John Plummer, Author at The Stray Ferret

Man suffers serious head injuries on Harrogate’s Bower Street

A 32-year-old Harrogate man has been arrested following a reported assault on Bower Street.

Police were called by the ambulance service at 6.20pm on Saturday after the victim, a man in his fifties, was found with serious head injuries in the street.

The victim was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.

The 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent. He has since been released on conditional police bail to allow for further enquiries to be carried out.

It was revealed last month that railings are to be installed on Bower Street in an attempt to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Bower Street

North Yorkshire Police is urging anyone who witnessed the incident but has not yet spoken to police to get in touch on 101. The incident number is 12220201215

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

Three arrested after dozens of bags of cocaine found in Harrogate

Two men and a woman have been arrested after police stopped two cars and found dozens of bags of cocaine in the Harrogate area.

North Yorkshire Police said today two different vehicles were searched.

As well as suspected cocaine, a lock knife was also found in one of the cars and the driver was banned from driving.

A man in his 20s has been charged with possessing a blade and driving while disqualified. He was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class-A drugs.

A woman, also in her 20s was also arrested on suspicion of class-A drug offences.

A second man in the other vehicle, who is in his 20s, was also arrested on suspicion of possessing class-A drugs.

All were bailed following the drug arrests on Thursday to allow the substances to be inspected by a laboratory as part of police investigations.

Morning ‘traffic chaos’ on A61 between Ripon and Harrogate

Motorists have endured a morning of misery between Ripon and Harrogate this morning due to lengthy delays on the A61.

Roadworks at Bishop Monkton combined with a broken down bus in Killinghall caused a double delay for people using the main route.

Linda Birnie called the Stray Ferret to say it took her an hour and 10 minutes to get from her home in Ripon to Ripley. She said:

“The traffic this morning was absolutely appalling. I would have gone through Knaresborough if I’d known.”

Ms Birnie set off at 8am and shortly afterwards hit a two-mile queue caused by lights near the garden centre at Bishop Monkton.

According to North Yorkshire County Council’s live roadworks map, there are two-way signals there until Friday due to work being carried out by Yorkshire Water.

It always says there are separate roadworks at Wormald Green until Wednesday this week.

Ms Birnie said after getting through that queue, there was a brief period of respite before she encountered another large tailback before the Ripley roundabout due to a broken down bus in Killinghall.

She had travelled to Harrogate because she is a member of the Harrogate Borough Council-owned leisure company Brimhams Active and her yoga class had been moved because of ongoing work caused by ground stability issues at Ripon’s new leisure centre.

Other motorists got in touch to inform us of lengthy delays on the same route this morning.

A foggy day of remembrance across the Harrogate district

From Ripon Cathedral to Knaresborough Fire Station, people fell silent for two minutes across the Harrogate district today to pay their respects to the war dead.

Thousands of people stood 20-deep in the fog around the war memorial in Harrogate for the traditional parade and outdoor service.

Harrogate war memorial 2022

Thousands of people also gathered at Spa Gardens and on nearby streets in Ripon, where services were held at the war memorial and in Ripon Cathedral.

Ripon Spa Gardens

Starbeck observed a minute’s silence at 11am before the main ceremony at 3pm.

Starbeck war memorial

Further afield, Junior soldiers from Harrogate’s Army Foundation College took part in a Remembrance Sunday service at Merville Battery, France, as part of a trip learning about the Normandy invasion.

Remembrance Sunday service at Merville Battery, France with Army Foundation College

Besides the formal ceremonies, many people took time out of their day to observe the two-minute silence.

Firefighters at Knaresborough lined up to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Knaresborough Fire Station

It marked the culmination of commemorations, which started with a minute’s silence on Friday. November 11 at 11am.

Pateley Bridge, which traditionally holds its main service on the 11th whatever the day, did so again this year.

Harrogate’s Ashville College also held a service on Friday before students and staff, along with members of the governing body and former pupils, gathered in front of the memorial to hold a two-minute silence and to lay wreaths and poppies.

Of the 300 former Ashvillians called up in the First World War, 38 died in the conflict. Eight of those were killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

In the Second World War, 465 former pupils and teachers volunteered for the forces, and of those 59 were killed.

Ashville College

Police crime scene investigators at Ripon

North Yorkshire Police crime scene investigators are attending an incident on the corner of Finkle Street and Allhallowgate in Ripon.

The corner site has been cordoned off with blue and white police tape.

A crime scene investigation vehicle, mobile police office and a further police vehicle and officers have been at the scene.

Police at the scene are not giving any details about the nature of the incident.

Knaresborough urged to ‘think big’ to maximise growth opportunity

Experts have urged Knaresborough to ‘think big’ to help the town’s economy make the most of upcoming major political changes.

They said the town needs to focus on something eye-catching and big — such as a cliff lift — to maximise the potential of North Yorkshire devolution.

