John Plummer, Author at The Stray Ferret

Harrogate man accused of causing cyclist’s death by dangerous driving

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.

‘Do you need to wait until somebody is killed by a speeding car?’

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.

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.

Harrogate Co-op closed after reported break-in

The Co-op store on Harrogate’s Skipton Road is closed this morning after reports of a break-in overnight.

The Stray Ferret was alerted to the break-in at the shop, which was cordoned off by police this morning.

At the scene, the glass on the automatic door of the store was smashed in. An in-store cash machine, which was found lying on the floor inside the entrance, was also damaged.

The store normally opens at 7am, but was still closed at 8am this morning. A sign reads that the Co-op is “temporarily closed”.

The Co-op entrance, which was smashed overnight.

The Stray Ferret has contacted North Yorkshire Police for more information on the incident.

A police helicopter was also out in Harrogate at 3am this morning. However, it is unclear whether this is connected to the break-in.

Spring arrives at Gouthwaite as temperatures soar

Spring has arrived in the Harrogate district, with temperatures rising to 13 degrees centigrade in some areas.

Few places are more beautiful in spring than Nidderdale, as highlighted in this image by David Benson, a keen amateur photographer from Summerbridge.

Mr Benson shot this image of Gouthwaite Reservoir this morning.

He said:

“I drive by Gouthwaite Reservoir almost daily so decided to try my hand at a bit of photography and share the beautiful scenery with people that aren’t so lucky to live with it on their doorstep as I am.”

Have you taken any great photos of the Harrogate district? We enjoy showing the best ones. Please send your suggestions to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Key dates revealed for elections to new North Yorkshire Council

Candidates could be able to put themselves forward as soon as next week for May’s elections to the new North Yorkshire Council.

The election will be one of the most crucial in the county’s history because it will spell out the end of North Yorkshire County Council and the seven district and borough councils in Harrogate, Selby, Scarborough, Craven, Hambleton, Ryedale and Richmondshire.

They will be replaced by the new unitary authority from April 2023.

Nominations are likely to open on Friday next week for candidates hoping to become one of the 90 councillors who will lead a new era of local government.

That date is subject to new legislation, which is currently passing through Parliament and once approved will fire the starting gun for voting to take place on 5 May.

Speaking at a public briefing last night, Ben Nattrass, elections manager at Harrogate Borough Council, said parliamentary approval of the legislation was expected next week as he also set out some of the next steps.

He said:

“We are waiting for the Structural Changes Order to pass through Parliament and we expect that to be done next week, which would allow us to open nominations on March 18.

“Each candidate who wishes to stand in the elections must submit a set of nomination forms and these must be submitted no later than 4pm on 5 April.”

Once approved, the Structural Changes Order will be followed by an official notice of election, which is likely to be published on March 17.

Voting on May 5

Candidate nominations will then open the following day before closing on April 5.

After voting takes place on May 5, polling cards will then be counted and the results announced the following day.

The newly elected councillors will represent 89 new divisions on North Yorkshire County Council for one year before serving a four-year term on the new council.

They will play a key role in shaping how public services will work in the future, with all areas from bin collections to road maintenance being transferred across to the new council in what will be a mammoth task.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, previously said:

“The councillors elected on 5 May will make decisions on services that affect individuals, families and communities, so we want to make sure that anyone who wants to consider stepping forward as a candidate has all the information they need.

“These elections are important for everyone in the county, so if you are eligible to vote, please make sure that you are registered, then you can be sure that your vote will count.”

The deadline for people to register to vote is April 14.

To find out more on how to become a candidate, tap or click here.

Ripon MP urges Boris Johnson to take ‘more humane approach’ to Ukraine refugees

Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith urged Boris Johnson to adopt a “more humane approach” to Ukrainian refugees at Prime Minister’s Questions today.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Smith, a Conservative, said to Mr Johnson:

“People across the country are genuinely concerned at our response on refugees, on the bureaucracy, on the tone of our response.

“He’s shown with vaccines that government change really comes from the very top. Please can I urge him to look again at resetting our policy and taking control of a more humane approach to those women and men fleeing from Ukraine.”

Mr Johnson replied that this government “have done more than any other to resettle vulnerable people since 2015”.

Mr Johnson responds to Mr Smith.

He added:

“I think there is a huge opportunity now for us to do even more and that’s why my friend, the Rt Hon Secretary of State for Levelling Up will be setting out a route by which the British people — not just the family reunion route which can run into the hundreds of thousands — but also a route by which everybody in this country can offer a home to people fleeing Ukraine.”

