Parcel delivery firm DPD has been charged £374 plus VAT for one of its vans damaging the Stray in Harrogate.

The Stray Ferret reported last month that a DPD van had got stuck in the mud when it attempted a shortcut over the public parkland

Tyre tracks indicated the driver had tried to bypass the recent road closure on Beech Grove by mounting the snow-covered Stray but was unable to complete the manoeuvre in the wintry conditions.

The Harrogate Stray Act 1985 made Harrogate Borough Council protector of the 200 acres of land.

A council spokesperson said:

“Following the damage caused in February, DPD have been charged £374 plus VAT to cover the costs of repairing The Stray.

“The ruts will be levelled and area seeded. Bulbs will also be planted to replace any that have been damaged.”

Read more:

• Delivery van gets stuck on Harrogate’s Stray after attempting shortcut
• Flooding reveals ‘major unresolved problem on West Park Stray’
• Ghosthunting with a paranormal investigator on the Stray

Beech Grove closed to through traffic just over a year ago on an 18-month trial basis.A DPD spokesperson said:

“I understand from the local depot that the team have been in contact with the council and that arrangements are being made to pay for repair work.”

The Stray Ferret asked the spokesperson if DPD had taken any action against the van driver, but has yet to receive a response.

A Twitter user called Helen was among those who uploaded photos of the beached van.

https://twitter.com/HellyR1/status/1495077805964595201?s=20&t=6_0_UnvruN9Y_DdG8wRA9w

Judy d’Arcy-Thompson, chairman of the Stray Defence Association, which was set up in 1933 to safeguard the Stray from encroachment, said she hoped the van driver had not lost their job.

She added:

“However, it was a very daft thing to do.

“Taking short cuts in bad weather almost inevitably ends in disaster of some sort. Taking one in snow across the Stray was foolish in the extreme and also caused a great deal of damage, plus being illegal.

“Let’s hope that others take note and a lesson has been learned.”

Businesses are being surveyed on what kind of Christmas market they would like to see in Harrogate this year.

The organisers of Harrogate Christmas Market, which attracted almost 200 stallholders to Montpellier Hill annually until 2019, is conducting the survey.

Brian Dunsby, co-organiser and founder of Harrogate Christmas Market Ltd, handed out questionnaires at Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly meeting this week.

He told the meeting his company was “in discussions with Harrogate Borough Council about bringing back the Christmas market in 2022″.

As part of this, it has been asked to find out what businesses think.

Read more:

• No. 5: A new era for Harrogate’s Christmas markets
• Three teens on Harrogate Theatre roof plead guilty to causing £800 damage

Speaking to the Stray Ferret after the meeting, Mr Dunsby said:

“The council said ‘find out what the business community thinks’. So that’s what we intend to do.

“The council have said they only want one market. We were thinking two or three would be better. So we are asking businesses what they think and will then look at the results and talk to the council.”

Andy Pidgen, operations manager at Marketplace Europe, at the start of last year’s fayre.

The questionnaire gives businesses four options to select from. Options A, B and C are for Harrogate Christmas Fayre, Harrogate Christmas Market and the artisan market in Valley Garden.

The fourth option is for all three “in a planned programme of Christmas events through November and December”.

All change last year

Harrogate Christmas Market Ltd was in advanced planning stages when the council declined to accept its event management plan.

It had 170 traders and 53 coaches booked to attend the annual event on Montpellier Hill in November when their plans were scuppered in July.

Harrogate Christmas Market was held on Montpellier Hill until 2019.

Instead, the council staged an alternative 10-day Harrogate Christmas Fayre in the town centre in partnership with Market Place, a specialist market company from Greater Manchester. It included about 40 stalls, a free road train, a carousel, helter skelter and ferris wheel.

There was also a two-day artisan market in Valley Gardens, organised by the company Little Bird Made.

North Yorkshire Police says it has identified a man who performed a sex act in Starbeck.

The police issued an appeal yesterday to identify the man, who was captured on CCTV.

The incident happened on Saturday, January 29.

Read more:

• Police issue CCTV pics of 6 people after Harrogate assault
• Police appeal after ducks stolen in Hampsthwaite

*Update* – North Yorkshire Police has now identified the six individuals in the CCTV pictures and they are assisting officers with their investigation.

Police have issued CCTV images of six people – three men and three women, they would like to speak to following an assault in Harrogate.

The incident took place in the early hours of the morning on Sunday, February 13 at an unnamed bar on Cheltenham Parade.

