Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith has described his own government’s decision to make swingeing tax cuts as “wrong”.

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced the biggest package of tax cuts in 50 years in his mini-budget yesterday.

He said the UK economy was entering a “new era” and the measures would stimulate growth.

Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said those with incomes in excess of £1 million will gain more than £40,000 a year each and that the overall measures didn’t include “even a semblance of an effort to make the public finance numbers add up”.

Mr Smith, who supported Rishi Sunak’s failed Conservative leadership bid, also expressed concerns on Twitter:

“In a statement with many positive enterprise measures this huge tax cut for the very rich at a time of national crisis and real fear and anxiety amongst low income workers and citizens is wrong.”

In a statement with many positive enterprise measures this huge tax cut for the very rich at a time of national crisis & real fear & anxiety amongst low income workers & citizens is wrong. https://t.co/EeRfAcNGzf

— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) September 23, 2022

However, Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough who also supported Mr Sunak, welcomed this week’s government measures.

Writing on his Community News website yesterday, Mr Jones said:

“I am pleased with the extra support for households and businesses with fuel bills through the energy price guarantee and also today’s surprise announcement of the reduction in the basic rate of income tax down to 19 per cent.

“There are a huge number of measures, many focused on our productivity and investment which are the platforms for future growth. So, plenty to be positive about here in Harrogate and Knaresborough.”

Read more:

• Harrogate district planning rules could be ‘radically streamlined’
• Harrogate district business groups cautiously welcome mini-budget

Businesses in the Harrogate district could receive major tax cuts and fewer restrictions on building as part of a government announcement today.

Ministers revealed North Yorkshire County Council is one of 38 local authorities it is talking to about becoming investment zones.

The government has said the zones will “will drive growth and unlock housing across the UK by lowering taxes and liberalising planning frameworks”.

However, a union has warned they could lead to poorer public services and a race to the bottom on employment terms.

The government has written to local leaders in every part of England inviting them to begin discussions on setting up zones in their area. Conservative-controlled North Yorkshire County Council was today confirmed as one of 38 that are keen to be involved.

The government has said the zones will receive lower taxes and ‘radically streamlined’ planning rules.

Businesses will get 100% business rates relief on newly occupied and expanded premises, full stamp duty land tax relief on land bought for commercial or residential development and a zero rate for employer national insurance contributions on new employee earnings up to £50,270 per year.

To incentivise investment, there will be a 100% first year enhanced capital allowance relief for plant and machinery used within designated sites and accelerated enhanced structures and buildings allowance relief of 20% per year.

Kwasi Kwarteng

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng said:

“That is an unprecedented set of tax incentives for businesses to invest, to build and to create jobs right across the country.

“If we really want to level up, we need to unleash the power of the private sector.”

‘Race to the bottom’

But the zones, which build on the government’s freeports initiative, was criticised by the North Yorkshire branch of Unison.

A spokesman for the union said:

“Our nervousness, which is probably shared by residents of North Yorkshire, is around a race to the bottom by deregulation.”

The spokesman said the zones set local authorities against each other and would be bad for public services, as well as ushering in a “lower standard of planning”.

He also warned it could lead to businesses in non-zone areas cutting wages and standards to compete. He added:

“I don’t blame local authorities for applying but what we need from government is a strategy that goes for a high skill, high wage economy rather than pitting one local authority against another.”

North Yorkshire County Council has been approached for comment.

A suspected thief has been arrested after police responded to reports of a man trying car door handles in Harrogate.

Officers spotted the suspect inside a vehicle in the Knaresborough Road area at about 8.20pm last night.

According to North Yorkshire Police, the man ran off when he saw police and was detained following a short foot chase. Officers then found what are believed to be stolen items in his possession.

Further enquiries showed he was also wanted by police in connection with burglaries and he had only just been released from prison.

The man, who is in his 20s and of no fixed address, was arrested on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle, vehicle interference and burglary.

