The largest weir removal project ever in the UK has begun on the River Nidd at Scotton.
The scheme, which costs about 80,000 euros, will open up another 18km of river to migratory fish such as salmon, sea trout and European eel.
If Nidd tributaries are also included then 35km of rivers will be made available for salmon and sea trout spawning.
The project is being led by river conservation charity the Wild Trout Trust and funded by the European Open Rivers Programme – a grant-giving organisation dedicated to restoring rivers.
It started last week with the creation of an access ramp down to the weir and is expected to get underway properly this week. Work removing the dam is expected to last up to two weeks before further work restoring the bank takes place.
Scotton Weir is at the entrance to Nidd Gorge, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It was built at the end of the 18th century to power the nearby mill. At 75m wide and 4m high, it is thought to be the largest weir removal project ever in the UK.
The weir breached in the floods of 2019 so is already partly demolished. Leaving it to disintegrate gradually over time would have reduced the risk of bankside damage.
Removing Scotton Weir will benefit more than just migratory fish. All fish move up and downstream to some extent as part of their life cycles and the weir removal will help to restore natural processes to the river.
Currently only 16% of rivers are rated as being in ‘good’ condition by the EU Water Framework Directive. A significant cause of failure is man-made barriers interrupting a river’s flow, such as Scotton Weir on the Nidd.
Jonathan Grey, a part-time professor in practice at Lancaster University who is project managing the Scotton Weir removal for the Wild Trout Trust, said:
“The weir has been impounding about 800m of channel for over 100 years, creating deep, sluggish water in a section of the Nidd gorge where the flow should be swift and shallow.
“Think of a river as a conveyor belt of sediment as well as water. Boulder, cobble and gravel that is vital to the health of the bed of the river has been trapped upstream of the weir, unable to resupply that which has been transported away downstream. So the physical habitat downstream has become simplified, dominated by large boulders.
“Then there is fish passage to consider. All fish have to move up and downstream during different stages of their life for a variety of reasons. The weir has made it nigh on impossible to move upstream, and much more difficult to move downstream, and then only under specific flow conditions, so populations have become fragmented or isolated.”
The weir is already damaged.
Prof Grey said although it was not certain that salmon or sea trout got as far as Scotton Weir, nearby surveys suggested it was “very likely”.
He added:
“There are still more barriers further upstream, the next being at Birstwith 11km away, so there is still work to be done to restore the natural heritage of the river.
“We are aiming to reinstate the natural flow regime to the river by removing the barrier.”
Dr Marie Taylor, operations director for the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, said:
“This project is a great example of partnership working between landowners, experts from the Wild Trout Trust and government bodies, which will deliver benefits to angling groups along the River Nidd as well as wider benefits to nature gained from improving the connectivity of one of Yorkshire’s iconic rivers.”
Read more:
Ghost hunt to be held at Harrogate’s Odeon
Paranormal investigators are to visit Harrogate’s Odeon cinema next month to try to find out if the building is haunted.
There have been rumours of ghostly apparitions at the cavernous Grade II listed building, which dates back to 1936.
Now a company called Spiritus Paranormal has hired the venue on August 6. People who buy tickets costing £40 can go along and be part of the investigation.
Wayne Williams, who founded the company, said:
“We will try to find out if it is haunted. We have a lot of equipment that can help to identify paranormal activity.”
The company’s equipment includes items such as electromagnetic field detectors, infrared cameras and Ouija boards.
Participants will split into groups with investigators and carry out paranormal checks in different parts of the building.
Asked if he genuinely believed in paranormal activity, Mr Williams said:
“I’ve seen too much not to. But I also err on the side of caution. If nothing happens so be it. We will not make things happen just to put bums on seats.
The company’s website says of the Odeon:
“This place has never been investigated, staff have reported paranormal activity, this venue has so much history.”
Read more:
- Ghosthunting with a paranormal investigator on the Stray
- Spooky Ripon venues sought for paranormal events
Do you recognise any of these Harrogate cricketers from 1922?
A newly discovered photo of a Harrogate cricket team from 100 years ago has sparked a quest to identify the players.
Eric Wainwright was clearing out his late elder brother’s house in Starbeck when he found a picture of the first ever winners of the Addison Cup.
The Addison Cup, which is contested by the top 16 teams in the Harrogate and District Amateur Evening Cricket League, is one of the oldest cricket competitions in the world, dating back to 1922.
The 100th final will be contested between Knaresborough and Burnt Yates at 6.15pm on Monday night at Follifoot Cricket Club.
The inaugural winners, seen here displaying the trophy, were a Harrogate team known as The Gas Company.
