Cooplands has closed its bakery in Boroughbridge after little more than two years.
The company, which is the second largest bakery chain in the district, opened a shop on the town’s High Street in February 2021.
But a sign appeared in the window recently saying the shop had now closed permanently and the nearest branch was on Beulah Street in Harrogate.
The Harrogate shop
The Stray Ferret asked Cooplands why it had closed its Boroughbridge branch and how many staff were affected.
A spokesperson said:
“Following an in-depth review of the business, we have proposed to make some changes to both our retail and bakery operations, to help better position the business for the long-term and sustainable growth.
“This has been done to ensure that our store estate and broader business are fully aligned with our ‘modern bakery food-to-go retailer’ strategy.
“As a result, we have entered into a consultation process with a number of colleagues. We appreciate that this may be unsettling for colleagues and our priority is to support them fully throughout this process.”
The spokesperson declined to comment beyond the statement.
Cooplands started as a single shop in Scarborough in 1885 and now has more than 160 shops in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the North East.
It was bought in 2021 by the EG Group.
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Knaresborough to host free big screen broadcast of coronation
The coronation will be broadcast live on a big screen in the grounds of Knaresborough House on Saturday, May 6.
Knaresborough Town Council announced today it had secured access to a locally sourced LED screen for what it hopes will be a joyful day of picnics and celebration.
Besides showing the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, the free event will also include the broadcast of two family films.
Town councillor James Pickard, chair of the council’s king’s coronation working group, said:
“We are looking forward to welcoming the Knaresborough community and visitors alike to share this once in a lifetime event. It’s not often we get to see a king crowned.
“We hope the day will be a relaxed event where people can simply come and soak up the atmosphere whilst watching the ceremony.
“We plan to extend the day by showing two family films throughout the afternoon. This will be a free local event for the entire community to enjoy.”
Cllr Pickard added the grounds were a natural theatre with scope for catering for large crowds throughout the day, from 10am to 5pm.
He added people were welcome to bring picnics but food and refreshment stalls would also be available.
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Town councillor Hannah Gostlow, who is also a member of the working group, added:
Chocolate and coffee cafe opens in Harrogate“It’s great that both residents and visitors to Knaresborough will have a fantastic opportunity to come together to view the king’s coronation live on a big screen at the iconic location of Knaresborough House.
“The event will give everyone the opportunity to have a memorable experience to mark this exciting and historic event.”
A chocolate and coffee cafe has opened in Harrogate town centre.
The Chocolate Works is situated on Station Parade between the Everyman cinema and restaurant Farmhouse.
It is the third venture of its kind launched by owner Guy Middleton.
Mr Middleton opened his first Chocolate Works cafe in Clitheroe in 2017 followed by a second in Skipton in 2020.
The cafes serve predominantly Belgian chocolate dishes, including hot chocolate, as well as loose chocolate that can be taken away.
They also stock a wide range of coffees and speciality teas plus waffles, ice cream and milkshakes.
The premises was intended to house the vegan restaurant Vertigo, which went out of business a year ago before its Harrogate eatery opened.
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Dashcam footage appeal after serious crash on Leathley Lane
Police are appealing for dashcam footage of a serious collision on the edge of the Harrogate district.
A woman in a green 12-reg Mazda broke several bones and was hospitalised for five days.
The crash happened at 9.20am on Tuesday, March 14 at Leathley Lane near Castley Lane.
According to North Yorkshire Police, three other vehicles were involved: a white 21-reg Ford Transit van, a grey 21-reg Hyundai Ioniq and a grey 10-reg Skoda Roomster.
The stretch of road was closed for several hours while officers investigated and vehicles were recovered.
A police statement said:
“We’re appealing for witnesses to the collision or anyone who recalls seeing the vehicles involved prior to the collision, to get in touch as soon as possible to assist the investigation.
“In particular, we’re appealing for motorists in the area at the time who may have relevant dashcam footage of the collision itself or of any of the vehicles involved prior to the incident.”
You can email Megan.Smith1@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Megan Smith.
Quote reference number 12230046167.
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Late night hit and run in Harrogate district
Police are appealing for information about a hit and run collision in the Harrogate district.
According to North Yorkshire Police, a blue Kia car with an 06 registration collided with a parked car on Millfield Street at Pateley Bridge.
It happened at about 2.20am on Good Friday.
A police statement said:
“The driver of the Kia did not stop and drove to the end of Millfield End before driving away, back up Millfield Street, about five minutes later.
“Both the parked car and the Kia were damaged.
“Witnesses also noticed a burning smell coming from the Kia.”
Anybody with information can email bill.hickson@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and select option 1.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Quote reference number 12230061510.
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Ripon prepares to party after Knaresborough celebrates
Ripon is preparing for a bank holiday street party after Knaresborough took centre stage yesterday.
Knaresborough Spring Fayre saw thousands of people visit the sun-bathed Market Place.
The activities included a free petting farm, a free craft tent, fairground rides, a spring window competition, a magician and an appearance by the Easter bunny.
It was the second time the spring fayre has been staged by Knaresborough Business Collective, which was set up by a group of small businesses to make the town centre more vibrant.
Yesterday’s event certainly had the town buzzing for the entire six hours from 10am to 4pm.
Collective member Natalie Horner said:
“It was such a brilliant day and a huge success for both the event itself and the shops in town too.
“The weather was lovely and it was so nice to see so much community spirit and joy in town.”
The Nailery won the spring window competition.
