Harrogate based ventilation manufacturer EnviroVent has relocated to a purpose-built zero carbon headquarters just outside the town.

The new 61,000 sq. ft premises on Harrogate West Business Park, near the Army Foundation College on Penny Pot Lane, is the culmination of a 10-month building project.

It brings together EnviroVent’s manufacturing facility, warehousing, head office and training suite into one purpose-built headquarters.

EnviroVent’s 260 employees have relocated from two existing premises on Hornbeam Park in Harrogate.

The new building will reduce the company’s environmental impact significantly and includes many energy efficient initiatives, including solar panels, air source heat pumps and a ventilation heat recovery system to ensure high levels of indoor air quality.

There are also electric charging points for vehicles and LED lighting units and responsive lighting.

Construction of the site

Andy Makin, managing director of EnviroVent, said:

“It is fantastic for the company to be together under one roof in our new zero carbon headquarters.  We are truly committed to good environmental practices throughout our business and these purpose-built premises allow EnviroVent to operate on an even more sustainable basis.

“With much larger premises, we have room to expand and  ambitious plans. Working alongside our parent company Soler & Palau, we fully expect to grow our brand, protecting and creating employees roles, benefitting our customers, our suppliers and the wider community.  We are very excited about the future!”

Read more:

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• Business is booming in Knaresborough as empty shop units continue to fill

The build was carried out by Skipton-based construction company Sutcliffe Construction, working alongside developer of the new business park, Teakwood Developments. York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership also supported the project with an allocation from the government’s Getting Building Fund. 

Daniel Martin, director of Teakwood Developments, said:

“It’s been a long road but so rewarding to reach the end, providing a facility that we can all be proud of. It secures the future of this fantastic business in Harrogate, providing a state of the art facility, with the all-important expansion capabilities.”

To offset any further carbon emissions, EnviroVent has also entered a partnership with MoreTrees, which will plant 5,000 trees per year on its behalf.

The photo shows (left to right) Andy Makin, managing director of EnviroVent outside the new headquarters with apprentices Dovile Stankeviciute and Stephanie Banks, Rachael Tranter, head of people and sustainability) and
Anna Campey, H&S/HR advisor.

North Yorkshire Police today announced a two-week blitz on speeding motorists.

The constabulary said in a statement traffic officers will be targeting excess and inappropriate speed on county roads “over the next couple of weeks”. It added:

“Twenty-four-hour enforcement activity will take place across the county, with an aim of catching those who put other road users in danger.”

Today marks the start of a three-week nationwide speed enforcement operation, led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, which represents British chief police officers.

The initiative, which includes National Safe Speed Day on October 19, highlights the risks of speeding and encourages motorists to slow down.

Between January 1 and December 31 last year, there were 85,610 speed violations captured by safety camera vans and safety camera bikes in North Yorkshire.

Expect to see more police speed vans over the next two weeks. Photo by Martin Dawes

The last speed enforcement campaign in January this year resulted in almost 5,200 speeding violations during that month alone.

Traffic Constable Ali Hoyle said:

“These figures show just how much of an issue speeding is here for us in North Yorkshire and this is not a huge surprise as we have a vast road network across the county including hundreds of miles of rural roads.

“The reason why we do these types of deployments is because we are trying to prevent serious collisions on our roads and make them as safe as they can possibly be.

“There are so many dangers associated with excessive speeding, not least because it’s a major cause of fatal road traffic collisions. By slowing down and making sure you drive to the conditions of the road, you have more time to react to other drivers and hazards.

Train operator Northern has announced a flash sale of £1.50 return tickets from Harrogate and Knaresborough to Leeds this week.

The ticket drop, which is expected to be sold out by about 5pm today, is timed to help people get to and from the Light Night Leeds, a free event showcasing art in the dark.

As part of its Go Do Your Thing after work campaign, Northern is offering more than 2,000 £1.50 advance purchase tickets.

Passengers on the Harrogate line, which also includes Knaresborough, Starbeck, Hornbeam Park, Pannal, Weeton and Cattal, are eligible for the deal.

Tickets are available for journeys into Leeds between 4pm to 6pm and departing Leeds 8pm to 10pm on Thursday’s opening night.

The promotional fares are available only through Northern’s website and app.