Mr Johnson said further details would be revealed “in the next few days”.

Just over a week ago Mr Smith urged the government to “rip up the usual bureaucracy and let’s just say they are welcome and we will make it as easy as possible to be here”.

Harrogate Conservative leader defends local response

Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper has accused the opposition Liberal Democrat leader Pat Marsh of appearing ignorant after she asked what steps the Tory-controlled council was taking to help the people of Ukraine.

Cllr Pat Marsh

Cllr Marsh asked in an email:

“What is being planned? Have we earmarked possible accommodation, have monies been allocated to help to feed, possibly clothe people?

“Please start some proactive actions now, the people of Harrogate district would support all efforts to help these desperate people fleeing a war zone, not of their making. We cannot just sit by and do nothing.”

She also urged the council to lobby the UK government to grant more visas to Ukrainians.

Cllr Cooper’s response, seen by the Stray Ferret, says Cllr Marsh was “entirely wrong to allege that Harrogate Borough Council has sat by and done nothing”.

Cllr Richard Cooper

He added:

“For a start I have asked the council housing team to identify available properties so that we can react quickly to accommodation refugees as we did for Syrian and Afghan refugees.

“We have established contact with Jenny Travena, a former independent councillor, who is working with the Harrogate District of Sanctuary to coordinate our efforts when refugees arrive.

“We will take part in the government’s matching scheme to provide suitable accommodation with individuals and families fleeing the war when the final arrangements for it are announced.

“We have also determined that we have no contracts with Russian companies nor investments with them. We have cancelled performances at the Royal Hall from Russian linked companies and we have shown our solidarity with the people of Ukraine by hoisting their flag at the Civic Centre and the war memorial.

“I am concerned that your email gives an impression – granted that it appears to be from ignorance – that the borough council is taking no action whatsoever to prepare for Ukrainian refugees. This is entirely untrue. The action you have asked for is already being taken and I am rather surprised you didn’t know about it.”

Knaresborough friends fundraise in memory of ex-colleague

Four friends who worked together as teachers have raised almost £2,500 in memory of a former colleague who died of cancer.

Dee Oultram was helped by The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre in Harrogate and Saint Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate in her final days. She died aged 52 on January 1 this year.

Dee had intended to complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge with Paula Conroy, Laura Hunt, Fiona Laycock and Steph Cargill to raise money for the two organisations.

The five women taught together at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Knaresborough.

Dee Oultam walk

The challenge involves reaching the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in under 12 hours.

The women had to postpone their attempt twice due to covid and Dee died before it could be completed.

Her friends decided to carry on and fulfil the quest to help the organisations that did so much to help Dee and last weekend completed the challenge.

Ms Conroy said Dee was with them in spirit throughout the day. She added.

“It took us 11 hours to complete the 40 kilometres and around 55,000 steps.

“But every penny donated was worth every single step to go towards helping beautiful people through various stages of their battle with cancer!

“We laughed and we cried, there were ups and there were downs.”

Main pic: (from left) Laura Hunt, Paula Conroy, Steph Cargill and Fiona Laycock on Whernside during the challenge.

Knaresborough hairdresser wins legal battle after customer sues for catastrophic hair loss

A Knaresborough hairdresser accused of causing catastrophic hair loss to a customer has won a ground-breaking legal case.

Mother-of-two Kelly Teggin challenged the customer’s claims that large clumps of her hair had fallen out after bleaching, leaving her with a blistered scalp.

A two-day county court trial, which could have landed Ms Teggin with a bill of more than £100,000, including costs, and damaged her reputation, ruled in her favour.

Court documents summarising the case, which was heard in October last year, state:

“On the balance of probabilities, nothing untoward happened to the claimant in the salon that evening and no concerns were raised that night. It was accepted that the claimant was content when she left.”

Ms Teggin, of Kelly Teggin Hair and Beauty in Knaresborough, has now spoken about the verdict publicly for the first time. She said:

“I was positive I had done nothing wrong and wanted to clear my name.”

Kelly Teggin (right) and assistant Penny Ledgeway

The Leeds County Court judge’s ruling in favour of Ms Teggin has been hailed as a breakthrough for hairdressers struggling to disprove claims that cost insurance companies millions of pounds every year.

‘Hair reduced to stubble in some places’

The claimant, from Boroughbridge, argued her hair started falling out on holiday, a few days after Ms Teggin bleached the roots in August 2019, and continued to fall out until she only had half her hair left, with it being reduced to stubble in some places.

