Harrogate Civic Society has called for the £10.9 million Station Gateway scheme to be totally reconsidered as consultation on the latest designs draws to a close.

The organisation, which protects Harrogate’s heritage, said it had “many concerns” about the initiative, which aims to make the town more attractive and improve cycling and walking.

Its submission to the consultation questioned whether the scheme, in its current form, would achieve its main aims and called for a rethink, even if it risked jeopardising funding.

It said:

“We have many concerns, including the absence of wider strategic thinking to address traffic flow; the risk of increased congestion if part of Station Parade is one lane; potential conflicts between the flow of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles at crossing points; poor design proposals for Station Square, which do not reflect Harrogate’s distinctive character.

“We would prefer to see the whole proposal reconsidered, even though this may mean that Harrogate would lose the opportunity for improvement though this particular fund.

“Traffic and congestion is a problem in the town, the environment for pedestrians and cyclists must be improved, businesses in the town centre should be supported through infrastructure improvement, and the town centre should be a better place for those living in it but this scheme, in its present form, does not achieve this.”

Read more:

• Harrogate businesses consider legal challenge to Station Gateway
• Station Gateway: the story so far of the £10.9m scheme

What is the Harrogate Station Gateway?

The Harrogate scheme is one of three projects worth a combined £42m in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby funded by the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which encourages cycling and walking.

They are being delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Craven District Council and Selby District Council.

A consultation on the revised designs ends tomorrow. It is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by the middle of next year.

To take part in the online consultation, click here.

Harrogate Borough Council has voted to press ahead with plans to open a new leisure centre and pool in Ripon next month despite concerns about the long-term safety of the site.

A new council-commissioned report by engineering company Stantec outlines measures to mitigate the effects of a void that was detected last year.

The report says the measures should allow the pool and the first floor of the leisure centre to open safely on December 8 while the ground floor remains closed.

But it adds there is a “residual risk” of “catastrophic collapse” because of ongoing ground instability issues at the Dallamires Lane site since the original leisure centre was built in 1995.

This prompted Dr Alan Thompson, a geologist and director of Cuesta Consulting in Somerset, and Stanley Mackintosh, a chartered engineer in Ripon, to write to the council urging it to postpone a decision and give greater consideration to finding an alternative site.

But at last night’s cabinet meeting, councillors voted unanimously in support of a recommendation by Michael Constantine, the council’s head of operations, to carry out further work while opening most of the site.

Dr Thompson and Mr Mackintosh’s concerns were not mentioned.

Read more:

• Sinkhole experts urge councillors to consider new site for Ripon pool
• Harrogate police officer keeps job after running red light and crashing

Mr Constantine said work would probably start in January and last nine months, during which time the ground floor of the leisure centre will be closed.

Michael Constantine at last night’s meeting

He said the council had been “assured by consultants” that this course of action was safe.

Councillor Stanley Lumley, the cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, said:

“We have to follow the advice of the professionals. That’s why we pay them, why we employ them. We should surely act on that advice given.”

Council leader Richard Cooper added:

“We are providing a state of the art swimming pool for the people of Ripon to replace a pool that could have collapsed at any time.”

A man driving a works van in Harrogate was almost four times the drink-driving limit when he was stopped by police during the afternoon.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement it received a tip-off shortly after 1.30pm yesterday about a man driving a van with a works logo on it who was potentially under the influence of alcohol.

The 60-year-old man was pulled over on Skipton Road and asked to provide a roadside breath test. The statement added:

“He initially refused, so was arrested on suspicion of failing to provide. On returning to the station, the man blew 135 – the legal limit is 35. He was charged with drink driving.”

Sergeant Paul Cording, from North Yorkshire Police roads policing group, said:

“The fact that this man had been driving as part of his job yesterday and provided such a high reading is astonishing. The actions from the member of the public who called us with this information yesterday has probably saved a life.”

“I would encourage anyone who suspects a person to have drink or drugs in their system and is driving or about to drive to call us immediately on 999.”

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• Harrogate police officer keeps job after running red light and crashing
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Two sinkhole experts have urged councillors to consider finding an alternative site for the new Ripon leisure centre and pool — a month before it is due to open.

