Blow for businesses wanting to use Stray this summer

An agreement for hospitality businesses to be given outdoor space on the Stray is unlikely to be in place until at least the second half of summer.

Harrogate Borough Council, which protects the Stray on behalf of the people, is in talks with the Duchy of Lancaster, which owns the Stray freehold, about relaxing rules.

Councillor Graham Swift, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development at the council, said it was “probably not possible” for a deal to be struck before all lockdown restrictions end on 21 June.

The idea has been put forward to assist hospitality businesses with social distancing by giving them room for outdoor seating, although councillor Swift said it would only benefit “one or two” bars.

The owners of the Blues Bar, The Empress and Fashion House Bistro have told the Stray Ferret they want to put tables and chairs on Stray land near their businesses.

Speaking at a meeting yesterday, he said:

“Some of our licence companies are very keen to see usage of the Stray under controlled licensing conditions and the reality is this will be challenging.

“The Duchy of Lancaster are rightly positive defenders of the space and for us to jump through some of the hoops required around the legal side to allow one or two companies to extend their footprint will probably not be possible before 21 June when the government fully opens lockdown.”

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The Harrogate Stray Act 1985 restricts how the land can be used and includes an annual limit on events.

Need to consult

There is also a requirement for the public to be consulted on some changes and the council said it planned to run a survey on the idea to give businesses space if talks with the Duchy progress.

Councillor Swift added:

“I have some sympathy with the licence companies that would like to flex their space but the reality is there is going to be a considerable opening up of spaces over the next few weeks.

“I hope that people will be able to take off trade and picnic on the Stray and utilise the space as we get more and more conformable with social engagement.”

Under the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, hospitality businesses will be allowed to reopen for outdoor service only on April 12 when customers can meet in a group of up to six people from different households or any number from two households.

Then, on May 17, they will be able to seat customers indoors with the same household rules, while groups seated outside must be smaller than 30 people.

The final date in the roadmap is June 21 when all restrictions are due to be lifted.

Plans in to transform Crescent Gardens into offices

Plans have been submitted to transform Harrogate Borough Council‘s former headquarters into offices and a roof garden restaurant.

Impala Estates, a property investment company in Harrogate, bought the Crescent Gardens site in January last year for £4 million.

It has been empty for four years since the council relocated to Knapping Mount in 2017.

Impala’s proposals include creating a gym as well as turning the former council chamber and mayor’s parlour into meeting rooms.

James Hartley, director of Impala Estates, said:

“I am hugely excited to submit a planning application after what has been a tough year for everybody.

“Our plans will ensure that this high-quality local asset is brought back to use and regenerated to deliver a building that provides not only employment space in the town centre but contributes to a community benefit that keeps Crescent Gardens as a vibrant part of Harrogate.”

Mr Hartley said Impala did not yet have a figure on how much the development would cost.

Asked whether he was concerned about letting offices now so many people were working from home, he said:

“The office market continues to change and develop and we would aim to react to these changes as necessary.”

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The council’s planning committee will decide whether to accept the application.

Graham Swift, cabinet member for economic development at the council, spoke highly of the scheme. He said:

“When Harrogate Borough Council sold Crescent Gardens to Impala Estates we were impressed by their commitment to bring much-needed office space into the centre of town to support the growing and changing economic needs of Harrogate.

“They blended this plan with the use of public space that will make Crescent Gardens and its locality a thriving, community area that boasts flexible, modern offices with functional and attractive public spaces.”

Concerns about design, parking and noise

Impala opened a public consultation on its plans in October, which according to Impala attracted 19 comments.

Four were positive; others attracted comments about design, parking, solar shading, access, noise and over visibility from the rook terrace.

A chequered history

The council’s sale of Crescent Gardens had a chequered recent history.

In March 2017, it was announced local developer Adam Thorpe was buying the site for £6.31 million. Mr Thorpe had lavish plans for a £75million pound refurbishment, including an art gallery, underground car park, swimming pool, restaurant and luxury apartments.

