Lucy Pittaway unveils new original celebrating Harrogate life

This story is sponsored by Lucy Pittaway.

Step into Lucy Pittaway’s colourful world and get ready for an adventure through her diverse collection of artwork. From the tranquil beauty of Yorkshire landscapes to the playful antics of her beloved sheep, there’s something for everyone to love in Lucy’s gallery.

Picture this: you stroll into the gallery, and you’re hit with a burst of energy and colour that just screams Lucy Pittaway, it’s like stepping into a rainbow.

You’ll find yourself surrounded by splendid landscapes, vibrant florals, adorable dogs, energetic cyclists, and of course, those iconic sheep.

Lucy’s latest masterpiece “Yorkshire Life”

Let’s talk about “Yorkshire Life.” This latest masterpiece is all about celebrating the scenic wonders of Harrogate and its surroundings.

Think rolling hills, iconic landmarks, and maybe even a few fluffy friends thrown in for good measure. It’s like a love letter to Yorkshire, painted with Lucy’s signature flair and style.

The original “Yorkshire Life” on display in the Harrogate gallery.

Lucy’s collections are inspired by her travels, her love of nature, and her passion for capturing life’s little moments. Whether you’re dreaming of dramatic skies, sunrises and sunsets or simply want to bring a touch of joy and colour into your home, she has got you covered.

Harrogate gallery bursting with joy

Now, let’s talk about the gallery itself. Located in the middle of Harrogate’s bustling high street, it’s a beacon of creativity and fun.

Since opening its doors, it’s become a hotspot for art lovers and locals alike, drawing in people with its vibrant colour and welcoming atmosphere.

The store sells homeware, stationery and more.

Let’s not forget about Tanya, the gallery manager, and her team who unveiled the original “Yorkshire Life” in Harrogate today.

The team are always ready with a smile and a friendly chat, they’ll help you find the perfect piece to suit your style and personality.

Whether you’re a seasoned art expert or a newbie just dipping your toes into the art world, they’ll make you feel right at home.

So why not pop by Lucy Pittaway’s Harrogate Gallery? Lose yourself in the beauty of “Yorkshire Life” and discover a world of colour, joy, and endless possibilities. Who knows? You might just leave with a little piece of Lucy magic to brighten up your day!

Starbucks reveals opening date for new Harrogate drive-through

Starbucks has finally revealed when it will open its new drive-through on Wetherby Road in Harrogate.

The company will welcome its first customers at 8am on Tuesday, May 21.

The business will be open from 6am to 9pm daily.

Store manager Chris Gilbert told the Stray Ferret the Starbucks had brought 18 jobs to the local area through the new initiative, and the number was expected to increase.

Mr Gilbert said:

“We are looking forward to helping boost the local economy. We have already been out litter picking around the area as we know this is becoming an issue in Harrogate at the minute.

“On our opening day, we will be giving out free tall drinks vouchers to customers that come and visit. These can be redeemed on the first weekend and will be on a first come, first serve basis.

“We are super excited to open, and we look forward to being part of the community.”

Starbucks is based on the site previously occupied by Mediterranean fast-food chain Leon, which closed in April last year after just 10 months.

It was operated by Blackburn-based EG Group, which also runs Starbucks franchises as well as brands including KFC and Greggs.

The site was previously a Leon restaurant.

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Harrogate cinema evacuated after fire alert

Cinema-goers in Harrogate had to be evacuated mid-movie last night when a fire alarm went off.

The alarm sounded at the Everyman cinema on Station Parade at 9.42pm last night.

All the theatres within the cinema and the connecting buildings were immediately evacuated.

Firefighters from Harrogate were on the scene within five minutes for what turned out to be a false alarm caused by a faulty fire detector.

People were allowed back in the building shortly after 10pm.

Oliver Dawson was among those watching Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes when the alarm went off.

He said as soon as the incident was over, staff offered customers either a free ticket to watch on another day or the option to continue last night’s viewing from the time the alarm went off, which he took.

Mr Dawson said:

“The cinema staff couldn’t have done anything else. They kept us all informed and handled the problem as quick and efficiently as it was safe to do so.

“Personally, it just felt like going to the theatre with an interval.”

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Controversial traffic proposal for Harrogate road scrapped

Plans to introduce a left-turn only rule at a junction in Harrogate have been scrapped.

North Yorkshire Council proposed bringing in a traffic order to prevent vehicles from turning right at the junction of Belford Road and Victoria Avenue, opposite the library.

But it said at a consultation event this week the idea had proved unpopular and been dropped.