Light Night Leeds features are and performances by artists across the city.

Light Night Leeds

Tony Baxter, regional director at Northern, said:

“Light Night Leeds is a highlight in the region’s cultural calendar. The £1.50 ticket drop is our way of helping our customers go do their thing after work, with fares that will get you there for less.

“Tickets are on a first come, first serve basis – so those looking to take advantage should book early to avoid disappointment. When they’re gone, they’re gone.”

Read more:

• Some Harrogate train tickets sold for £1 in Northern ‘flash sale’
• Northern’s new timetable includes early Harrogate to Leeds trains

The International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival is to be moved from Harrogate to Buxton after the organisers claimed the cost of the venue doubled.

The Royal Hall hosted the event annually from 2014, except when it was cancelled due to covid.

It attracted thousands of visitors from around the world and provided a major summer boost for Harrogate’s hospitality sector.

But next year’s 15-day event will be held at Buxton Opera House in Derbyshire from July 29 to August 12 instead.

Bernard Lockett, one of the festival organisers, said:

“Last week, festival directors Janet and Neil Smith were presented with Harrogate Convention Centre‘s new costings for 2023, which would see overall costs double, making the festival in its present form impossible to stage. With no compromises forthcoming, there was sadly no option but to leave the town.

“The decision was not taken lightly. The festival has invested heavily in growing the festival in the town, and we know our visitors, who travel from all around the world every year, will certainly miss Harrogate, and particularly the magnificent Royal Hall.”

Read more:

• 10-day Gilbert & Sullivan Festival returns to Harrogate
• 45 former CNG staff in £210,000 tribunal win against Harrogate firm

An email from the organisers to festival supporters last week said Buxton Opera House, “pulled out every stop to accommodate the festival, ensuring a sustainable future for this important event”.

The event moved to Harrogate in 2014.

The festival was first staged in Buxton in 1993 before moving to Harrogate. The email said:

“We are immensely sorry to leave so many fantastic friends in Harrogate and the magnificent Royal Hall theatre.

“Buxton is, and always will be, the spiritual home of the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.  We are excited to return and look forward to seeing everyone there next year.”

The Stray Ferret has approached Harrogate Borough Council, which manages the Royal Hall, for comment.

Roads

Temporary traffic lights were due to arrive last week on Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road, according to North Yorkshire County Council’s live roadworks map. The work, due to last for five weeks by Northern Gas Networks, did not begin, but it is likely to do so this week.

Traffic control in the form of stop / go boards is due to be active for two days at the junction of Skipton Road and Regent Parade.

Roadworks remain in place on Montpellier Road in Harrogate, as well as on Crescent Road. The latter works mean motorists are unable to turn left at the Parliament Street junction. Traffic coming the opposite way on Ripon Road is unable to turn right.

Resurfacing work at Abbey Road in Knaresborough are due to be in place until October 21 so resurfacing can take place. A road closure and signed diversion will be in place during the works.

The Fellbeck bridge closure, which involves a diversion, is scheduled to last until November 12.

Trains and buses

No reported problems on Northern trains in Harrogate and Knaresborough this morning after Saturday’s rail strikes.

Good news for rail passengers on Harrogate’s LNER services after major engineering works in the Newcastle area by Network Rail caused disruption to services for almost two weeks. However, the 7.44am York to London service has been cancelled.

The Harrogate Bus Company is not reporting any problems this morning after police closed the A61 between Ripley and Ripon last night.

You can check bus service updates here.

Read more:

• Major blow to hospitality sector as Harrogate loses 15-day festival
• Pedestrian seriously injured in collision at Knaresborough retail park

Activist Sarah Gibbs has pledged to step-up the campaign to save Harrogate’s Rotary Wood after more than 100 people took part in the latest event.

Harrogate Spring Water, which is owned by French firm Danone, has revived 2017 plans to fell trees in Rotary Wood so it can expand its bottling plant.

Ms Gibbs has been at the forefront of the campaign to persuade councillors to reject the application when it comes before Harrogate Borough Council‘s planning committee.

She has organised numerous protests and stunts, often while dressed as a tree, to raise awareness of the issue.