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He has been taken into custody where he remains while enquiries continue.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:

“We regularly patrol areas where vehicle crime has been reported, both on foot and with vehicle patrols.

“The two officers who dealt with this incident were able to apprehend a suspect very quickly and a full investigation is now under way.

“Anyone who has had items stolen from their vehicle, or has seen anyone acting suspiciously or trying door handles, should contact us on 101. If you witness a crime taking place, it’s 999.”

A suspected rogue door-to-door seller has received a dispersal order in court banning him from operating anywhere in North Yorkshire.

Police received complaints about a rise in aggressive and suspicious door-to-door traders calling at homes in the Ripon area uninvited.

During village patrols, two PCSOs found the man from Teesside, who has not been named, operating in Grewelthorpe.

According to a North Yorkshire Police statement, “a number of other things” concerned officers, “including his reason for being in the area”.

The man been issued with a dispersal notice covering all of North Yorkshire. He was also reported for summons regarding the certificate and is due to appear in court at a later date.

Read more:

• Man jailed for biting police officer in Harrogate
• Great North Art Show returns to Ripon Cathedral

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:

“Many legitimate organisations use doorstep sellers.

“But some criminals also use this tactic to catch victims off guard, get personal information or gain entry to people’s homes.

“Knowing how to respond could prevent you from becoming a victim, so we’re sharing the following information to help people make informed choices if someone knocks on their door.”

Police advice on dealing with doorstep callers

North Yorkshire Police issues the following guidelines:

• When answering the door, use a peephole or door chain if you have one. Never invite a stranger who calls unannounced into your home.
• If a caller is legitimate, they will be happy for your to check their identity. Ask for ID and call their company. To verify a police officer’s identity, you can call 101.
• Take your time to make decisions about buying – ask for contact details so you can get back to them when you’ve had a think. Research the price elsewhere.
• Never give out personal information and don’t feel bad about saying no and closing the door.
• If you have concerns about doorstep callers where you live or have been visited by someone you think may be bogus, please tell us using the ‘report it’ link on the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling the force on 101.
• If someone calls at your home, becomes aggressive and you fear for your safety, call 999 immediately.

North Yorkshire’s leaders are keeping their cards close to their chests in the face of calls for a referendum on the creation of a new Harrogate town council.

With local government reorganisation fast approaching, a consultation is currently underway on whether Harrogate should keep control of some key services and buildings by becoming a parished area.

But borough councillors were last night unanimous in their calls that the consultation does not go far enough and that a public vote is needed.

Cllr Richard Cooper, the Conservative leader of Harrogate Borough Council, told a meeting that the process of creating a town council would be a “sham” unless a ballot was held before residents are asked to pay an extra tax to fund it.

He put forward a motion which was supported by all political parties and called on North Yorkshire County Council to give “democratic legitimacy” to the town council plans by holding a vote.

However, when later asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the county council refused to say whether a referendum would go ahead.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of the county council, said in a statement: 

“We will consider Harrogate Borough Council’s motion when and if it arrives, but we are in a period of consultation already about whether residents in that area want to continue with a governance review or not.”

Read more:

• Harrogate town council: What is it and what would it cost taxpayers?
• Decision on Harrogate town council could take two years

Currently, Harrogate and Scarborough are the only major towns in North Yorkshire not to be parished and there have been growing calls for new town councils to be created.

Those calls were first ignited when the government announced that North Yorkshire’s existing county and district councils would be scrapped from April 1 next year when a new unitary authority will take control of the whole county.

A central pledge in the major shake-up was what leaders described as a “double devolution” of powers, with plans for all town and parish councils to be given the chance to take on greater responsibilities.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council.

This could include a Harrogate town council running services such as parks, tourism and events.

However, it remains unclear on exactly what responsibilities would be filtered down and how much residents would have to pay to fund them.

In Knaresborough and Ripon, residents currently pay their respective town and city councils £25.27 and £70.77 per year.