Their comments come after a newly released report by engineering company Stantec revealed the Dallamires Lane site could be permanently plagued by the threat of sinkholes.

Harrogate Borough Council commissioned the report after a void was discovered last year.

Michael Constantine, the council’s head of operations, has recommended councillors approve remedial work at a cabinet meeting tonight. But the experts have urged them to postpone a decision and take a longer-term view of the issues raised in the report.

Stanley Mackintosh, a chartered engineer in Ripon, said in a letter to the council that there was a “substantial risk of sudden catastrophic collapse” of land on the site due to the weak “pie-crust” nature of the land.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“The long term safety implications and unfathomable future costs seem to be very seriously underestimated by the council.”

Read more:

• Ripon Spa Baths closes after 116 years
• Ripon Leisure Centre: Harrogate council plans 3D soil map amid sinkhole fears

The Stantec report reveals there has been substantial and ongoing ground instability beneath the leisure centre building over three decades. It suggests the only way to avoid ongoing problems and costs is to find another site because the bedrock beneath the void is significantly disturbed and collapsed.

Mr Mackintosh, who has consistently raised concerns with the council about building a pool on land with a history of ground instability issues, said the report to councillors tonight contained “inaccuracies and omissions”.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I am concerned that the new connecting walkway bridge may be a structural weak link, potentially unsafe for routine use by public and staff.

“As a chartered engineer, it remains my opinion that continuing to use the first floor of the existing leisure centre – and the said ‘weak link’ aerial walkway access to it– is an inadvisable and unnecessary risk to public safety.

“We should each, perhaps, honestly ask ourselves: “What kind of catastrophe at this Ripon Camp Close development, in part consequential to our own choices or inaction, could ever be justified?”

‘Gradual collapse’

Dr Alan Thompson, a geologist and director of director of Cuesta Consulting in Somerset, said he believed “gradual collapse” was a likelier scenario than sudden collapse.

Businesses and council representatives clashed in a heated two-hour debate about the £10.9 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme last night.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce hosted the largest face-to-face gathering to discuss the revised design plans.

The meeting revealed deep divisions between businesses and those championing the scheme, which aims to make the area around the train station more attractive and easier to navigate for cyclists and pedestrians.

Only four people out of about 75 in the room stood when asked to do so if they supported reducing traffic on Station Parade to single lane.

That is one of the most controversial aspects of the scheme, along with pedestrianising the section of James Street from Princes Square to Station Parade

The meeting ended with some businesses threatening to apply for a judicial review to halt the scheme. But why are businesses so opposed to a scheme that is supposed to make the town centre more attractive and increase visitors?

Below are some of the key talking points.

As consultation on the revised plans, which are supported by North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council, draws to a close on Friday, it remains to be seen whether the issues can be resolved.

1 Why is it necessary?

North Yorkshire County Councillor Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access who is leading on the scheme, said Harrogate was the most congested place in North Yorkshire besides York.

He said a Harrogate congestion study run by the council four years ago in response to the decision not to proceed with a bypass, provided a mandate for change because about 80% of respondents said they wanted the town centre to be friendlier to cyclists and pedestrians. The study generated 15,500 replies, which Cllr Mackenzie said was the council’s “largest ever public engagement”.

Harrogate businessman Terry Bramall said a lot had changed in the four years since the Harrogate Congestion Study. He said plans to pedestrianise part of James Street would “create havoc with traffic flows” and questioned why cycling groups had been consulted but “as a property owner on James Street I haven’t been approached”.

Cllr Mackenzie replied that he’d spoken to three businesses on James Street that were supportive of the scheme and that those proposing it had “made themselves available at all times”.

Don Mackenzie (left) speaking at last night’s meeting.

2 Loss of parking and disruption

Just 40 parking spaces would be lost, said Cllr Mackenzie, mainly on James Street. But some businesses were worried about the knock-on effects.

Sue Savill, director of Party Fever on Station Parade, said plans to reduce Station Parade to single lane traffic and build a cycle route on land currently used for parking outside shops on her side of the street would create major problems.