Mr Wainwright’s father William is the tall man in the middle of the back row.
Read more:
- Harrogate’s Finlay Bean makes cricket history by scoring 441
- Commissioner to be quizzed over planned cuts to Harrogate’s night-time fire crews
Keen to find out the names of the others players, Mr Wainwright contacted Peter Horsman, secretary and treasurer of the league, for help.
Mr Horsman has now asked if Stray Ferret readers can identify any of the men.
He added:
“Eric and myself would be very interested in hearing from anybody who has any old memorabilia associated with the Harrogate evening league and the associated cup competitions.
“Pictures, league handbooks before 1980, individual winner’s medal etc.”
Who will succeed Harrogate?
The winners of the cup on Monday night will be presented the trophy by the grandchildren of Harry Addison, who donated the trophy in 1922.
Harrogate Cricket Club, after winning last year’s Addison Cup.
Mr Horsman has invited Mr Wainwright, who lives in York, to the final to present the runners-up trophy.
Harrogate Cricket Club beat Wetherby Carr Manor by 32 runs in last year’s final.
Burnt Yates defeated Harrogate in the quarter-finals this year.
If you have information about the photo you can call Mr Horsman on 07798 582792 or email him at peter_horsman@hotmail.co.uk.
Hot Seat: ‘We are a proud school, independent-minded’
As an opening bowler for Ouseburn Cricket Club, Jonathan Webb has sent down a fair few short pitched deliveries over the years.
But as headteacher of Ripon Grammar School, he must sometimes feel he spends his entire professional life dodging bouncers.
Ripon Grammar is one of 163 UK grammar schools, and Yorkshire’s only state only state boarding school.
Founded in 1555, it is a unique and successful institution but even it is feeling the winds of change.
Covid, mental health, energy bills, pastoral care, academisation, Ofsted — all these issues weigh on leaders’ minds, never mind teaching.
Mr Webb says the last academic year, which ended on Friday, was “less disrupted” by covid than the previous one but the ongoing aftermath is, in some ways, even more damaging. He says:
“Academically our students did relatively well during covid although some did struggle. Where things have been more challenging is the socialising and, dare I say it, the civilising aspect of school.
“By not having that daily interaction with their peers they have got out of that rhythm.”
Many young people were struggling with the corrosive impact of social media and mobile phones even before covid increased their sense of isolation. Mr Webb says:
“A lot of things young people have to deal with, we never had to deal with. Even mobile phones have changed the way students interact with each other and they extend the school day.
“Mental health is a huge issue. But children are much more willing to talk about it. When I was at school the phrase ‘mental health’ wasn’t even coined.”
With students at Ripon Grammar School.
Are schools being asked to fill gaps caused by under-funded services?
“It feels like that. There is a big pressure on schools now. Increasingly we can’t just be establishments of education in the old fashioned sense of the world. We have an increasing and growing responsibility in terms of mental health practical support and safeguarding as well.”
Read more:
- ‘Ambitious’Ripon school praised by Ofsted for transformation
- Ripon Together unveils programme of free summer activities for children
Improving Ripon
Mr Webb was educated at Batley Grammar School and has a history degree from Cambridge. Friendly and approachable, he was deputy head at Durham School for five years before moving to Ripon in 2017.
When he joined, he talked about there always being room for improvement. What does he think has been achieved?
He cites pastoral support. The school now has a pastoral management team with five heads of year, a pastoral support officer, a student welfare officer and a counsellor comes into school three days a week.
Looking ahead, he says pastoral care will remain a priority but there’s plenty else to ponder over summer, such as updating the school’s “pretty antiquated” heating system at a time of soaring energy bills and preparing for a visit from Ofsted.
Ripon Grammar hasn’t had an Ofsted inspection since 2012 when it was rated ‘outstanding’ although its boarding school was assessed to be ‘good’ this year.
Mr Webb says:
“We’ve been ready or aware since January that an inspection is imminent.”
Becoming an academy
There’s also the looming prospect of being forced to join an academy, as part of government’s plans for all schools to go down this route by 2030.
For a school that has excelled in splendid isolation for 450 years, this isn’t an entirely welcome prospect. Heavily oversubscribed at 11+, in 2021, 72 per cent of pupils achieved 9-7 at GCSE and 60 per cent achieved A*/A at A level. At least 85 per cent of students stay on for the sixth form and the over 60 per cent go to Russell Group universities.
There doesn’t seem to be a great reason to change but Mr Webb acknowledges “academies are the direction of travel”, adding:
“We are a proud school, independent-minded. Inevitably joining a trust involves joining with other schools. However we have to accept it’s going to happen and embrace the benefits.”