At last night’s meeting, Cllr Cooper said it was crucial that Harrogate residents knew how much they would pay and for which services before a town council is created.

He said: 

“Asking the public if they want a new town council without informing them what it might do and how much extra council tax they would have to pay is not a meaningful conversation.

“And if as everyone tells me that the people of Harrogate are clamouring for a town council, then what do we have to fear?”

Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, also said: 

“I have absolutely no problem with a referendum – that is good liberal democracy.

“We can ask North Yorkshire to hold one, but I am slightly worried that they will reject it and continue with the process they have started.”

The areas which would be served by a Harrogate town council include:

• High Harrogate and Kingsley
• Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate
• Fairfax and Starbeck
• Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone
• Harlow and St Georges
• Bilton Grange and New Park
• Bilton and Nidd Gorge
• Most of Coppice Valley and Duchy
• Parts of Oatlands and Pannal
• Parts of Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate

To have your say on the current consultation, go to the county council website here.

Harrogate rail passengers have been warned to expect significant disruption to LNER services from October 1 to 9.

Major engineering works in the Newcastle area by Network Rail will affect many services on the LNER route during this period.

LNER operates six daily direct trains from Harrogate to London.

An LNER spokesman said:

“Journeys between Newcastle and Edinburgh will be affected, with some services diverted via the West Coast Main Line or by coach replacement, resulting in longer travel times.

“LNER services to and from Harrogate, Bradford, Lincoln, Middlesbrough, Thornaby, Hull, Selby, Brough and Sunderland will also be affected.

“Customers in these areas should use local services to connect with LNER services on the East Coast Main Line.”

Read more:

• Northern’s new timetable includes early Harrogate to Leeds trains
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Some LNER services will also be amended on Monday, October 10 when the work is completed.

Rail strikes are scheduled to take place on October 1 and 5, causing further disruption to passengers on the York to Leeds service, which passes through Harrogate and Knaresborough, among other places.

The LNER spokesman added:

“We are reviewing the impact of this proposed action but expect an extremely limited timetable to be in place.

“During this period, we are advising customers to check before they travel and ensure they have a  seat reservation  as we are expecting trains to be extremely busy.”

A contractor has been lined up to carry out the £68.8 million re-alignment of the A59 at Kex Gill in the Harrogate district.

North Yorkshire County Council has awarded preferred bidder status to John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd, an Irish civil engineering and construction firm. A council spokeswoman said the value of the contract was “commercially confidential”.

John Sisk & Son was involved in the delivery of the 2012 London Olympics and the capital’s Crossrail project.

The decision is dependent on funding from the Department for Transport, which is currently reviewing the full business case. A decision is expected next month.

Contractors will move on site in December to clear the moorland by late February next year to avoid the bird nesting season. An estimated completion date is May 2025.

The A59 at Kex Gill, near Blubberhouses, is the main route between Harrogate and Skipton. Since 2000, the route has been closed 12 times following landslips.

The DfT awarded a £56.1 million grant for the realignment towards an original budget estimate of £61.6 million. The county council agreed to pay the remainder from its capital reserves.

The project has faced numerous delays and following tender returns, the estimated cost of the scheme increased by £7.2m to £68.8m, which the council attributes to due to inflation affecting constructions costs.

It therefore approved an increase in its allocated funding from £5.5m to £12.7m, given the DfT grant is fixed.

Asked whether the scheme would require detours and road closures, a council spokesewoman said:

“It’s very early to say for certain at this stage. However, we don’t envisage road closures or detours. The majority of work is offset from the existing A59 alignment being on the opposite side of the valley.”

Cllr Keane Duncan

Cllr Keane Duncan, the council’s executive member for highways and transportation,  said:

“This is a key step forward for the Kex Gill re-alignment, which is one of the council’s most ambitious ever highways projects.

“The A59 provides a very important east-west connection in North Yorkshire and the route is listed by the government in the top 10 for strategic importance nationally.

