John Plummer, Author at The Stray Ferret

Three fire crews called to Ripon house blaze

Firefighters from Ripon, Boroughbridge and Harrogate were called to a house fire in Ripon last night.

The crews were alerted to smoke billowing from the roof of a detached home in the Gallows Hill area of the city at 6.21pm.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used the aerial ladder platform based at Harrogate Fire Station to tackle the fire on the third floor.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report said:

“The cause was believed to be radiated heat from the flue of a wood-burning stove.”

No further details have been released.

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A week of floods, facial recognition cameras and ice rink meltdown

Welcome to a new weekly feature rounding up some of my favourite articles on the Stray Ferret each week.

We often publish more than a dozen stories a day and it’s easy to miss things. Hopefully this digest will give you the chance to catch up.

The Harrogate ice rink saga has been one of our best read stories of the week. The rink has been criticised for slushy ice, rusty skates and slow refunds. It’s difficult not to feel some sympathy because — ironically — a winter wonderland attraction has been somewhat undone by the northern winter, which has forced its closure rather too regularly.

The company running it said this week it won’t be back for Christmas 2024.

As editor, one of the questions I’m asked most is ‘when is the new Lidl opening in Ripon?’. It was granted planning permission in September 2021 and we have an update on one of the slowest moving but most popular local retail stories here.

We also have news of a fascinating dual enterprise by two sisters in the former Dangerfield & Keane salon on Cold Bath Road in Harrogate. Ever used a hyperbaric chamber?

It’s been a week of rain and flood. The Ford car stuck in the ford over the River Skell in Ripon has caused a bit of a ripple. It was still there yesterday. The weather may be improving but Boroughbridge rarely looks prettier than when the River Ure floods, as happened this week.

How do you feel about walking through Harrogate town centre and having facial recognition cameras matching your features to those of police suspects? It could happen if Conservative Keane Duncan is elected Mayor of York and North Yorkshire this year. Read more here.

Who remembers Knaresborough’s new primary school? You’d be forgiven if you didn’t given that it was pledged nearly four years ago and not a jot of progress appears to have happened. We got an update this week.

The week ahead should see Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones appear before the Liberal Democrat-controlled area constituency committee of North Yorkshire Council. It could be tetchy.

Enjoy the site. If you have a view on any of our articles, or indeed anything else that’s bugging you about life in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham, do email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will consider it for publication in our Stray Views letters page.

And if you don’t already, sign up to our new look daily bulletins for a round-up of the news every evening in your inbox. Click on the link below.

Driver rescued from Ripon ford as flood threat continues

Police and firefighters were called to Ripon last night when a vehicle got stuck in floodwater in a ford across the River Skell.

The ford at Firs Avenue is notoriously difficult to cross when water levels are high.

The Stray Ferret reported in September that a Fiat had to be towed out.

Now another vehicle — ironically a Ford — has also encountered difficulties. It was still awaiting recovery this morning.

The car awaiting rescue this morning.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 6.21pm to a similar incident.

Its incident report said a single vehicle had become stuck in floodwater after attempting to cross the ford.

“On the arrival of crews, the driver of the vehicle had been assisted out of the water by a member of the public.

“The driver was checked over by police officers and given advice.

“Crews closed off the ford and footbridge with assistance from the police.”

The footbridge was closed following the incident.

The Met Office forecasts a drier day today but flood warnings remain in place for Boroughbridge camping and caravanning site on the River Ure, Swinney Beck at Masham and the the River Nidd at Hunsingore. Flood warnings indicate flooding is likely.

Less severe flood alerts are active for the lower River Ure and the lower River Nidd catchment areas.

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£300,000 upgrade of The Woodlands in Harrogate to begin next week

Building work on a £300,000 upgrade of The Woodlands pub in Harrogate is due to begin next week.

Work will start on Monday (January 8) and the pub on Wetherby Road is due to re-open at the end of February with a new food and drinks offer.

Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars said in a statement today it planned to “transform it into the best family-friendly community and sports pub in the area”.

It added:

“Funds are being spent on a top-to-toe redecoration of the interior of The Woodlands to include new hard flooring, carpets and furniture to give the pub a brighter, smarter more contemporary look and feel.

“A new sports area will be created with a pool table, traditional darts board and TV showing Sky Sports and TNT Sports. A kitchen upgrade is also taking place to enable the pub to extend its traditional pub favourites and cater for the increased numbers the operators expect to attract.

“The pub’s exterior is to be given a complete makeover, repainted in a smart grey-blue and white with new signage, lighting and in warmer months, hanging baskets. To the front there will be a beer garden with new tables and chairs and behind a sheltered beer garden, that’s a real sun trap.”

The Woodlands on Wetherby Road

An artist’s impression of how it will look.

Star Pubs and Bars first unveiled plans to give the pub a facelift in December 2020. At the time it also announced plans to give the pub a controversial new name, West Riding Harrogate, but this was dropped when it didn’t go down well with some local residents.

The company today said the refurbishment has taken time to begin because it initially planned to recruit a licensee who would have also invested in the pub, but it had now decided to run The Woodlands as one of its managed operator pubs and is doing the whole investment itself.

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It announced Paul Caunt and Matthew Carr would take on the management of the venue. Both previously worked for Mr Carr’s father who had the lease of the pub for many years.

Mr Caunt said:

“Matthew’s father decided to retire last year when his lease came to an end. We had thought we would have to leave the pub but were delighted when we found out that it was going to benefit from a major investment and that there was an opportunity to manage it. We were both ready to run our own pub so it’s a dream come true. We make a great team as Matthew is responsible for the kitchen, and I’m front of house.