However, other changes are still in the pipeline as part of a £807,000 scheme to improve active travel on Victoria Avenue.

They include:

The Beech Road junction will be reconfigured to prevent traffic illegally travelling straight on.

However, the plans do not include a cycle lane, which had been seen as a key part of wider ambitions to create an integrated off-road cycle route from the train and bus stations to Cardale Park.

Cyclists branded the decision “unbelievably disappointing“.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager at the council, told the Stray Ferret at this week’s consultation event at the Civic Centre in Harrogate that the cost of the cycling proposals had spiralled to £1.5 million due to inflation and rising material costs.

The council was awarded funding from the second round of the government’s active travel fund in 2020.

It planned to allocate this on creating cycle lanes but the rising costs, along with an unsuccessful bid to the fourth round of the active travel fund prompted it to propose cheaper alternative measures.

Ms Burnham said the council had written to about 1,500 nearby residents and businesses about the proposed changes and had received about 50 written responses as part of the consultation.

She said the scheme still promoted active travel because it would make Victoria Avenue better for pedestrians and wheelchair users and the council still aspired to create cycle lanes on Victoria Avenue when funding permitted. Ms Burnham said:

“It’s a positive step forward for active travel.”

Victoria Avenue

Consultation on the proposals ends on Sunday, May 12.

To comment, you can email Area6.Boroughbridge@northyorks.gov.uk using ‘Victoria Avenue ATF 2 Consultation’ in the title of your email or letter.

Or post comments to: NYC Highways, Area 6 Boroughbridge Office, Stump Cross, Boroughbridge YO51 9HU.

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Knaresborough businessman denies £200,000 business scam

A man has appeared in court charged with an alleged £200,000 business scam involving covid loans and accounting records.

David Allon, 44, from Knaresborough, appeared at York Magistrates Court yesterday when he pleaded not guilty to nine separate allegations regarding two businesses he was allegedly running between June 2020 and August 2023.

They include two allegations of fraud by false representation in June 2020 in relation to applications for a ‘bounce-back’ covid business loan involving the two named companies he was said to be running, and one count of removing property as a company winds up, between June and December 2020.

He is also charged with failing to comply with the provisions of a piece of legislation regarding the keeping of accounting records between October 2020 and August 2023 and failing to deliver up company books to a liquidator between 2020 and 2023.

Deputy district judge Natalie Wortley told Mr Allon that the allegations were too serious to be dealt with at the magistrates’ court and that the case would be sent to the Crown Court.

Mr Allon, of Arkendale Road, Staveley, will next appear for a plea-and-trial preparation hearing at York Crown Court on June 10. He was granted bail until then.

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Prolific Harrogate drug dealer jailed

A drug dealer who brought cocaine, ketamine and cannabis to the streets of Harrogate has been jailed for four years and 10 months.

Donovan Tanaka Mkutchwa, 24, who was already remanded in prison but previously lived in Keswick and Harrogate, was sentenced at York Crown Court today (May 9).

According to a North Yorkshire Police media release today, officers received information on Friday, May 5 last year that Mkutchwa was supplying drugs in Harrogate.

He was already the subject of two separate investigations into his involvement in the supply of cannabis and was under a suspended sentence due to being previously found in possession of a large quantity of cannabis.

North Yorkshire Police’s Operation Expedite drugs team spotted him getting into a car that they later intercepted on King’s Road, Harrogate.

The vehicle contained three occupants including Mkutchwa, who was a passenger. Following a search of him, officers recovered multiple deal bags of white powder, which when tested were found to be 13 bags of cocaine and 10 bags of suspected ketamine.

Mkutchwa was arrested and taken into custody. During a further search of a property where he was staying in Harrogate, officers found more bags containing cocaine and ketamine and a set of scales. The total value of all drugs seized was approximately £2,250.

He was subsequently charged with possessing cocaine and ketamine with intent to supply and remanded into custody. He appeared at York Crown Court on June 13 where he pleaded guilty to both offences from May 2023.

On December 19, he appeared at York Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing cannabis with intent to supply. For these two offences, Mkutchwa was in possession of cannabis which when sold on the streets would have a value of up to £11,035. He also had cash to the value of £1,085.

Drugs recovered by police.

‘One less person spreading misery in Harrogate’

Investigating officer PC Michael Haydock of the Operation Expedite team, said:

“Mkutchwa has been dealing illegal substances for many years and has used others to assist in his criminal activity, putting himself above them in an attempt to distance himself from street level drug dealing. Not only that, he has continued to offend despite being given a suspended sentence and whilst under investigation for identical offences.