“Re-aligning the route is the only real solution so we are pleased to now be at the stage where we are ready to appoint a contractor.

“We remain committed to carrying out this key project as quickly as possible and in the most cost-effective way.”

‘Light at end of tunnel’

Cllr Nathan Hull (pictured above), a Conservative who represents Washburn and Birstwith on the council, said:

“There’s light at the end of the tunnel with this project now that we have a preferred contractor and a start date in mind.

“The re-aligned route, which will leave the A59 at North Moor Road and re-join the existing road at Blubberhouses, will be safe and reliable for residents, businesses and visitors for generations to come.”

Read more:

• Council warns of ‘high risks’ as Kex Gill cost soars to £69m
• £60m Kex Gill contract to be awarded

Sisk’s Yorkshire projects include completing the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme City Centre Gateways and is delivering major infrastructure work at York Central.

Dominic Hodges, managing director of Sisk, said:

“The scheme is technically challenging with complex engineering solutions required within an environmentally sensitive area.

“We are working collaboratively with all stakeholders to develop an innovative scheme and look forward to working with the local community to leave a lasting legacy.”

Historical novelist Robert Harris, SAS hero Chris Ryan and broadcaster and political commentator, Iain Dale, have added their names to the line up of speakers at this year’s Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival.

They are the latest headline names that have agreed to appear at the celebration of books, which is being held between October 20 and October 23, at the Harrogate’s Crown Hotel.

Other names already announced include the 8th Earl of Harewood David Lascelles, Antiques Roadshow expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan, broadcaster Sarfraz Manzoor, The Great British Dig co-presenter Dr Chloë Duckworth, and broadcaster and TV presenter Nihal Arthanayake.

Commencing with a literary lunch staring Countdown’s Susie Dent, this year will see 23 names appearing on the Raworths stage.

Bringing the curtain down at the end of the four-day event is Fatherland author, Robert Harris, who has had many of his novels adapted for TV or film, including Enigma, which starred Kate Winslet, and Archangel featuring Daniel Craig.

He will be talking about his latest thrilling novel, Act of Oblivion – set in 1660 after the restoration of the monarchy — with BBC Radio Four’s Mark Lawson.

Read more:

• Countdown’s Susie Dent among speakers at Harrogate literary festival
• New music festival to mark composer’s link to Nidderdale village

Iain Dale’s latest book, On This Day in History, charts the main events of the last few hundred years, with one event per page, per day.

He will be joined on stage by former LBC stablemate and festival regular, Matt Stadlen, as the pair take a journey through Britain’s political history, told in 365 events.

Former SAS corporal, Chris Ryan will talk about how his own experiences have influenced his writing.

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, which produces and curates the event, said:

“The latest names added to this year’s roll call, Robert Harris, Chris Ryan and Iain Dale, are all best sellers in their own right and need no introduction, and the
quality of speakers is a testament to the ever-rising prominence of this annual literature festival.”

Further information about the festival is available here.

Artificial intelligence is to be employed on Harrogate district roads this winter to keep traffic moving during severe weather.

North Yorkshire County Council revealed yesterday it was working with Finnish weather technology firm Vaisala to improve monitoring of its network of 5,800 miles of road.

Vaisala will use a combination of artificial intelligence, computer modelling and live data to survey road conditions more quickly.

A council news release said:

“As highways officers drive the network, the video technology automatically surveys the roads and identifies defects. It processes the data within a few hours.

“This gives the highways team a visual snapshot of the whole network, capturing useful data about the road condition and road signs very quickly and enabling them to target resources most efficiently.”

The authority is trialling Vaisala Wx Horizon, which uses real-time weather information, historic weather and road condition data alongside computer modelling to help identify required winter treatments.

It is also investigating Internet of Things sensors to provide feedback on road surface temperatures and moisture levels.

