern Powergrid (@Northpowergrid) February 17, 2023

A yellow weather warning is in place for the Harrogate district until 2pm today.

According to the Met Office, winds are due to peak at about 9am at around 65mph.

North Yorkshire Police has said it is stepping-up patrols in a Harrogate suburb after a woman was robbed and sexually assaulted last night.

The woman was attacked while walking in the Bogs Lane area, which is off Knaresborough Road.

She sustained facial injuries and is receiving support from specially trained officers.

A police statement today said:

“It happened at around 8.30pm when the victim was approached by a man on a lane near to the tennis field who stole her jacket and mobile phone and sexually assaulted her.

“The suspect is described as tall and was wearing dark coloured clothing including black jogging trousers, a black puffa jacket, brown boots and had a large ring on his finger. Following the assault he ran off in the direction of Starbeck High Street.”

The statement added officers were “carrying out extensive enquiries including CCTV and house-to-house enquiries”. It added people may see an increased police presence in the Bogs Lane area.

Police are also appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed the incident or saw anything suspicious people to contact them.

They urged anyone who lives in Bogs Lane, Allotment Gardens, Hillbank View or the approaches to Bogs Lane who has doorbell or private CCTV cameras that may have captured the suspect or the incident to get in touch.

Dial 101 and ask for Harrogate CID, quoting reference number 12230028839.

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

Read more:

• Two men jailed after dealing cocaine in Harrogate
• Starbeck special needs school set to get another 45 pupils

A Harrogate woman who had a stroke when she was just 18 years old is running the London marathon to raise money to help others.

Millie Carrington was a healthy teenager when she suffered a stroke during a weekend job at a supermarket in Harrogate 10 years ago.

She had just finished A-levels at Harrogate Grammar School and did not imagine someone so young and healthy could be affected by such a serious condition. Millie said:

“I had many of the telltale signs – the right side of my face fell, I was weak down one side, I had issues speaking and understanding conversation.

“I vividly remember thinking to myself, ‘this feels like I’m having a stroke’. Yet due to my age, both those who witnessed it, as well as myself, didn’t think I was actually having a stroke. I instead put it down to a particularly bad migraine.

“It would take three more days of screaming headaches, trouble walking, problems speaking, writing and communicating, and constant sleeping before I went to a hospital where doctors diagnosed a blood clot in my brain. After many tests, they concluded that the cause was due to a previously undetected hole in my heart, which I later had surgery to close.”

Millie pictured a few months after her stroke.

Millie says she was “incredibly lucky” to make a full recovery after speech and occupational therapy, and heart surgery to fix the cause of the stroke.

In 2015 she and a friend hitchhiked from Edinburgh to Paris to raise money for the Stroke Association, which supports stroke survivors.

Read more:

• New Look in Harrogate to close
• Weather warning for wind issued for Harrogate district on Friday

Now she is attempting to raise £2,000 for the same organisation by completing the 26-mile route through the capital on April 23. She also wants to reach out to young people.

She said:

“I especially want to use this opportunity to raise awareness that a stroke can happen to anyone, of any age. I was very lucky to recover in full, but this doesn’t happen for a lot of people.

“Seeking medical attention in the first three hours often means the person receives crucial medication that gives them the best chance of survival and recovery.”

Millie has already raised nearly half of her £2,000 target. You can support her charity run here.

A woman who lost her life in a Harrogate house fire died because of carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation, an inquest has heard.

Jayne Addyman, 54, died on January 7 last year at her home on Craven Street, which is close to King’s Road.

The inquest also heard alcohol intoxication was found to be a significant factor contributing to her death.

John Broadbridge, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire and York, concluded Ms Addyman died because of an accident.

The inquest was held on January 20 in Northallerton and Mr Broadbridge confirmed the details today to the Stray Ferret.

Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough were called to Craven Street at 6.20am on Friday, January 7 last year.

Paramedics performed CPR but Ms Addyman was certified dead at the scene.

Read more:

• Weather warning for wind issued for Harrogate district on Friday
• Four crews deal with barn fire in village near Harrogate

A scheme to build 1,300 homes on historic army barracks in Ripon looks set to be approved next week.

Harrogate Borough Council officers have recommended its planning committee gives the scheme the go-ahead when it meets on Thursday.

If councillors vote to accept the recommendation, it will see Ripon’s population increase by almost 20%, with an estimated 3,000 people expected to occupy the new homes.