The start of the walk to Rotary Wood. Pic credit: Edward Lee @edfclee

Last weekend’s walk to Rotary Wood was perhaps the most popular yet, attracting local people as well as delegates in Harrogate for the Green Party autumn conference.

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• Rotary Wood campaigners stage demo in Valley Gardens

Among those taking part was 19-year-old Lucy Turner, who travelled from Manchester, where she attends university. She said:

“I’m from Harrogate and planted the trees here with Western Primary School when I was seven years old. Rotary Wood is extremely valuable to me.

“Expanding a company that produces plastic bottles is already extremely damaging to the environment and the fact that in doing so the Rotary Wood would be destroyed exacerbates the carelessness of this proposal, especially given the climate crisis we are currently battling.”

Pic credit: Edward Lee @edfclee

Neil Hind, chair of Pinewoods Conservation Group, said:

“We know the expansion plans remain a concern for the majority with the potential loss of acres of woodland and community green space.”

Pic credit: Edward Lee @edfclee

Ms Gibbs said the “fantastic turn-out was a reminder that these woods really do matter to so many people” and she feels the campaign is gathering momentum.

She said:

“Since our walk on Sunday there has been new and renewed interest and enthusiasm to save Rotary Wood.

“Members of the community have come forward to offer their support and so we plan to have discussions together regarding next steps asap.

“This is community in action so everybody’s input is welcome and valued.

“We envision future events and actions to be fun, creative, and educational. Most importantly, we hope to offer a variety of approaches to be as inclusive and engaging as possible.”

It is not known when Harrogate Spring Water’s planning application will come before the council’s planning committee.

A cycling group has expressed frustration amid ongoing uncertainty over the timetable to increase active travel in the Harrogate district.

The council previously said designs to create better cycling routes on Victoria Avenue and the A59 were “likely” to be revealed this summer. It also said a consultation on Oatlands Drive cycling improvements was “likely to start soon after” Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee bank holiday weekend in June.

But a fortnight ago Councillor Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transport at North Yorkshire County Council, said an Oatlands consultation was now likely to start in October and a consultation on Victoria Avenue and the A59 were due in the New Year.

The Stray Ferret asked the council why the consultations had been delayed.

Melisa Burnham, North Yorkshire County Council’s area highways manager, said in a statement:

“We want to ensure that all road users fully understand the strategic links between all the proposed projects in Harrogate to enable them to comment with a clear voice.

“To ensure this, we have taken the time necessary to draft detailed engagement papers. Details of the consultation will be announced soon. We have explained this situation to interested parties.”

Victoria Avenue is one of the routes designated for cycling improvements.

Councillors frequently talk about creating a joined-up, off-road cycle route from Harrogate train station to Cardale Park, which would require completion of the Station Gateway scheme and the Otley Road and Victoria Avenue cycle routes, as well as the prohibition of traffic on Beech Grove. None of these projects is making noticeable progress.

Read more:

• Beech Grove decision leaves Harrogate in slow lane for cycling
• Contractor for Harrogate’s Otley Road cycle route to be appointed in autumn

Kevin Douglas, chairman of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said the speed of change was particularly disappointing because funding for projects was in place. He said:

“We have been waiting so long for this. It’s frustrating that every time we seem to be making progress, the dates slip back.

“We need to see resources dedicated to carrying out the work as soon as possible.”

Still no word about the Beech Grove & Otley Road consultation promised in September 2022.
Countdown: 6 days late https://t.co/tvpBidDlsF

— Harrogate Cycle Action (@cycle_harrogate) October 7, 2022

Mr Douglas also highlighted how, in contrast to delays on cycling schemes, work was due to start on the £68m scheme to realign Kex Gill for motorists. He added:

“All we can do is keep pressing for change and hope things start to move more quickly.”

Leading football clubs in Harrogate and Knaresborough are considering whether to kick-off earlier on Saturday afternoons over winter to save money on floodlights.

Rising energy bills mean the cost of lighting up matches is expected to soar this season, especially after the clocks go back on October 30.

Bringing forward the traditional 3pm Saturday afternoon kick-off could save those clubs in the district with floodlights — Harrogate Town, Harrogate Railway Athletic and Knaresborough Town — thousands of pounds over the season.

For the district’s only professional club, Harrogate Town, any change seems unlikely. A club spokesman said:

“We have no plans to move our kick-offs at this stage.