A North Yorkshire Police press release tonight said:

“The incident involved a large group of people who were involved in an altercation, which resulted in a number of people in the bar being assaulted and receiving injuries.

“Despite enquiries with neighbouring police forces, the identity of the people captured in the CCTV images remains outstanding.

“Therefore, detectives from Harrogate criminal investigation department are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the people in the images, as they believe they hold important information which will help the investigation.”

Read more:

• Police investigate serious crash on Cold Bath Road
• Calls for police in Bilton to tackle ‘yobs on bicycles’

Police urged anyone who recognises the people in the images, or who has any information regarding the incident, to contact them by calling 101, selecting option 2 and asking to speak to Detective Constable 604 Naomi Harris.

You can also email naomi.harris@northyorkshire.police.uk.

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

Quote reference number 12220025651 when passing on information.

Harrogate library will close on Saturday for just over a fortnight to enable large-scale maintenance work to be carried out.

The project, which involves all three floors, includes remedial damp works, redecoration and the replacement of energy-efficient lighting.

The building will close at 4pm on Saturday and is scheduled to reopen at 9am on Monday,  April 4. Customers will be able to borrow additional books to cover the closure period.

North Yorkshire County Council, which is responsible for libraries, announced the news today.

Neil Irving, assistant director for policy, partnerships and communities at the council, said:

“These much-needed improvements will have lasting benefits to Harrogate library; one of our largest and busiest in the county.

“We apologise for the inconvenience it will cause to library visitors but we are encouraging people to come and borrow a selection of books to keep them going over the closure period.”

Read more:

• Refurbishment reveals ‘ghost sign’ of former Harrogate library
• Bilton and Woodfield Community Library closed due to flooding

The nearest alternative libraries are Starbeck Community Library, Knaresborough Library and Customer Services Centre and Nidderdale Plus Community Library.

You can also browse, reserve and renew items and access your library account online here or via the library app.

The work was previously scheduled to take place from January 22 to February 7.

A Ripon man is to auction 255 signed bottles of whisky to raise money for Falklands veterans.

Next month marks the 40th anniversary of the start of the 10-week war, which claimed the lives of 255 British military personnel.

Simon Mercer, whose family has strong military connections, came up with the idea after a chance encounter with Nigel Phillips, the current Governor of the Falkland Islands, on a flight to the British overseas territory in 2018.

Each bottle has been numbered and signed by Mr Phillips and Major General Julian Thompson, who led 3 Commando Brigade during the conflict with Argentina.

Many bottles have been additionally signed on the front label by Falklands veterans including Sara Jones, widow of Lt. Col. H Jones, who posthumously received the Victoria Cross after being killed in action during the Battle of Goose Green in May 1982.

Each signatory served their country with extraordinary bravery on land, at sea and in the air.

Read more:

• Ripon MP urges Boris Johnson to take ‘more humane approach’ to Ukraine refugees
• Ripon Cathedral reveals programme of events to celebrate 1,350th anniversary

The cask-strength 53.5%, 13-year-old Glen Moray whisky will be auctioned online by Scotch Whisky Auctions, which has waived its usual fees.

Each bottle is signed by Nigel Phillips and Major General Julian Thompson, who led 3 Commando Brigade.

The auction will take place from April 1 to 10 to coincide with the anniversary of the start of the war on April 2, 1982.

All of the profits will be donated equally between the charities Falklands Veterans Foundation and South Atlantic Medal Association 82.

Mr Mercer said the project had become a “labour of love” during lockdowns.

He said the Ukraine war highlighted the need to look after veterans.

“I believe we must give back to life. We can’t just take. I’ve done all sorts of successful fundraisers with Ripon Cathedral as a trustee but I never go to church. It’s just a nice building worth preserving and each generation has a duty.

“Supporting our armed services has never been more important than it is today. The Falklands was the last legal war and we have a duty of care to support those who served. I’m just doing my bit.”

Almost 400 tractors took part in Knaresborough Young Farmers Club‘s annual tractor run yesterday.

A large crowd gathered for the start of the event, which returned after a covid interruption last year, at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

The tractors left at 9am and drove around Nidderdale, stopped for lunch in Pateley Bridge at noon then finished in Knaresborough by late afternoon.

The event combines fun and fundraising, by raising money through entry fees and donations for Yorkshire Air Ambulance — a cause close to the heart of many farmers working in isolated areas.

The previous event in 2020 attracted about 360 vehicles and raised over £20,000.

Passing Mother Shipton’s Inn in Knaresborough. Pic: Charlotte Gale

Showing support for Ukraine.