The forecast looks a little less kind for tomorrow’s street party on Kirkgate in Ripon, but spirits will no doubt be equally high.
Kirkgate will be closed to traffic from 10am to 4pm while residents and visitors enjoy live music, al fresco dining and entertainment.
The event is part of the Totally Locally scheme being adopted by traders and Ripon Business Improvement District to encourage people to spend with independent businesses in the city.
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‘The council have destroyed 99 years of model boats in Harrogate’
A new fountain in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens has effectively ended a century of model boating, according to the club that has used it for decades.
Claro Marine model boating club pleaded with Harrogate Borough Council to halt the £6,000 installation of the fountain in the boating pond near the cafe.
It said water from the fountain would damage the boats’ engines and jeopardise their hobby.
But the council, which was abolished a week ago, pressed ahead and the fountain was switched on a few days ago.
The pond has been used for model boating for 99 years.
Cub secretary Dave Finnegan, 69, told the Stray Ferret he was “very sad” because it spelled the end of a pastime he had pursued since childhood.
Mr Finnegan said:
“The council have destroyed 99 years of model boats in Harrogate. They will not listen.”
The club, he said, had been told the fountain would be situated in the deep end but it was actually in the middle of the pond, creating more of an obstacle.
The fountain is expected to operate from 9.30am to 6pm each day.
Mr Finnegan said:
“Even if switched off, the fountain is an underwater object to hit or go aground on.
“How do you get a boat back if it’s in the middle of the pond? I will not be sailing in Valley Gardens.
“I would like to thank all the visitors to the pond while I have been sailing for their kind comments and questions.”
The fountain has created an obstacle in the middle of the pond.
Mr Finnegan said the club was now trying to find another pond in the Harrogate area.
Alison Wilson, head of parks and environment services at Harrogate Borough Council, previously told the club:
“As the body [of the fountain] consists of a base and jets there is little infrastructure involved. Once in place, we will consider any protection required to ensure there is no damage to the jets from boats and vice versa.
“We do not wish to curtail your clubs activities, simply make the area more attractive and usable at other times of the week”.
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- Model boating must continue, says Friends of Valley Gardens
- Model boaters in Valley Gardens call for public support to stop fountain
‘Intense’ talks to save Ripon firm Farmison after buyout collapses
Intense negotiations are taking place over the bank holiday weekend to save one of Ripon’s largest employers .
Premium meat retailer Farmison & Co ceased trading on Thursday and entered administration. Most of the 92 staff were made redundant.
All items on the company’s website are currently listed as ‘out of stock’.
Farmison co-founder John Pallagi told the Stray Ferret he was talking to a consortium led by two Yorkshire businessmen about a management buyout.
It comes after buyout talks with another online butcher, Tom Hixson of Smithfield, fell through.
Mr Pallagi said:
“I hope to have some news by the end of the long weekend.
“Farmison isn’t trading at the moment but I haven’t given up hope. We are an amazing business and this is a great opportunity.
“We have half a million people on our database and an established UK brand that has won many awards. There’s every reason to keep this company alive.”
Mr Pallagi said last night he had been engaged in 48 hours of exhausting talks with the potential new owners after administrators FRP took control of the company on Maundy Thursday.
He said the firm had serviced all orders that had been placed and a “small working team” remained on site to deal with any unresolved issues.
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Last year Mr Pallagi sold Farmison, whose customers include Harrods and Fortnum & Mason, to Scottish private investors Inverleith LLP.
He remained as chief executive and a new three-year business plan was agreed. But when the plan faltered he approached Ripon and Skipton Conservative MP Julian Smith and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for help.
Mr Pallagi said:
“I’m a fighter. I’ve been in this business for 21 years and I’m confident we can turn around this wrong turn that we’ve taken.”
Mr Pallagi started Farmison to work with local farmers and encourage people to ‘eat better meat’.
Despite sales doubling to £12m in 2021, the company then made a loss of £2.6m.
Harrogate’s Finlay Bean scores first century of county cricket season
Harrogate-born Finlay Bean has scored the first century of the county cricket season while playing for Yorkshire.
Bean, 20, made headlines last year when he scored 441 for Yorkshire second XI — the highest score in second X1 championship history.
At the time he didn’t have a professional contract and played for York Cricket Club but he was subsequently signed by Yorkshire and made his first class debut against Lancashire in September.
Bean, who studied at Ripon Grammar School and Queen Ethelburga’s, scored 118 off 149 balls against Leicestershire in the opening day of the first fixture of the year at Headingley.
The four-day match is still ongoing.
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Harrogate village cricket pavilion destroyed in suspected arson attack
Arsonists are believed to have destroyed a cricket pavilion in a village near Harrogate.
Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough were called to Weeton Lane in Weeton at 8.40pm last night to reports of a shed fire.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log added:
“On arrival this was found to be a wooden cricket pavilion which was completely destroyed. Crews used one hose reel to extinguish the fire.”
The incident log did not give a cause of fire but villagers have reported seeing youths fleeing from the scene.
The cricket club in Weeton folded years ago and the pavilion had fallen into a state of disrepair.
Some frustrated villagers are keen to mount a campaign to restore the site to community use.
Man’s hand burned
In a separate incident later last night, Harrogate firefighters responded at 10.30pm to a smoke alarm going off in a house on Olive Grove in Harrogate.
The incident log said:
“This involved a candle which is believed to have been left unattended, causing smouldering to surrounding surface.
“One male suffered burns to his hand, received treatment from fire crew and will make his own way to hospital. Crew also ventilated property. Burn pack used.”
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