Boarding fees
Ripon Grammar, which moved to its present 23-acre site in 1874, is free for day pupils. Boarding costs about £11,000 to £12,000 a year, which is about a third the price of independent alternatives.
Former pupils include fashion designer Bruce Oldfield, former Conservative Party leader William Hague MP, Guardian editor Katharine Viner, TV presenter Richard Hammond and Olympic gold medallist diver Jack Laugher.
Mr Webb says there is a renewed focus on high quality teaching and learning. He’s particularly keen on oracy or, as he puts it, “developing the way students speak in an erudite and informed manner”, adding:
“It’s a life skill that never leaves somebody.”
The school is also embedding new subjects such as GCSE PE and A-level politics into the curriculum.
Mr Webb, who lives with his wife Helen and two sons near Ripon, has now spent as long at Ripon as he did at Durham but intends to continue. He says:
“I love this school and I love the job. I live very locally and both of my boys are here. They are doing well and enjoying it so I don’t see any need to move on at this stage.”
Commissioner to be quizzed over planned cuts to Harrogate’s night-time fire crews
North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is set to face further scrutiny over plans to cut the number of night-time fire engines in Harrogate to just one.
Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe will face councillors at a special meeting of North Yorkshire County Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee next Thursday.
The plans, which are currently out to consultation, have already been criticised as “putting money before lives”.
The Fire Brigades Union also described the proposals as “seriously concerning”.
The plans would see Harrogate fire station continue to have two fire engines during the day, but just one between 10pm and 9am when fewer incidents usually occur.
The move would also mean some of the fire station’s 40 crew members are moved to different stations or roles.
Harrogate Fire Station on Skipton Road
A report to Thursday’s meeting said Harrogate is of a “predominantly low combined fire risk” and that this “does not warrant” two 24-hour fire engines.
Commissioner Metcalfe has also insisted the fire service would “continue to provide an immediate emergency response” during the night.
Yet concerns remain that the move would increase response times if multiple emergencies occur during late hours and back-up vehicles have to travel further from outside of Harrogate.
Steve Howley, secretary of the North Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union, previously urged the public to reject the proposals which he said would “put lives at risk.” He said:
“The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner needs to fight for the correct funding from government, not simply mask underfunding by slashing services and providing the public of North Yorkshire with a second-rate emergency response service.”
Save £1.5m a year
Ms Metcalfe said the plans – which also include cuts to services in York and Scarborough – would save over £1.5 million a year, yet she insisted they are not cost-cutting measures.
She also said the savings would allow for investment in fire prevention.
Read more:
- Harrogate firefighters battle extreme heat as five fields go up in flames
- Harrogate fire station changes won’t increase risk to life, says commissioner
The proposals are part of the fire service’s Risk and Resource Model which sets out how it will deploy staff and equipment across North Yorkshire over the next three years.
The consultation will run until August 14 and residents are being urged to give their feedback online.
Commissioner Metcalfe said in a statement:
“The role of a fire and rescue service has changed and continues to change, with only 26% of our incidents last year relating to a fire emergency.
“We want to ensure we are addressing our current and future challenges and that we have the capacity to prevent and stop incidents happening in the first place.
“Inevitably, there are some areas where the setup of the service would change but I’m confident the right people, right equipment and the right support would continue to be available to everyone.”
To have your say go to www.TellCommissionerZoe.co.uk
Cabbies angry over plans to shorten Harrogate taxi rankCabbies have reacted angrily to plans to shorten the length of the main taxi rank in Harrogate as part of the £11.2m Station Gateway scheme.
The rank on Station Parade, opposite the train and bus stations, currently accommodates about a dozen hackney carriages.
Councillors want to reduce this by two vehicles and introduce a new bay over the road under plans to introduce single-lane traffic on Station Parade and create new cycle paths.
North Yorkshire County Council, which is leading on the gateway scheme, included the taxi rank proposals in new design plans that went out to consultation yesterday.
Tania Weston, the council’s programme manager for the gateway scheme, told a media briefing about the new designs last week that cabbies were satisfied with the new arrangements, which also include creating extra bays outside Mainline Taxis further along Station Parade.
Paul McMahon, who owns PM Taxis, said cabbies were told in talks with the council that the Station Parade rank would stay in its entirety.
He said:
“They have completely backtracked on what we were told.
“How can you possibly service a busy railway station, especially when conferences are in town, when you shorten the taxi rank?”