“It was discussed at an English Football League meeting with all clubs last week and the overriding feeling was that it would be detrimental to attendances.”

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But the issue is less clearcut for semi-professional teams, which attract smaller attendances.

Michael Edwards, chairman of Harrogate Railway, who play in the Northern Counties East League Division One, said it was one of many teams in the league pursuing the idea. He said:

“It could save hundreds if not thousands of pounds over a season and every little bit counts.”

He said Harrogate Railway were looking to start some matches at 1.30pm or 2pm from November onwards — but any change has to be agreed by both teams three weeks in advance.

Clare Rudzinski, secretary of Knaresborough Town, who play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, one tier above Harrogate Railway, said the issue would be raised at a committee meeting next week.

Floodlights will continue to be used at midweek matches, when the evening kickoff times make floodlights essential.

An ambitious new two-day music festival in a small Harrogate village began last night.

The Amy Woodforde-Finden Music Festival was created to promote a female composer who is buried in Hampsthwaite.

About 70 people attended a recital of her songs at St Thomas a Becket Church, featuring London mezzo-soprano Patricia Hammond.

A guided tour of Amy’s Hampsthwaite this morning will be followed by a concluding concert this evening featuring two baritones and talented local musicians at St Thomas a Becket.

It is hoped the festival will become an annual event, promoting the work of Amy and other female composers, as well as engaging local artists and schools.

Amy’s music was much sought-after at the turn of the last century but her reputation fell into obscurity following her death in 1919.

Amy Woodforde-Finden’s tomb

Her tomb in St Thomas a Becket Church attracted little attention for a century until the German composer and pianist Thomas Flessenkaemper was appointed director of music for the benefice of Hampsthwaite, Killinghall and Birstwith.

Mr Flessenkaemper noticed the tomb during his interview for the role and when he took up the position he became curious. He said:

“I set out to track down this extraordinary artistic personality. I quickly realised that I had struck gold and read everything I could find about Amy Woodforde-Finden.”

He became “completely drunk on the colourfulness of her musical language” and set about establishing a festival to promote her work.

St Thomas a Becket Church last night

Mr Flessenkaemper accompanied Ms Hammond at last night’s recital, the highlight of which was Amy’s four-song Indian Love Lyrics.

The programme notes included a supportive quote from international pianist Stephen Hough, who said he “immediately fell in love with the alluring melodies, the exotic harmonies and the ultra-sentimental words” of Amy’s music.

A video set to Amy’s music featuring Hampsthwaite is available here.

Tickets for this evening’s concert are available here and at the church door tonight.

Read more:

• New music festival to mark composer’s link to Nidderdale village
• Oatlands community artwork to be unveiled in Harrogate this weekend

Forty-six former members of staff at Harrogate firm CNG have won an employment tribunal against the failed company worth about £210,000.

The ex-colleagues claimed CNG didn’t follow the correct redundancy procedures when the firm went into administration last year.

A tribunal in Leeds agreed with their claim, brought by solicitor Nuala Toner, and awarded them 90 days’ pay as compensation.

However, each claimant’s award was capped at eight weeks and a maximum of £571 a week. It means the total sum awarded to the group as a whole is about £210,000.

Any remaining sum owed can be claimed in the insolvency process, although whether any funds will be left when all creditors are paid remains to be seen.

The compensation will be paid by the government’s Redundancy Payment Service because CNG is in administration.

Read more:

• CNG building in Harrogate goes back on the market
• Administrators reveal state of Harrogate firm CNG’s finances

The claim, heard last month, was not contested by the administrators of CNG.

CNG ceased trading last year due to spiralling wholesale gas and electricity prices.

Nuala Toner

Ms Toner told the Stray Ferret:

“As early as August 2021, draft management accounts showed CNG had significant financial difficulties and by October 2021 it was accepted CNG was no longer sustainable. Despite this no steps were taken to commence consultation until November 2021, by which point any consultation was pointless.

“When mass redundancies are made, consultation must be meaningful and must be undertaken with a view to reducing the number of redundancies or mitigating the effects of the dismissals. By failing to undertake proper consultation in good time, the employees were denied the opportunity to mitigate the effects of the dismissals.”