“For Mkutchwa, this has now come to an end and he is one less person who spreads misery on the streets of Harrogate. His actions, and that of anyone else involved in supplying illegal substances, are the cause of so many other crimes which are often committed by those desperate to fund a drug habit that he facilitates.

“He now has a significant period of time to reflect on his criminal behaviour and hopefully he will see the error of his ways.”

No drugs were found on the other two occupants of the car and no further was taken against them.

The sentencing judge commended the three officers who worked on the investigation, including PC Haydock, for their “utmost professionalism and integrity” and for “overcoming an array of difficulties to secure conviction”, as well as their “outstanding investigative skills and attention to detail to ensure this case was brought to conviction”.

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Review: Tess, a bold circus adaptation of the Hardy classic, at York Theatre Royal

Lauren Crisp is a book editor, writer and keen follower of arts and culture. Born and raised in Harrogate, Lauren recently moved back to North Yorkshire after a stint in London, where she regularly reviewed theatre – everything from big West End shows to small fringe productions. She is now eager to explore the culture on offer in and around her home town. You can contact Lauren on laurencrispwriter@gmail.com. 

(Lead image: Kie Cummings)

Thomas Hardy’s classic novel, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, is not obviously synonymous with acrobatics. Contemporary circus company Ockham’s Razor, however, think otherwise, and in a bold new vision, make Hardy’s world a vessel for the magic of physical movement.

The part of Tess is performed by two players. Narrator Tess, played by Hanora Kamen in a speaking role (sadly hampered somewhat by sound quality), gives voice to the heroine’s inner world. Dancer Tess (Lila Naruse), meanwhile, physically enacts this mostly tragic character’s existence, along with six other cast members who use dance and mind-boggling acrobatics to tell Tess’ tale.

In a feast for the eyes, the performers cartwheel, balance and flip their way through the story, building and scaling wooden structures, and each another, to drive the narrative.

(Image: Kie Cummings)

With bustling ensemble scenes and more subdued, individual expressions, we understand these characters, with few words required; a rural world comes to life, its various settings and many hardships told by the bodies on stage. The cast performs with vigour and vitality, their choreography sublime: it’s a wondrous spectacle.

The whole piece is hazy and dreamlike, underpinned by rustic beige-hued costume and long flowing hair. Hardy’s pastoral world comes alive on stage, with an organic set by Tina Bicât, constructed almost entirely of wood and billowing natural fabrics.

Holly Khan’s sound design matches the tone, with evocative, earthy soundscapes rooted in folk. Not a stone goes unturned in building a distinct atmosphere to envelop the audience.

The play is at once full of joy and humour while delving deep into the pathos and pain that Tess endures.  While part one is a touch long and meandering, it is a mesmerising piece, visually exhilarating, one which proves the power of the human body to portray meaning.

(Image: Kie Cummings)

The characters’ movement gives them freedom. The audience (which included many students reading the novel as part of their studies) sees Tess anew, giving us a sense of freedom, too – to interpret stories, as classic as they may be, in completely new ways.

Tess is at York Theatre Royal until Saturday, 11 May. 

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Sunak taunted about living under North Yorkshire mayor

Rishi Sunak was taunted about living under a Labour mayor in his North Yorkshire constituency at Prime Minster’s Questions yesterday.

Harrogate-born David Skaith was elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire on May 2 last week. He took up the role yesterday.

Mr Skaith was photographed with Labour leader Keir Starmer at Northallerton Football Club a couple of hours after he was declared mayor on Friday.

Mr Starmer told the House of Commons that Mr Sunak now had “great Labour councillors” in Downing Street and Southampton, where he grew up, and a Labour mayor in London.

He added:

“At his mansion in Richmond, he can enjoy a brand new Labour mayor of North Yorkshire.”

Mr Sunak was quick to reply:

“I was of course surprised to see the honourable gentleman in North Yorkshire. Although probably not as surprised as he was when he realised he couldn’t take the tube there.

“I can tell him the people of North Yorkshire believe in hard work, secure borders, lower taxes and straight talking common sense.

“They are not going to get any of that from a virtue signalling lawyer from North London.”

Mr Starmer said:

“It was great to be in Northallerton where they had just voted to reject the Prime Minister’s proposition.

“No matter where he calls home, all his neighbours are backing this changed Labour Party.”

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Exclusive: Hackers demand ransom after breaching North Yorkshire Council computer system

International hackers have breached the trading standards computer system at North Yorkshire Council and demanded a ransom.