The judge, Recorder Murray, said there was only evidence of minor breakage, which did not demonstrate there had been negligence.

Dismissing the claim, he also pointed out that UV light, heat and mechanical processes could damage bleached hair.

Ms Teggin’s solicitor, Sarah Pether, said the case could have been settled at the outset for around £6,000 damages and costs. She added:

“Trials in such cases are rare as insurers usually consider it more cost effective to settle at an early stage and pay the low level fixed legal fees.

“I have seen obvious cases of negligence before with ‘chewing gum’ hair, huge clumps falling out, hair turning green etc, where most people would accept the treatment was negligent and those cases should be settled to avoid court costs.

“However, a lot of claims now seem to be based on minor breakage which are not necessarily due to negligence, or do not prove there has been negligence, and with only £3,000 to £4,000 claimed each time the insurers have tended to settle them.”

‘Reputation on the line’

Ms Teggin said afterwards:

“I was putting my reputation on the line and risked losing my business if it all went wrong but I was never going to settle because the story simply didn’t stack up and I knew I had the evidence to prove it.

“I just hope this gives other hairdressers and the insurance industry in general the confidence to stand up against false claims, which are more common than people realise,” added Mrs Teggin.

Expert witness, forensic trichologist Prof Barry Stevens, welcomed the verdict, adding:

“It will hopefully lead to a closer review of claims within the industry.”

Bride’s disappointment as Harrogate Register Office maintains covid guest limit

A bride-to-be has expressed disappointment after discovering Harrogate Register Office is still imposing covid restrictions on the number of wedding guests.

Deanna Contreras and Sean Wilkinson are due to tie the knot at the register office on May 27.

They have been told the maximum amount of guests permitted remains 32 rather than 55 — which was the number pre-covid.

Ms Contreras, who got engaged shortly before covid struck two years ago, said:

“We were supposed to get married last year but postponed it because we wanted all our family there.

“It never entered my head that the limit would still be 32 people.”

It means the couple have had to restrict family invitations as well as partners of guests.

The register office on Park Parade.

Ms Contreras, who lives in Starbeck, said:

“We thought ‘let’s wait and have a happy time in 2022’ — and it will be a happy time but this has put a dampener on it.

“I’m not going to get stressed about it. I’m 56 and have been married before but I do feel sorry for young brides.

“I think this is a bit over the top. We can’t keep putting everything on hold for covid.”

Last month Ms Contreras wrote to Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper about the matter.

Cllr Cooper replied to say:

“From my point of view I cannot see what possible justification there can be for restrictions in numbers to be given when all national restrictions have been lifted and the event is three months away.”

He added he would contact the leader of North Yorkshire County Council, which is responsible for the register office, urging it to think again.

‘Reviewing arrangements’

Neil Irving, assistant director for policy, partnerships and communities at the county council, told the Stray Ferret:

“Until April 1 we are required by law explicitly to consider covid transmission risks around public events.

“Government continues to advise that space and ventilation are important factors in minimising covid transmission.

“We are currently reviewing all our arrangements for events such as weddings and to bring in changes from the beginning of April, but for the present we continue to take steps to minimise covid transmission as rates, though falling, continue to be relatively high.”

Harrogate firefighter Bruce Reid forced to abort Ukraine mission

Retired Harrogate firefighter Bruce Reid has aborted his mercy mission to help the people in Ukraine.

Mr Reid decided to put his skills, learned over 30 years as a firefighter, to use as part of the humanitarian response.

He booked his own flights to Poland and got to the Ukraine border last night.

But after reassuring his family he would only carry out his duty as a firefighter, he decided the situation was too dangerous to proceed this morning.

He said on social media:

“Bit of an anti climax following all of the furore getting here.

“I eventually got to the rendezvous point on the border late last night, and after spending the night on an hotel foyer floor i was this told this afternoon i would have to sign a disclaimer and make my own way 30 miles into Ukraine to Yavoriv military base were i would be taught to fight.

“That was never what I came for. On the flip side, my family are very relieved especially my 10-year-old granddaughter that I will be coming back in one piece

“I’m looking at other things I could help with but will back sooner than I thought. Thanks to everyone for all your messages of support I’ve been humbled by them.”

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Flaxby speed signs ‘in wrong place’

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Voting on May 5

Harrogate Conservative leader defends local response

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‘Hair reduced to stubble in some places’

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‘Reputation on the line’

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‘Reviewing arrangements’

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