Building work is likely to continue until 2035 and 30% of homes would be deemed ‘affordable’.

The 85 hectare-scheme would also include a new primary school and sports pitches as well as shops, restaurants and offices that could support up to 678 jobs.

However, there are concern about the impact on health services, the road network and the loss of key sites of military history.

The report to councillors concludes:

“The proposed development will deliver a range of significant public benefits that demonstrate compliance with adopted policies and the aspirations of the Ripon Neighbourhood Plan.”

Payments for health and schools

Applicants the Secretary of State for Defence and Homes England, a non-departmental public body that funds new affordable housing in England, which are behind the proposal, have agreed to pay a minimum of £907,267 for health care facilities as part of a section 106 agreement developers pay to fund infrastructure costs associated with their schemes.

The agreement would also see the developers pay £2.7 million for primary school education and £1.9 million for secondary school education.

A two-form primary school with a playing field would be built on the site.

A computer generated image of the proposed Ripon barracks site.

Development would take place on the sites of Claro Barracks, Laver Banks and Deverell Barracks, which played key roles in the First and Second World Wars.

The report acknowledges “strong concerns” over the demolition of Deverell Barracks, which according to the non-departmental public body Historic England contains buildings that make it ‘one of the best surviving WWII temporary standardised prefabricated sites’.

The report says the developers would ‘explore retention of these structures’ but adds there are ‘significant issues with their re-use’ due to the presence of asbestos and concludes there is no ‘certainty of retention’.

Part of the current site

The significance of two military bridges on Laver Banks became apparent recently following research by Ripon Military Heritage Group and the report says the applicants have “confirmed a commitment to keep on working together” with the group.

The report says the highways authority, North Yorkshire County Council, “considers there is no defensible reason to refuse the application on highway or transportation grounds” in the wake of proposed highways changes.

Read more:

• NHS objects to planned 1,300-home development on Ripon barracks
• Calls to assess impact of Ripon Cathedral’s £6m expansion on cafes and shops

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club!

The second in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is an After Work Drinks event on February 23 from 5.30pm. Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district, get your tickets now by clicking or tapping here.

Karen Crampton, a live-in carer at Carefound Home Care in Harrogate, has received the home’s PLATO award for her work with dementia sufferers.

The PLATO award is named after the company’s values – personalised, local, accountable, together and outstanding.

Karen earned the award for helping people living with dementia to live safely at home.

Carla Hainsworth, registered brand manager at Carefound Home Care, said:

“Some of the examples of [Karen] going above and beyond as a live-in carer are amazing and her efforts have directly helped prevent her clients being admitted to hospital …”

“She’s taken clients on day trips to the seaside and to see their loved ones who live further away, held tea party celebrations and even applied for a platinum wedding anniversary surprise message from the King.”

Read More

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Bill Plant Driving School wins national awards

Bill Plant Driving School, based in Ripon, has won two awards at the 2023 Intelligent Instructor Awards.

The organisation was named training provider of the year, as well as national driving school of the year at the UK-wide award-ceremony.

Bill Plant also took home the same awards in 2019 and 2020.

CEO Adam Pumfrey said:

“We are humbled to be recognised as not only the best national driving school for learner drivers, but also the best driving instructor training provider in the UK. For us, both of these awards go hand-in-hand”.

In the national driving school of the year category, Bill Plant overcame two of the biggest names in industry, Red and AA Driving School.

The company now has more than 820 instructors who have access to continuing professional development courses and a dedicated support team.

Mr Pumfrey said:

“Our driving instructor training academy, operated by a team of highly experienced trainers with a relentless focus on quality, has led to the development of a nationwide network of world-class driving instructors”.

The Otley Road cycleway in Harrogate has cost £2,234,000 so far  — almost triple the amount awarded to contractors to construct the first phase.

Hull civil engineering firm PBS Construction was awarded £827,000 in 2021 to build phase one from Harlow Moor Road to Cold Bath Road.

The much-criticised route opened in January last year but subsequent remedial work and design fees for phase two of the project — which has since been scrapped — increased the cost significantly.

The widening of the Otley Road and Harlow Moor Road junction was the main remedial work.

The figures are contained in a North Yorkshire County Council report, which raises questions over whether the council had sufficient funds to complete the second phase of the scheme.

Councillor Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways and transportation at North Yorkshire County Council, said phase two had been dropped because it lacked public support.