The Stray Ferret was tipped off by an anonymous source at the council who said the hackers had encrypted large amounts of data and were “demanding a ransom to decrypt it”.

The source added:

“Backups have also been encrypted so this is a big problem. This systems holds a lot of data and this breach could impact on a large number of crime investigations within the area.”

The Stray Ferret asked the council for further details about the breach, which is believed to have happened in March.

We asked how much data had been compromised and how it was able to happen, as well as what action the council was taking to resolve the situation, and the likely cost and timeframe.

The council issued a statement that included quotes from Mike Andrews, the National Trading Standards eCrime team’s national co-ordinator, and Madeline Hoskin, the council’s assistant director for technology.

The National Trading Standards eCrime team investigates fraud on behalf of local authorities.

The statement confirmed there had been “an incident”, which it said had been “contained” but did not clarify the extent of the breach.

Mr Andrews said in the statement:

“We are working with national agencies and other partners to investigate this incident.

“Fortunately, we became aware of the incident at a very early stage and swift action was taken.

“Protecting personal data remains our top priority and steps were taken to contain the potential impact.

“As the investigation is ongoing, it would not be appropriate for us to comment any further at this stage to avoid jeopardising any future legal proceedings.”

Ms Hoskin said in the statement:

“We take considerable precautions to prevent and detect cybercrime and take our responsibilities extremely seriously.

“We worked with an independent team of digital forensic specialists which helped ensure a swift recovery from the incident.

“No information related to the council’s customers outside of the data held by the National Trading Standards E-Crime Team has been affected.”

The council declined to comment further.

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Harrogate Station Gateway: consultants’ fees rise to £2.1 million

Consultants’ fees for the £12.1 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme have risen to £2.1 million, the Stray Ferret can reveal.

We have also discovered Conservative transport chief Cllr Keane Duncan wanted to share the latest gateway plans with the Stray Ferret to avoid “public discontent” but was advised against it by a council director.

The findings are contained in a North Yorkshire Council response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted to find out who made the decision to keep the latest plans secret.

Work on the watered down scheme is due to start in September.

Cllr Keane Duncan, the council’s executive member for highways, revealed some details in January, as reported here. But the full plans have not been released, despite considerable public interest in the scheme.

Our FOI request asked for details of correspondence relating to the decision not to release the plans — and for the latest spending on consultants.

The council gave the following breakdown of consultants’ costs to global consultancy firm WSP to November 2023.

It said since then it had spent a further £82,358.64, making a total of £2,088,567.27.

‘Public discontent’

Emails reveal Cllr Duncan was unaware the cost of the gateway had risen to £12.1 million when reported by the Stray Ferret.

He emailed Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director of environment on March 8 asking for clarification and suggesting the council request a correction.

Mr Battersby pointed out the £12.1 million figure was contained in a report by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which was overseeing the funding allocation from the Department for Transport, even though North Yorkshire Council is leading on the scheme.

Richard Binks, head of major projects and infrastructure at the council, then said the full business case now included £1,489,442 for risk/inflation/contingency. Details of the other costs of the scheme were redacted in the response to us.

Cllr Duncan then referred to requests to see the revised plans by the Stray Ferret, which is referred to as ‘SF’ in the correspondence:

“On another point, do we have plans we can share now or in the near future?

“I feel like we need to do some sort of explanation piece as the lack of information is just creating public discontent.”

In a further email he says “I am thinking I connect the SF and share these plans?”

Cllr Duncan then said:

“Just spoken to Carl [council leader Carl Les], and we were wondering if we could get any impressions together of what the revised scheme would look like?”

But Mr Battersby replies:

“The plans will shortly be available as part of the TRO [traffic regulation order] consultation. I wouldn’t provide the SF with anything over and above what the public will see.”

Cllr Duncan replies to say “OK, I agree”.

Two months on from the exchange, the plans remain secret.

New update

The council is progressing gateway schemes, which are mainly funded by the government’s Transforming Cities Fund, for Selby and Skipton as well as Harrogate.

In an update report to next week’s full council meeting, Cllr Duncan says it “continues to make progress on work on transformative gateway schemes to improve access to three of North Yorkshire’s rail stations”.

It adds:

“Full business cases have been submitted to West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Department for Transport for all schemes and all three have now been approved with conditions.

“Final works pricing is currently in progress by contract partners prior to a final approval stage, with work expected to commence in Skipton in the summer and Harrogate and Selby later in the year.”

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