Two years later, in February 2019 Mr Thorpe said he had agreed sales on 10 of the 12 apartments including one “comfortably above” £10 million. Mr Thorpe’s company, ATP Ltd, then collapsed with debts of almost £11million, including £24,394.52 to the council.

The site then went back on the market and was eventually sold to Impala Estates.

Stump Cross Caverns camper van winner named

The draw to win a VW Campervan worth £47,000 has been made to culminate the successful campaign to save Stump Cross Caverns.

The Stray Ferret broke the news last month that Lisa Bowerman and Nicholas Markham, who own the limestone caves near Pateley Bridge, were raffling their van to raise money to keep the place open.

Tickets for the raffle cost £10.

They set an original crowdfunding target of £50,000 but generated £72,500 in 40 days.

The extra money will enable the site’s 3D virtual tour to be upgraded, which the couple hope will be popular with schools.

A person called Chris Riley won the camper van star prize in tonight’s draw. It is not yet known where the winner is from.

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Ms Bowerman said she had been overwhelmed by support. She said:

“Without you we couldn’t have been able to reopen the doors to the 60,000 visitors we get.”

Stump Cross Caverns has been open to visitors since 1863.

But its failure to secure a covid grant from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund threatened its future.

However, the Save the Caves campaign means it now hopes to reopen in May.

Knaresborough free parking extension to end as shops reopen

A one-hour free parking policy in Knaresborough town centre is to end in the week non-essential shops reopen.

North Yorkshire County Council doubled the length of time cars can park for free on Market Place from 30 minutes to an hour last summer.

The temporary move aimed to help businesses while social distancing measures were in place.

But the move will end on April 18 – six days after shops.

Council officials said parking data showed the majority of motorists left within the hour and that reverting back to 30 minutes would encourage a greater turnover of shoppers.

Karl Battersby, the county council’s corporate director of business and environmental services, said:

“While we accept that the current circumstances are not reflective of typical conditions, analysis of the performance of the one-hour free parking offers no basis for it to be introduced permanently.

“The anticipated easing of lockdown restrictions in the coming months supports a return to the normal operation to aid traffic management and to provide better turnover of spaces.”

The one-hour extension was agreed in July and then became operational in September.

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Councillor Ed Darling, who sits on both Knaresborough Town Council and Harrogate Borough Council, said while the return to 30 minutes may be “disappointing” for some, it was backed by data.

He urged shoppers to get behind the town by supporting local businesses when they reopen on April 12.

He said:

“The past year has been exceptionally difficult for town centre retailers who have been forced to close for the majority of the year.

“I do hope that our local community gets behind our town centre, supporting our local businesses and shops to kickstart our local economy once again.”

Bill Taylor, secretary of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce, added:

“All town centres struggle with parking generally, and how to charge is a part of that.

“As shops reopen in April then moving back to the original charging system seems reasonable and allows for a higher turnover of shoppers for the greater variety of shops that are open.

“In addition, Knaresborough has a large, good value but under-utilised car park on York Place and Knaresborough Town Council has worked with the county council to install new signs around town for that car park.”

First ever four-day Great Yorkshire Show confirmed

The organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate confirmed today this year’s event will take place over four days for the first time.

The Stray Ferret exclusively revealed yesterday that major changes to the format, which included adding a day, were due to be announced.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society confirmed the news in a newsletter to members this morning.

“We can now reveal that the show will take place between Tuesday 13 July and Friday 16 July, from 8am to 5pm each day, if it is safe to do so.”

The show usually takes place from 7.30am to 7.30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but finishes an hour earlier on Thursdays.

The newsletter added the event will only go ahead “if the government’s roadmap out of coronavirus restrictions remains unchanged”.

It said government guidelines on large gatherings after June 21 would be informed by a series of pilot events taking place during spring.

“However, we do anticipate there will be a strict cap on the number of people allowed to gather at large events and so by adding a fourth day, more visitors will have the chance to attend safely.”

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The Stray Ferret understands the number of daily visitors will be restricted to between 20,000 and 25,000 — well below the usual 44,000 average.

in a subsequent press release, Charles Mills, honorary show director, said:

“We are thrilled by the response to our plans for the show this year in what we know will not quite be normal circumstances.