Knaresborough and District Chamber of Trade invited the experts to talk about how to seize the opportunities presented by the creation of a combined authority and mayor for North Yorkshire and York in 2024.

The changes will bring £540 million into the county over a 30-year period and see transport, skills and education decision-making powers devolved to the mayor from central government.

James Farrar, chief operating officer for the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said town centres would be a major focus of whoever is elected mayor because the county does not have a large urban city.

He recommended the town focus on securing funding for one major, eye-catching initiative that would appeal to the whoever is elected mayor.

“Town centres will be important to the mayor and the places that do well will be the places that have a plan.

“Don’t wait for the money — get on the front foot. Have a clear plan and understand your priorities.

“Think about the one thing you want in Knaresborough.”

This week’s chamber meeting. Pic: Charlotte Gale

Mr Farrar added many businesses were looking to move out of York because there was no more space to expand and towns like Knaresborough could take advantage.

Alan Reiss, director of strategy for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, told the meeting devolution “massively amplifies the voice of a region” and that North Yorkshire looked like securing a “great deal” financially.

Christian Spence, an economist from Open Innovations, a not-for-profit organisation that uses data to help people make decisions, told the meeting the Knaresborough area was growing rapidly but not in the town centre itself.

By contrast, he said growth had doubled in the south of Knaresborough and Follifoot, over the last 10 years.

Peter Lacey, an executive member of the chamber who owns a nationwide consulting firm, said Knaresborough had lots great ideas but needed to find a common purpose.

He was one of several people at the meeting to suggest a cliff lift could be the big idea that levered funding into Knaresborough. He said:

“We’ve got some great companies based here, but to date there’s been little joined-up thinking about how we can all add to the wellbeing of local residents, the community and how we see the future of the town as a thriving centre of innovation and growth.”

Bettys unveils Christmas cracker window display in Harrogate

Bettys unveiled its Christmas window display in front of hundreds of people at 5.30pm today.

Branch manager Janet Parker led the countdown, which ended with the blind going up to reveal the display.

Staff worked throughout last night to create the Christmas cracker-themed display.

There were free hot drinks and mince pies for those watching, and local carol singers added to the festive feeling.

Firefighters called to sauna fire at Rudding spa

Firefighters using breathing apparatus were called to reports of a fire in a sauna at Rudding Park spa last night.

Crews from Harrogate, Boroughbridge and Knaresborough were summoned to the incident in Follifoot at sixteen minutes past midnight.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log says:

“Crews used four breathing apparatus, two thermal imaging cameras, one hose reel and small tools to deal with the incident.

“The fire was caused by an electrical fault.”

The hotel’s managing director, Peter Banks, said the fire started after the spa had closed and was spotted by a night cleaner, who quickly raised the alarm – even before the smoke alarms had been activated.

The sauna has a system which releases nitrogen as soon as a fire is detected, taking the oxygen out of the room. Mr Banks said:

“By the time the fire service, arrived, the fire was pretty much out. The system worked exactly as it should have and it’s business as usual today.”

Christmas lights vandalised on Harrogate salon

A long-standing Harrogate business has had its Christmas lights vandalised for the first time in 14 years.

The display at Dangerfield & Keane hairdressers has become an annual highlight for families walking along Cold Bath Road.

It went up on Monday — and on Wednesday night was damaged.

A video of a man, appearing to rip the lights off the shopfront, has been shared many times on the shop’s Facebook page.

Dangerfield and Keane released CCTV footage of a person pulling on their lights.

An image from the Dangerfield and Keane CCTV footage.

Gerri Dangerfield-Keane, who owns the business, said:

“I’m just dismayed – why would anyone do that? It’s senseless.

“This is the 14th year of doing the same thing and it’s never been touched or vandalised before.”

Mr Dangerfield-Keane said the electric circuit had been destroyed but he was determined to get it fixed and restore the display to full power.

He has also offered to give a free set of Christmas lights to the perpetrator:

“Whoever did it must be so bereft of Christmas lights we will give them a free set.”

Harrogate Bettys to unveil Christmas window tonight

Forget the John Lewis TV ad — the unveiling of the Bettys Christmas window marks the start of Christmas for many people in Harrogate.

It has been a low key occasion for the last two years due to covid. But tonight, for the first time since 2019, the company is making an occasion of it.

The fun will start at 5pm with Christmas carols outside the flagship Parliament Street store. The first 200 people attending will receive free hot drinks and mince pies.

Branch manager Janet Parker will appear shortly before 5.30pm to welcome everyone and lead a countdown, which will end with the blind going up to reveal the display.

There will also be a raffle and the shop will stay open until 6pm.

Staff will be on hand to manage the crowd and to prevent people from spilling on to the road.

A Bettys spokeswoman said the display was installed last night and is being kept hidden until tonight. She added:

“Let’s just say it will be a Christmas cracker. We are really excited to have everyone back. “

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