Read more:

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Last year the council spent £500,000 on measures including installing 27 weather stations across the county to provide up-to-date information to help the council make decisions about when and where to grit roads.

The B6265 at Greenhow near Pateley Bridge and the B6267 Low Burton near Masham are among the areas with weather stations.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, the former executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire County Council, pictured at a weather station last year.

The stations include solar-powered cameras that relay live images of road conditions to the county council’s website, where they help people plan their journeys.

‘Vital to everyday lives’

Cllr Keane Duncan, the council’s executive member for highways and transportation, said:

“North Yorkshire’s extensive highways network, which includes many rural roads, is vital to the everyday lives of the county’s residents, its businesses, tourism industry and wider economic prosperity.

“That’s why we have a strong track record in putting ourselves at the forefront of technological advances that enable us to make quick, well-informed decisions to help to keep our roads open and people on the move during winter weather.

“These latest developments with Vaisala continue that long-standing approach and demonstrate our commitment to ongoing improvement to enable our dedicated teams to support residents, businesses and visitors across the county.”

Jarkko Sairanen, Vaisala’s executive vice president for weather and the environment, said:

“I am convinced the county and its people will benefit from the latest advances in mobile and Internet of Things technologies to help keep the road network safe and accessible, while minimising the cost and carbon footprint of efficient winter maintenance operations.”

The Stray Ferret has asked the council how much the new measures cost but has yet to receive a figure.

Picture: At one of North Yorkshire’s weather stations are (from left): Mike Francis of NY Highways; Erik Sucksdorff, sales director at Vaisala; Jo Wright, sales manager at Vaisala; Richard Marr, highway area manager at North Yorkshire County Council; Nigel Smith, head of highway operations at NYCC; Barrie Mason, assistant director, highways and transportation at NYCC; Jarkko Sairanen, Vaisala’s executive vice president for weather and the environment; and Alan Palfreyman, technical officer at NYCC

Harrogate and District Green Party is set to name Paul Ko Ferrigno as its prospective parliamentary candidate for the next general election.

Mr Ko Ferrigno was one of two people nominated but the other contender, Arnold Warneken, withdrew.

The party is holding an election hustings event tonight when Mr Ko Ferrigno will outline his vision.

Members will have the opportunity to ask questions before deciding whether to ratify his selection as PPC.

Tonight’s hustings, which is open to everyone, will take place at the Friends Meeting House on Queen Parade at 7.30pm.

The Friends Meeting House

It is hoped the process to select a candidate will be finalised before the Green Party autumn conference begins in Harrogate on September 30.

Mr Ko Ferrigno, 59, a scientist, told the Stray Ferret he had been a “passive supporter of the Green Party” for many years and a party member for two years.

Born in London, he lived in France for a decade from the age of 10 and has lived in Harrogate since 2007.

Mr Ko Ferrigno is a football referee, and has widespread volunteering experience as a coach for Pannal Ash Junior Football Club, a welfare officer on Harrogate and District Junior Football League and a governor at Oatlands Junior School in Harrogate.

Read more:

• Harrogate to host Green Party conference this month
• Green Party stands down in Knaresborough by-election to support Lib Dems

He said he wanted to see more taxis and fewer cars and greater support for cycling, including measures to encourage cycling couriers to replace vans. He said:

“Harrogate is seen as being the Bettys of the country. Let’s live up to that reputation by doing everything well.”

The Green Party did not field a candidate in Harrogate and Knaresborough in the 2019 general election, when Conservative Andrew Jones retained the seat with 53% of the vote.

Asked whether the Greens would consider stepping aside as part of a pact with other parties, Mr Ko Ferrigno said “it’s a conversation to be had” but added:

“I’m not one of those who think we need to get the Conservatives out at all costs. We need to elect the right candidate

“Having a Green in any conversation makes a difference. Recycling started as a Green Party conversation.

“What we will do by standing is shift the conversation. Even if I don’t get elected — and I hope I will — we will move the conversation.”