But the report reveals the council has just £565,000 remaining of the £4,275,000 it secured in 2018 from the government’s National Productivity Investment Fund for measures that enabled development and business growth in west Harrogate

The funding and spending figures contained in the report are reproduced below.

According to the document, council officers received “multiple reports” about the design and construction of the cycleway from residents and groups such as Harrogate District Cycle Action after it opened. It adds:

“These were then reviewed with our design consultants WSP, and a list of remedial works have now been prepared.

“These remedial works were planned to be completed in the early part of 2023. However, in May 2022 the fibre optic network company City Fibre contacted North Yorkshire County Council with a request to install fibre optic cables down the full length of the newly constructed cycleway.

“We have negotiated with City Fibre to reinstate the full width of the cycleway at their expense. We will therefore carry out our outstanding remedial works once City Fibre have installed their apparatus.”

The report adds £60,000 of the remaining funds are expected to cover these remedial works.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Otley Road to be dug up again
• Confirmed: second phase of Harrogate’s Otley Road cycle route scrapped

The council has said it will come up with new traffic calming measures in the west of Harrogate to compensate for scrapping phase two of the scheme, which would have extended the cycleway from Cold Bath Road towards Beech Grove.

It still has aspirations to construct phase three out of town to Cardale Park at an unspecified time in the future.

North Yorkshire County Council’s highways area manager Melisa Burnham said:

“Although construction costs increased to £970,000 following completion, this was still within our anticipated budget. The increase was a result of additional design works and remedials found whilst on site.

“The remaining costs include design, feasibility, surveys and utility diversions required to deliver phase one and two of the cycleway, and the Harlow Moor Road junction improvement to date.”

New Look is to close its store in Harrogate’s Victoria Shopping Centre.

Signs have gone up in the window of the shop saying it will close on February 26.

The fashion retailer sells women’s clothing at its large Harrogate site, which is particularly popular with teenage girls.

A source at the store said customers and staff were “gutted and upset” at the news. They added that the company wanted to remain in Harrogate but finding a vacant store large enough had proved difficult.

The Stray Ferret understands about eight jobs are affected by the news. The nearest New Look shops are in Leeds and York.

A New Look spokesperson said:

 “As part of the normal course of business, New Look occasionally closes sites, but also opens new stores when the right opportunities arise.

“Our most recent new openings were in November 2022 and we have plans for further openings in the first half of this year.”

Read more:

• River Island to close in Harrogate as landlord plans apartments
• Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens to get £21,000 makeover and new name

The Stray Ferret contacted the Victoria Shopping Centre this morning for further details but was told it had no information to share on the matter.

The news comes less than two weeks after River Island closed its Harrogate store.

New Look, which was founded in 1969, has about 440 shops in the UK.

The Harrogate and District Green Party has said last week’s Masham and Fountains by-election result highlighted the need for opposition parties to co-operate if they are to overcome the Conservatives.

Liberal Democrat Felicity Cunliffe-Lister defeated Conservative candidate Brooke Hull in a two-horse race after the Greens decided not to stand.

The result reduced the Conservative majority on North Yorkshire County Council to two.

Shan Oakes, a member of the executive of Harrogate and District Green Party, said some Conservatives “knew that if a Green had stood, the opposition vote would have been split, potentially leading to a Tory win”.

Ms Oakes said the result confirmed the suspicion and vindicated the party’s decision, adding:

“The current national Conservative policy is extremely damaging, and the first-past-the-post voting system is stacked against more progressive parties in favour of the status quo.

“It is therefore imperative, despite naysayers, for progressive parties to work smarter to ensure their candidates can win so that we can break out of the terrifying downward spiral we are in.

“The Greens look carefully at each seat to decide how to get to the best outcome, for people and the environment , and we invite other parties to cooperate.”

Read more:

• How will the Masham by-election defeat affect North Yorkshire Conservatives?
• Liberal Democrats win Masham and Fountains by-election

The Stray Ferret asked the Liberal Democrats if it agreed the Greens’ decision not to contest Masham was a factor in its success and whether it would reciprocate by standing down in some seats to allow the Greens to go head-to-head against the Conservatives.

Liberal Democrat Matt Walker replied by saying the result showed people were angry and “now is the time for change”, adding:

“It is ultimately voters who decide who they put their faith in to deliver much needed change and the Liberal Democrats in North Yorkshire will not take that for granted.”