“We do expect there to be a limit on how many people can attend on any one day of the show and so for the first time in our history we believe the best option is to offer a four-day event.”

“There will be some changes this year, but we want to deliver as much of a normal show as restrictions allow, and it remains our position that the Show will only go ahead if it is safe to do so.

“We understand there is an element of risk in planning for an event of such scale given the potential for restrictions to change, however we accept this and firmly believe it is well worth planning for the Show to take place.

The Stray Ferret understands livestock classes will be reduced, just one event hall will be open, and facemasks will also have to be worn inside marquees.

https://twitter.com/greatyorkshow/status/1377191451541577731

Tickets must be purchased in advance and will be available from June 1.

Ripley Show, which was scheduled for August 4, was cancelled on the grounds that the “proposed conditions are near impossible to comply with on the show ground”.

 

Harrogate’s Army Foundation College at centre of child soldiers dispute

A bid to raise the British armed force’s minimum age of recruitment to 18, which would have had major repercussions for Harrogate’s Army Foundation College, has failed.

Carol Monaghan, the Scottish National Party’s spokesperson for the armed forces, attempted to introduce a clause in the Armed Forces Bill preventing 16 and 17-year-olds enlisting in the army. Anyone under the age of 18 in the UK is legally classified as a child.

The Harrogate college, which recruits about 1,500 young men and women each year, is the only British army establishment that delivers military training to junior soldiers aged 16 and 17.

The Army Foundation College in Harrogate.

The Army Foundation College in Harrogate.

Monaghan said raising the recruitment age to 18 would bring Britain in line with most of its NATO allies.

She added the United Nations convention on the rights of the child has urged the UK to increase its minimum recruitment age to 18.

Speaking at a public bill committee, which is a cross-bench committee examining the bill, she said:

“If we are to safeguard the wellbeing, development, educational opportunities and physical safety of our young people, it is crucial that we change the minimum age for armed forces recruitment to 18.”

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Monaghan added a third of 16 and 17-year-old recruits dropped out and “re-enter the civilian world without immediate access to further employment, training and education”. Many, she added, were from economically deprived areas.

While 16 and 17-year-olds cannot serve on the frontline, recruitment at the ages of 16 and 17 is detrimental to international efforts to end the use of children in military settings.”

Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham, said people campaigning for a ban on under-18s were wrong to “draw an analogy between what the army does and the situation of child soldiers around the world”.

He added concerns about welfare needed to be balanced against the opportunities presented to 16 to 17-year-olds recruits, adding:

“I suggest that anyone who wants to see the positive way individuals can and do improve their lives visits the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.

“On my visits there, what appalled me was the fact that the education system had failed individuals, but the army had given them a second chance with raising basic numeracy and literacy skills.

“Individuals who would possibly not have had an opportunity to have a fulfilled career were able to do so through the work undertaken at the Army Foundation College.”

Defence minister Johnny Mercer told the debate the government took its duty of care to entrants aged under 18 “extremely seriously”. He added:

“Close attention has been given to this subject in recent years, especially after the tragic deaths at Deepcut.

“We have robust, effective and independently verified safeguards in place to ensure that under-18s are cared for properly.”

The committee voted against the clause by nine votes to two.

Eight Conservatives and one Labour MP voted against; two SNP MPS voted in favour.

Do you have a family member at the College and have a view on this story? Get in touch at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Plans for 36 homes in Goldsborough sent back to drawing board

Developers behind plans to build 36 homes in a Harrogate district village have been sent back to the drawing board by councillors.

Stonebridge Homes proposed the homes for land near Goldsborough’s cricket club and primary school.

The plans were initially refused by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in 2018 and then granted outline permission a year later.

At a meeting today, the developers were seeking a final stamp of approval for the Station Road scheme but were turned down by councillors concerned over the number and layout of the homes.

Cllr Zoe Metcalfe also said more needed to be done to reduce the impact on nearby homes and the village’s conservation area.

She said:

“This is a really important area that we need to look after and I do not think the developers are being respectful at all.