Kevin O’Boyle, who owns Central Taxis, said several town centre bays would be lost if the part-pedestrianisation of James Street also went ahead. He said:
“This would be an unfair, derogatory step.
“Problems were pointed out at council liaison meetings a good six months back but it appears to have changed nothing.”
Mr O’Boyle said shortening the main rank and creating a new bay over the road, which he understands will be for wheelchair-accessible taxis, would cause tensions among cabbies.
He said drivers sometimes already had to loop round Harrogate because spaces weren’t available on the rank and the situation would get worse.
Read more:
- £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway will ‘boost business and house prices’
- Questions over deadline for £11.2m Harrogate Gateway project hit by legal threat
- New Harrogate Station Gateway details revealed today
He added it would also cause a scramble for customers on two fronts and cause ill feeling amongst cabbies waiting on the current rank who saw a wheelchair-accessible vehicle nip into the new bay over the road and pick up a non-wheelchair user.
Mr O’Boyle added:
“They need to get it into their heads that taxis are part of the infrastructure of the town.”
“Creating another rank will only cause divisions within the taxi trade.”
Ms Weston said in a statement:
“During the second consultation we received feedback from taxi drivers and companies about the proposed changes.
“As a result, we are retaining the current taxi rank on Station Parade but this will be slightly shorter.
“There will be a relocated taxi space on the opposite side of the road.
“We have also included a raised table on the northern part of Station Parade (between Bower Road and Cheltenham Parade) to make easier for people to cross the road to access the taxi company.
“Previously taxi drivers requested additional taxi rank spaces on the west side of the town centre and we will offset any loss through the Transforming Cities Fund project by providing new spaces in this area.
“Additionally, should a decision be taken to progress the scheme, the contractor will be contacting taxi companies to understand their requirements during construction, including the potential location of temporary taxi ranks.”
‘Fantastic regeneration project’
The gateway project is one of three active travel schemes in North Yorkshire, and 39 nationally, being funded by the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund.
It is supported by North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Councillor Phil Ireland, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, said last week hailed the scheme as a “fantastic regeneration project and the first major investment in Harrogate in 30 years”.
But business groups have expressed concerns about its impact on retail.
Ripon boy, 12, solves Rubik’s Cube in 10 seconds at European ChampionshipsA 12-year-old from Ripon has solved a Rubik’s Cube in 10.72 seconds at the European Championships in Copenhagen.
Ripon Grammar School student Kris Lim is ranked among the top 100 in the country at solving the puzzle.
He was one of 550 competitors going head-to-head solving the 7×7 and the original 3×3 cube at the event in Denmark, which was organised by the Rubik’s World Cube Association.
Competing in Denmark
Kris’ 10.72 seconds time for the 3×3 was his best score in a competition.
He is currently ranked 96th in the UK in 3×3 one-handed with a time of 18.17 seconds. He’s also 98th in the UK in 2×2 with a single solve of 1.99 seconds.
He spends an hour a day cubing and solved his first cube when he was eight years old. He said:
“I started getting faster when I was 11 and people thought it was cool. I can solve a 3×3 blindfolded too, although I haven’t done this at a competition yet.
“The most enjoyable part at the competition was meeting other cubers, as cubing is a rare hobby. My ambition is to get a sub-10 3×3 average in a competition one day.”
The puzzle was was invented in 1974 by Hungarian professor Erno Rubik.
Read more:
- Call for roundabout to replace lights at key Ripon junction
- Ripon Together unveils programme of free summer activities for children
£11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway will ‘boost business and house prices’
The £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway will boost business, increase house prices and reduce congestion, according to an economic report published today.
North Yorkshire County Council, which is leading on the controversial scheme, has opened a third round of consultation.
As part of this, it published an economic case report showing the impact of the scheme.
The document says there is evidence that town centre retail is at risk of decline and ‘the proposed scheme contributes to increasing investment, job creation and productivity’.
It says the project would also create better opportunities to travel by foot and bike, attract more shoppers, increase land prices and ‘act as a catalyst to urban redevelopment and wider town centre regeneration’.
Businesses have expressed concerns about the impact of the scheme on trade.
They fear the loss of parking spaces, particularly on a part-pedestrianised James Street, and extra traffic caused by reducing some of Station Parade to single lane traffic will deter shoppers, as well as the impact of lengthy construction work.
How James Street will look.
But the economic case report says a survey of James Street users ‘indicates that over 90% of those doing business on the street would be unaffected by the removal of parking’.
It adds:
“Of the 10% or less that are parking, less than 20% were of the opinion that they would take their business elsewhere.
“In combination, were the parking to be removed from James Street, the impact on current shopping/business visitors could be expected to be less than 2%.”