Matthew Roberts, economy and transport officer at Harrogate Borough Council, said there were plans to make it easier to cross Station Parade but added “you are one of the businesses we need to speak to about logistics”.

Ms Savill said this was all very well but carrying a pallet of stock into the shop from the other side would be problematic.

Read more:

• Harrogate businesses consider legal challenge to Station Gateway
• Station Gateway: the story so far of the £10.9m scheme

3 Where is the evidence it will boost trade?

Nick Brown, a Conservative who represents Bishop Monkton and Newby on Harrogate Borough Council, asked whether a detailed economic assessment of the impact on businesses had been conducted and, if so, could it be made public before the consultation ends.

Dan Harper, executive officer economy and transport at Harrogate Borough Council, said the final economic impact assessment couldn’t be produced until the final designs for the scheme, which is currently at revised design stage, were available. Mr Harper said this was the standard ‘continual process’ approach recommended by the Treasury, adding:

“It’s not something we ignore or don’t do.”

Independent retailer William Woods also asked for evidence that the scheme wouldn’t have a negative impact on the town’s economy.

Cllr Mackenzie replied:

“I believe this investment will be a boost to the town centre.”

Hazel Barry, chief executive of toiletries firm H2k, said:

“I don’t see any evidence. There’s nothing in this report that says it will bring me more customers and bring more visitors to the town. If we are going to move forward on this project we need some answers otherwise it’s a lot of money for not much reward.”

Just four people in the meeting supported making Station Parade single lane.

4 Is the traffic modelling accurate?

Businesses were sceptical about claims that making Station Parade single lane would not cause congestion or clog up side roads, particularly those off Cheltenham Parade.

Sue Kramer, who owns Crown Jewellers, asked “are we going to let a computer programme decide the future of our roads?”.

Sarah Spencer, of tax consultancy Sarah Spencer Ltd, said such modelling tended to “start with the answer they want and work back”.

Matthew Roberts, economy and transport officer at Harrogate Borough Council, said there would be an extra two or three cars a minute on Cheltenham Mount.

Responding to questions about why Harrogate Borough Council had not deemed an environmental impact assessment necessary, he said:

“The impact on air quality isn’t a massive one.”

Aidan Rayner, Transforming Cities Fund delivery project manager at North Yorkshire County Council, denied claims that traffic data was based on lockdown levels. He said it was based on 2018 levels even though there was evidence that traffic had reduced by 6% since then.

Karl Battersby, corporate director for business and environmental services at the county council, said there had been “no meddling of the data” and said this scheme didn’t go as far as others elsewhere in the country to encourage active travel, which had introduced measures such as low emission zones.

5 Will it make the town centre more attractive?

The gateway aims to improve people’s first impressions of Harrogate when they arrive by train by opening up the space around the Queen Victoria monument. It also aims to increase footfall by encouraging more people to bring their bikes on the train to Harrogate, or make it easier and more pleasant for local people to cross the town centre on bike or foot.

Daniel d’Arcy Thompson, managing director of Fabric and Co, said the gateway epitomised “pocket planning” whereby funding was secured for individual projects that didn’t take a joined-up approach to improving the town. He said:

“This is micro pocket planning at its worst. Until you give us a full scheme it’s just nonsense.”

Cllr Mackenzie said other schemes in the pipeline, such as the Otley Road cycle route, showed a joined-up approach to getting across town by bike.

Fortune Tofa, an accountant, told the meeting:

“The town is looking dated. We need to be bold and embrace this to continue to be relevant.”

What is the Harrogate Station Gateway?

The Harrogate scheme is one of three projects worth a combined £42m in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby funded by the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which encourages cycling and walking.

They are being delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Craven District Council and Selby District Council.

A consultation on the revised designs ends on Friday. It is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by the middle of next year.

To take part in the online consultation, which ends on Friday, click here.

Harrogate businesses are considering mounting a legal challenge to halt the £10.9 million Station Gateway scheme.

About 80 people attended an at times bad tempered Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting last night, at which numerous businesses clashed with the five men leading the scheme.