This event exceeded that, with 383 tractors taking part and raising £21,000.

It started as a private club event in 2012 but was opened up in 2018 to allow anyone to take part and has grown in scale since.

People lined the streets in towns and villages to cheer on the farmers, some of whom had decked their tractors out especially for the occasion.

Passing through Birstwith. Pic: Ann Lilley

Some had adopted yellow and blue to show support for people in Ukraine.

Donations to the air ambulance can be made here.

Leaving the showground.

Read more:

• 350 tractors set to take to Harrogate district streets tomorrow
• Bus leaves Knaresborough on 1,550-mile mission to help Ukrainians flee

About 350 tractors are expected to take to the Harrogate district streets tomorrow when Knaresborough Young Farmers Club’s tractor run returns.

The event, which was cancelled last year, raises funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Tractors will converge at the Great Yorkshire Showground for a 9am start and then pass through Knaresborough and Birstwith before stopping for lunch at Pateley Bridge at about noon.

The route passes through Pateley Bridge

They will then continue along country roads to Markington before finishing in Knaresborough at about 3.30pm.

The tractor run started as a private club event in 2012 but was opened to the public in 2018.

This year’s route.

Club member Mike Spink was a great supporter of the air ambulance before his death and the organisation continues to fundraise for it.

Steven Brown, chairman of the tractor run, said:

“Air ambulance is a cause close to the heart of farmers and anyone in rural communities.

“We work in solitary areas and they are always there when we need them.”

About 360 vehicles participated in the last tractor run, which was completed a week before lockdown in 2020. It is one of the largest tractor runs in England.

Anyone can turn up at the showground with a tractor and take part.

Although the event causes some traffic disruption, the route includes many minor and private roads to minimise disruption.

You can support the event by pledging a donation to the air ambulance here.

A Harrogate man has appeared in court charged with causing the death of a cyclist by dangerous driving.

James Bryan, 36, of St Mary’s Avenue, was driving a Porsche Carrera when the incident occurred on the A168 northbound between Allerton Park and Boroughbridge on May 10, 2020. The A168 runs alongside the A1.

He is accused of causing the death of Andrew Jackson, 36, a husband and father-of-two from Hunsingore, near Wetherby.

Mr Jackson died at the scene.

Mr Bryan appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday, where the case was sent for trial at York Crown Court.

It is due to be heard on April 4.

Read more:

• Four men jailed for Harrogate district burglary spree
• Masked thieves attempt to take cash machine from Harrogate shop

A parish council near Knaresborough has written to 32 North Yorkshire county councillors urging them to make 20mph the default speed limit in their area.

Goldsborough and Flaxby Parish Council said in the email action should be taken now to reduce the current 30mph limit before somebody is killed.

The council wrote the letter in support of the 20s Plenty campaign, which is a national initiative to make a 20mph speed limit normal on residential streets and in town and village centres.

The email says drivers “put their foot down” in Goldsborough even though it has a primary school. It adds that only about 15% of all the roads have pavements on both sides, forcing them to walk on the highways,

The red arrow shows the playground entrance in Goldsborough.

It adds:

“There is a high proportion of elderly residents in Goldsborough, many of whom may have hearing issues and reduced sight, and are physically less able to move out of the way quickly.

“There are not many street lights in the village and, as such, at dusk or in the dark, it is not easy for drivers to see people walking in or crossing the roads.”

Flaxby speed signs ‘in wrong place’

The email says the current 30mph signs in Flaxby “are completely in the wrong place, and drivers have already entered the village before they see the speed signs and even think about slowing down”.

It adds a speed survey in 2018 revealed 17.5% of motorists travelled over the 30mph speed limit. The correspondence also raises concerns about the lack of street lighting and the number of HGVs driving through the village to visit the weigh-station at Gill’s Farm, just past Coneythorpe.

HGVs often go along Shortsill Lane in Flaxby, which has no pavements.

Read more:

• Drainage concerns at Goldsborough housing site following Storm Franklin
• Business park near Flaxby that could support 2,000 jobs approved

The email says:

“Do you really need to wait until somebody is killed by a car speeding through a North Yorkshire village before you begin to tackle this important issue?”

North Yorkshire County Council is the highways authority for the county. The parish council wrote to 32 county councillors that sit on boards, panels and committees that could influence speeding decisions.

Caroline Greenhalgh, vice chairman of the parish council, told the Stray Ferret it had received just two responses from councillors so far, saying the matter was being considered.