Read more:
- New Harrogate Station Gateway details revealed today
- Questions over deadline for £11.2m Harrogate Gateway project hit by legal threat
The findings are based on interviews with 294 people entering or leaving shops or businesses on James Street in October last year.
The report says the ‘overall impact on retail footfall is expected to be positive’ and that ‘research has also shown that station enhancements tend to increase the value of existing land and properties within certain radii surrounding the station’.
Congestion fears
North Yorkshire County Council said last week the scheme would extend the average journey time around town by 73 seconds at peak times. Some opponents fear the reality will be worse and the extra congestion will reduce property prices.
But today’s report rejects this. It says offices near the station are in high demand, adding the 11-storey Exchange tower on Station Parade has 99% occupancy and commanded office rents of approximately £25 per square foot.
Conservative councillors Keane Duncan and Phil Ireland at Station Parade last week.
Houses within 500 metres of the station could expect a 10% increase in value and houses within 1,000 and 1,500 metres could expect an uplift of up to 5%.
The report concludes:
“Based on local conditions, academic studies and case study evidence there is a strong economic case for the Harrogate Station Gateway.”
“The scheme is considered to support inclusive growth by presenting new opportunities to access jobs, education and training – that will serve to support a sustainable labour force in the district.
“This document has reviewed what is a large body of evidence and the strong precedents that indicate the Transforming Cities Fund scheme is likely to increase footfall and retail performance, increase property/land values and increase business investment.”
The project, which is not due to start until at least late spring next year, is one of three in North Yorkshire, and 39 nationally, being funded by the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund to promote active travel.
Today’s economic case report comes after Harrogate property developer Chris Bentley, who owns Hornbeam Park Developments, expressed concerns about the legality of the consultation process and said he was considering a judicial review.
North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority all support the gateway.
You can take part in the consultation here.
Harrogate firefighters battle extreme heat as five fields go up in flamesHarrogate firefighters dealt with five field fires on the hottest day of the year today.
On a day when North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident due to the number of call-outs, the crew at Harrogate attended three major fires.
At first they were called to a blaze near Forest Lane in Harrogate at about 1pm where an area of woodland measuring 20m x 20m had caught fire. Harrogate fire station put on Facebook:
“We believe a discarded cigarette, or strong sunlight shining through a broken glass bottle may have caused the fire.”
After extinguishing the fire, one of the Harrogate appliances was sent to a standing crop on fire in a field near Marton cum Grafton, between Boroughbridge and Knaresborough.
The fire station said on Facebook:
“Due to the extremely dry conditions the fire caught hold of four fields very quickly. The wind direction kept changing making the condition challenging.
“Fire crews also came to help from Knaresborough fire station, Ripon, Acom, and the water bowser from Tadcaster.
“Crews worked hard in the extreme heat (nearly 40 degrees!) to extinguish the fire using hosereel jets, main branches and beaters.
“Thanks also goes to the farmers for helping out and putting a fire break in the crop.”
While this was going on, the second Harrogate fire engine was called to a field on fire near Northallerton.
Read more:
“As you can imagine, the ground is tinder-dry at the moment making it easy for fire to spread quickly.
“So please do be careful if you are out and about. Make sure you discard cigarettes carefully and avoid having barbecues.”
An inquest into the death of prominent local solicitor Lynda Greenwood heard today that she died of smoke inhalation when her house caught fire.
Ms Greenwood, who founded Greenwoods Solicitors in Knaresborough in 1991, died on April 2 at her home in Brearton. She was 67.
Her home was severely damaged in the blaze, which occurred at about 10pm on a Saturday night.
Assistant coroner Jonathan Leach gave the cause of death at today’s brief opening inquest in Northallerton. He said she was divorced her maiden name was Nattress.
Me Leach added:
“She was at home on April 2 when a fire broke out, as a result of which she died at the scene.”
The inquest was adjourned until a later date.
Ms Greenwood was born in South Shields but grew up in Knaresborough where she attended King James’s School before completing a law degree at Kingston University and becoming a partner in a Surrey law firm.
Read more:
- ‘No suspicious circumstances’ surrounding Brearton house fire, say fire service
- Local solicitor identified as victim of fatal Brearton house fire
After having her daughter, she set up Greenwoods Solicitors in her home town.
A statement on the company’s website says:
“On Saturday 2 April 2022 our colleague, our friend, our Lynda, was taken from us in the most tragic of circumstances.
“Lynda touched the hearts of everyone who met her and we have been overwhelmed by the number of kind messages we have received.”