Supporters insisted it would make Harrogate town centre more attractive and boost business but business owners were not convinced.

After almost two hours of debate, chamber chief executive David Simister said he had been asked to put forward a motion that said “if the scheme is not halted and thoroughly reviewed, substantially revised and / or scrapped we feel we will have no alternative but to seek a judicial review”.

Attendees overwhelmingly supported the motion, raising the prospect of the scheme heading to the courts.

It is not known which businesses put forward the motion or whether it will be acted on but a judicial review could either derail the scheme or delay it long enough to jeopardise funding.

Karl Battersby, corporate director for business and environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council, which is leading on the gateway scheme, told the Stray Ferret after the meeting:

“We would defend a judicial review robustly because we believe we have followed due process and there is no ground legally to challenge it.”

Read more:

• Station Gateway: the story so far of the £10.9m scheme
• Harrogate residents form group to fight £10.9m Station Gateway

North Yorkshire County Councillor Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access who is leading the gateway scheme, said he too did not think a judicial review would succeed but with the consultation on the revised plans due to end on Friday, he said “a decision would be taken on whether to go ahead”.

Cllr Mackenzie added he had been assured the meeting was purely for businesses and he was surprised to see some residents also attend,

What happens now?

Individuals can apply to the courts for a judicial review when they believe a public body has not followed the correct procedures. They can’t do so simply because they disagree with the outcome of a decision.

Mr Simister said the chamber hadn’t proposed the motion and it would be up to individual businesses to decide whether to pursue a judicial review.

The gateway scheme aims to transform the area around Harrogate train station. It would part pedestrianise James Street and reduce traffic on Station Parade to a single lane while encouraging cycling and walking.

Although it has widespread public support, it faces strong opposition from businesses, which feel it could damage trade. They also believe there is insufficient evidence to support claims it will enhance footfall and business.

Sue Kramer, who owns Crown Jewellers on Commercial Street and is vice-president of the chamber, was loudly cheered when she said the first consultation on the scheme, held during lockdown was “not fit for purpose” and did not show clear support for the scheme. Ms Kramer said those proposing the scheme “should consider re-holding the consultation”.

James Street would be partly pedestrianised.

What is the Harrogate Station Gateway?

The Harrogate scheme is one of three projects worth a combined £42m in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby funded by the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which encourages cycling and walking.

They are being delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Craven District Council and Selby District Council.

A consultation on the revised designs ends on Friday. It is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by the middle of next year.

Northern Gas Networks is to hold a public meeting to discuss the recent leak that left 3,000 Harrogate homes without gas for 48 hours.

Discussing the cause of the leak for the first time, the company said in a statement that sub-contractors had damaged the underground pipe on Ripon Road in Jennyfields, where roadworks were taking place.

Gas supply to homes in the HG1, HG2, HG3 and HG4 areas was affected for two days from October 15 to 17. The Styan Community Centre in Jennyfields was converted into an emergency hub where residents could collect electric heaters and food vouchers.

The statement added the company had informed the Health and Safety Executive, the government agency responsible for workplace safety, and “instructed an internal investigation to understand the full circumstances”. No further details have been released.

It said:

“While the internal investigation is still ongoing, Northern Gas Networks can confirm that the gas pipe was damaged during essential gas mains replacement work which was being carried out by a specialist sub-contractor working on behalf of Northern Gas Networks.

“In the coming weeks Northern Gas Networks will be hosting a public meeting and inviting customers and stakeholders to join Northern Gas Networks colleagues to reflect on the incident and take a deeper look at the events of that weekend.

“The purpose of the meeting is to give customers the opportunity to share their feedback and for Northern Gas Networks to gather valuable insight to enable them to continue to improve their response.”

Read more:

• Harrogate gas leak: cause still not revealed as roadworks continue
• Crunch meeting tonight over Harrogate’s £10.9m Station Gateway

John Richardson, customer operations director at Northern Gas Networks, said:

“The safety of our engineers and members of the public is our priority and we are supporting the teams and contracting partners involved to ensure that we learn from what happened and put the appropriate measures in place so that safety is never compromised.”