“They have got outline permission so these houses are going to happen but I would like to see less and a better layout.”

Layout for the 36 homes in Goldsborough.

Layout for the 36 homes in Goldsborough.

Cllr Andrew Paraskos, a Conservative who represents Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale, added:

“I really do think with these smaller sites on the edges of villages and towns that we should be pushing for the best that we can get.

“This development will be the first thing you are going to see entering this village – and you will probably see it from the A59 too – so why not make it something that we are really proud of? We should be going for designs that are exemplary.”

One resident, Noel Evans, spoke in objection to the plans today saying the 36 homes were “not needed nor wanted by anyone in the village” and called for the number to be reduced to 12.

Mr Evans said.

“This is the most intense development ever considered in Goldsborough.

“Its urban density will be totally out of keeping with the Goldsborough conservation area which it borders directly. If houses must be built here, reducing the number to one third of the planned numbers would solve all of these problems.”

The plans included a mix of one to five-bedroom properties, with 14 classed as affordable.

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Becky Lomas, an agent for the developers, told today’s meeting that the layout of the homes and landscaping had been “carefully” designed to minimise the impact on residents living on Station Road.

She said the proposals “do not give rise to any overbearing, overshadowing or overlooking harms” to the area, however, this did not ring true with councillors who have asked for a rethink on how the homes are set out.

Cllr Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat who represents Harrogate Hookstone, said the developers should make sure the proposals are “absolutely right” for the area before asking for planning permission again.

She said:

“At the moment I feel this is not right so taking it back and having those discussions with both residents and local members is the most sensible way forward.”

Plans to revive Harrogate district economy after April 12 revealed

A ‘Buy Local By Bike’ campaign, more pavement licences for hospitality businesses and cleaner public toilets have been revealed as part of Harrogate Borough Council’s plans to reopen the economy in a fortnight.

After more than three months of coronavirus closures, non-essential retailers are due to reopen their doors on April 12 under the next stage of the planned easing of lockdown restrictions.

As part of this, pubs, restaurants and cafes will return for outdoor service on that date.

Shoppers, diners and drinkers will be encouraged to get spending to help save Harrogate’s high streets.

But Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, warned it will be “critical” to proceed cautiously to ensure infection rates remain low as the vaccine rollout continues.

The council’s plans include the launch of a ‘Buy Local By Bike’ initiative, with shoppers urged to get cycling and support local businesses using a digital London Underground-style map of routes around Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Pavement licences

Pubs, restaurants and cafes with little or no room for outdoor service are also being urged to apply to the council for pavement licences where they can be given permission to set up tables and chairs outside of their premises.

These licences were introduced by the government last summer and recently extended to make it easier and cheaper for hospitality businesses to serve people outside until the planned return of indoor service on May 17.

The council is also drafting in contract cleaners to step-up hygiene measures at public toilets, with a focus on the district’s towns and main visitor locations during bank holidays when an influx of visitors is expected.

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Furthermore, the council has received an extra £141,714 under the government’s Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, which it said could be used for publicity campaigns for street food markets and improvements to green spaces and seating areas to encourage people back to town centres.

Councillor Cooper said he was optimistic about the lifting of lockdown restrictions but added it must be done “in a safe way so that we can ensure we remain open”. He added:

“All the statistics we see show infections and hospitalisations heading in the right direction because of the effect the vaccine is having coupled with the lockdown.

“I know it has been the toughest year for business. We all know that. That is why we should all make that extra effort to shop locally where possible and to choose a local retailer where we can if we are shopping online.”

Shops open until 10pm

The government has already announced shops will be allowed to stay open until 10pm when the economy reopens on April 12, as well as a Restart Grants scheme with non-essential businesses able to apply for up to £6,000 and hospitality and leisure firms up to £18,000.

Last summer, some Harrogate bars were given permission to set up tables and chairs on the Stray under the temporary pavement licences and the council is now in talks with the landowners over opening this up to more businesses.

It has yet to reach an agreement with the Duchy of Lancaster but it is hoped this could happen before summer when all restrictions on social contacts are due to end on 21 June before council-backed events return.