Traffic lights on Ripon Road, which had been in place since early September while Northern Gas Networks completed engineering work to upgrade metal gas mains, were removed last weekend.

The number of covid deaths at Harrogate District Hospital is approaching the 200 mark as health chiefs look to speed up vaccinations ahead of winter.

The hospital’s toll since the pandemic began currently stands at 195, with the latest death of a patient who died within 28 days of testing positive being reported on Wednesday last week.

However, the number of covid patients receiving treatment at the hospital has fallen slightly from 25 to 24 in the last seven days.

The Harrogate district’s seven-day infection rate has also fallen, from 591 per 100,000 people to 548 today. It remains the highest in North Yorkshire.

It is also above both the county and England averages of 470 and 372 respectively.

Long trips for booster jabs

Booster vaccines are being made available for over 50s and any over 16s with a health condition that puts them at high risk of covid.

The NHS has shortened the length of time between second and third doses – and those eligible can now get vaccinated simply by turning up at a walk-in site.

However, these sites are currently limited in Harrogate with patients being asked to travel to Pateley Bridge or outside of the district as far as Bradford or Batley.

The NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group last week said it was unable to open any more walk-in sites in the area as “all clinics are running at capacity” and that it would do so “as soon as possible”.

A CCG spokesperson said:

“If we open walk-ins now it is likely we would exceed our vaccine allocation and there would be some disappointed people and negative feedback which we are trying to avoid.”

Read more:

• Andrew Jones MP queries delay of covid vaccinations in schools
• Still no decision on future of Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens

Appointment-based vaccines are still available to book at local clinics via the national booking system, which also has dedicated slots for 12 to 15-year-olds available at the Homecare Pharmacy site in Knaresborough.

There was an aim to complete the rollout of vaccines to this age group by the start of half-term, however, progress has been slow with less than 20% in the Harrogate district receiving their single dose.

These jabs are being made available at schools but also at other sites including Askham Bar in York, Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium, the Northern Echo Arena in Darlington and Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.

It was recently announced that Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground will reopen as a vaccine centre for an expected busy period of booster jabs in December.
The venue closed for vaccinations in August but will reopen for two weeks at the start of next month.

It is officially Christmas at one of Harrogate’s most famous locations.

Bettys has installed Christmas windows at its tearooms in Harrogate, York, Northallerton and Ilkley.

Father Christmas popped by the Harrogate tearoom for a sneak preview and to welcome the launch of the company’s festive afternoon tea.

It comes days after Harrogate Business Improvement District partnered with the Rotary Club of Harrogate to announce the start of this year’s Christmas Shop Window competition.

Read more:

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• Leading the digital revolution at Bettys

Ripon Cathedral will play host to a concert this coming weekend to raise money and awareness for a local mental health charity.

Wellspring Therapy and Training, which is based in Starbeck, provides affordable counselling to people suffering from mental illness.

Harrogate concert pianist Julian Saphir and soprano Eleanore Cockerham, a former member of internationally-acclaimed singing group VOCES8, will star in the November 12 concert, which is called A Night to Remember.

They will be joined by local choirs and performers, including Nidd Chorale, Unity Voices, Harrogate Theatre Choir, and St Aidan’s School Chamber Choir.

The concert also aims to raise awareness by exploring themes of memory and thanksgiving.

Concert Co-ordinator, David Moon, said:

“This event is a wonderful opportunity to explore and experience the power music has on our mood and raise money for Wellspring, which is providing a vital wellbeing service in our local community.”

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Referrals to Wellspring shot up during covid, forcing the charity to temporarily suspend its waiting list. Operations have now returned to normal and the charity has supported over 700 people in the last year.

Sarah James, therapeutic lead for the charity, said:

“Our counsellors are frequently working with adults who present with depression, anxiety, trauma, loss, relationship issues, low self-esteem, emotional abuse, loss of confidence and stress. Many people we support have been signposted to us for more in-depth/long-term therapeutic work that is too expensive for many people to fund for themselves.”

The concert begins at 7pm on November 12. Tickets start at £12 for adults and £5 for children, and are available online here.