Harrogate Carnival 2021 – organised by Harrogate International Festivals – has been scheduled for either the 4th or 5th of September and will involve street theatre, music, arts and food, although the event is not anticipated to include a parade in the same way it did in 2019.

The carnival will be backed by a £50,000 council grant with a further £25,000 going to a Fire Garden event which will include fire shows and sculptures, and is due to be held in either October or November this year, or February 2022.

Harrogate police officers face social media restrictions

North Yorkshire Police is imposing restrictions on officers’ social media accounts that will prevent them posting directly to the public.

The move will have implications for the popular Twitter accounts of Harrogate traffic sergeant Paul Cording and Harrogate traffic constable David Minto, who between them have more than 20,000 followers.

Their tales of life on the road include live traffic updates from accident scenes and details of motoring offences.

But soon they will be unable to post directly to Twitter under their police names.

North Yorkshire Police is centralising its approach to social media by encouraging people to follow its official accounts, rather than those of individual officers.

Officers can still post under their names provided their messages go through official channels first.

Another spot by @NypAnpr and @TC174_NYP & my @NYorksRPG team stop this vehicle near #AllertonPark Driver tests positive for #Cocaine & is arrested. I assisted with bloods in custody & they will be sent to @RSSS_DianeFair for analysis #Fatal4 pic.twitter.com/4NxBO3hYGO

— Sgt Paul Cording BEM (@OscarRomeo1268) March 21, 2021

https://twitter.com/TC174_NYP/status/1372328691338985474

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson told the Stray Ferret:

“We are reducing our accounts to make it easier for our communities to find the latest updates from North Yorkshire Police and what is happening in their area, as well as enabling us to respond to the issues that matter to those communities more quickly and effectively.

“The changes are not banning anyone from social media. The many officers and staff who already post and share fantastic social media content will move to posting that content across our force wide and district accounts. Some have already started doing this.

“If they wish to they will be able to give their name so the public still know who is the voice behind the post as we know how much their personalities are valued by our communities.”

Sgt Cording told the Stray Ferret he was aware changes are coming but at this stage it was inappropriate for him to comment.

In an interview with the Stray Ferret last year, he said there were “some issues” within the force when he started tweeting in 2011 but increasingly the police had recognised the value of officers engaging directly with the public and showing a bit of personality.

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Harrogate district GPs start giving vaccine to under-50s

Some North Yorkshire GPs have vaccinated all top-priority patients and are using spare doses on under-50s, a chief nurse has said.

Sue Peckitt, chief nursing officer at NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said the county’s vaccination programme was going “exceptionally well”.

She added some surgeries had reached all eligible patients in the top nine priority groups two weeks earlier than expected.

Ms Peckitt added although bookings for all other adults aged under 50 were not yet open, some would soon be called up for last minute appointments using doses that would otherwise go to waste.

Speaking at a meeting of the North Yorkshire Outbreak Management Advisory Board today, she said:

“Many of our primary care networks are asking if they can move into the lower age cohorts and we are telling them to try not to unless it would mean vaccine wastage.

“We do know some of them have exhausted all of their eligible cohorts so you might start to hear some challenge coming back that some individuals below the age of 50 are starting to get pulled forward.”

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As of Friday, more than 404,000 people in North Yorkshire had received their first dose of a covid vaccine, with almost 40,000 people having received their second.

In the Harrogate district, a total of 82,118 people have had a first dose of a covid vaccine.

The figure for first doses across the UK is 30m and 3.5m for second doses.

The government aims to offer a first vaccine to about 32 million people in nine priority groups by 15 April and every other adult by the end of July.

The programme is now inviting those aged 50 and above who haven’t yet received jabs to book appointments after the first four groups – those aged 70 and over, care home residents, healthcare workers and people required to shield – were offered a jab by mid-February.

Ms Peckitt said while take up of the vaccine in North Yorkshire has been high, some residents were still reluctant to come forward.

She said:

“We are still trying to get the reminder of the eligible cohorts to come forward.

“There have been repeated calls to individuals that haven’t and we are working with them to try understand why they would not want to access the vaccine.”