“We were both brought up in Harrogate and both live nearby so know what locals want and the area needs. We get on well with the regulars and there’s a fantastic community spirit.”

The partners plans for The Woodland include continuing to host twice weekly pub quizzes and show live sports on TV and if there’s interest they will look to host live music. They are also looking for pool and darts teams.

Paul Caunt(left) and Matthew Carr toast the pub’s success.

The drinks will include a selection of wines, spirits, and beers as well as cocktails, cask and craft ales and Heineken 0.0. Beers will include Birra Moretti and Beavertown as well as Theakstons and Timothy Taylor’s.

Andy Moore, Star Pubs & Bars investment manager, said:

“The Woodlands is in a prominent position on a busy crossroads near to the Yorkshire show showground and near the newly promoted Harrogate Town Football Club. It’s tired looking at the moment, a bit of an eyesore, but with this major investment it will be somewhere that locals can be proud of.

“The immediate area has plenty of top-quality food pubs, but no real top quality community local offering sport. With Matthew and Paul at the helm, a new look and feel and new food and drinks menus, I’m confident it will deliver what is needed locally. People will have the type of pub on their doorstep that previously they had to travel to enjoy.”

The vast majority of Star Pubs & Bars’ 2,400 pubs are leased to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Harrogate trains cancelled as flood threat remains

Rail replacement buses are operating between Harrogate and Leeds this morning due to flooding.

Rail operator Northern said this morning some lines were blocked due to the wet conditions.

It added rail replacement were in place for the 6.30 Leeds to Harrogate 7.30 Leeds to Harrogate 8.30 Leeds to Harrogate, 9.30 Leeds to Harrogate, 7.00 Harrogate to Leeds, 8.00 Harrogate to Leeds. 9.00 Harrogate to Leeds and 10.00 Harrogate to Leeds.

A Met Office weather warning for rain remains in place for the Harrogate district until 9pm until tonight.

Environment Agency flood alerts are active for the upper and lower River Nidd catchments areas and for the Lower River Ure.

More severe flood warnings — which indicate flooding is expected — have been installed for Swinney Beck at Masham and the River Nidd at Hunsingore.

The Swinney Beck warning at 1.54am this morning said:

“Flooding is forecast to affect locations and properties near the Swinney Beck, with low lying land expected to be most affected, particularly around Masham including properties situated off the A6108, Fearby Road, Westholme Road, Leyburn Road, The Avenue, Avenue Bank, Quaker Terrance, Silver Street and College Lane.”

What has happened to Knaresborough’s new £6 million primary school?

Concerns have been expressed about the lack of progress on a new £6 million primary school in Knaresborough.

North Yorkshire County Council unveiled plans in 2020 to open primary schools in Knaresborough and Northallerton “to serve housing growth”.

The school in Northallerton, where the council is based, is due to open in autumn this year.

But three-and-a-half years after the schemes were announced, no work has begun in Knaresborough. A second proposed opening date of September 2024 looks certain to be missed and no new deadline has been set.

The school, which would predominantly be for children in the new 1,000-plus homes at the Manse Farm and Highfield Farm developments, is supposed to cater for 210 pupils and have the capacity to expand its roster to 420. The plans also included a nursery.

After Knaresborough Town Council expressed frustration at the lack of progress last month, the Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Council, which succeeded North Yorkshire County Council in April, why the project was taking so long and whether it would definitely still go ahead.

Amanda Newbold, the council’s assistant director for education and skills, said in a statement the local authority remained committed to the delivery of the project but will “will undertake regular reviews before it is able to confirm delivery”. She did not commit to a new deadline.

Ms Newbold’s full statement is:

“Development works have been postponed due to an overhead electric cable that runs across the land where the new school is due to be built. This is also delaying the developer to some degree.

“A sub-station needs to be built on the land and the cable diverted before the school site can be transferred from Taylor Wimpey to the council.

“The negotiations for the sub-station development are continuing and the parties involved have recently confirmed good progress on agreement of the legal terms. All of these matters need to be concluded before the site transfer of the school land can begin.

“We have no control over these issues, but we continue to put a great deal of effort into encouraging the third parties to resolve them.

“While this is disappointing, it does not change our commitment to the delivery of the project, and the application for the renewal of the planning permission for the new school will be submitted in the new year. As there would be for any project of this scale, the council will undertake regular reviews before it is able to confirm delivery of the school.”

Review needed before final commitment

The town council’s agenda items for its December meeting includes details of separate correspondence with a council officer who said the cost of the school was likely to be around £6 million. He added that once the land was transferred “a review of the need of the project would be undertaken before a final commitment to proceed is made”.

The town council voted to accept a motion by Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough Castle, to invite Taylor Wimpey “to provide an update on the transfer of land at Manse Farm housing estate to North Yorkshire Council so a primary school can be built”.

Knaresborough Town Council’s December meeting at Knaresborough House.

Cllr Walker said it was disappointing the school had not progressed and he hoped the meeting could help get things moving.

Kit Lacey, a Liberal Democrat who represents Scriven Park, said Meadowside Primary Academy was already at capacity due to new nearby housing developments.

Cllr David Goode, a Liberal Democrat who represents Eastfield, said there had been no progress on a community centre that had also been proposed for the town to mitigate for the impact of new housing developments.

A report to county councillors in September 2020 said the new primary schools in Knaresborough and Northallerton were necessary “to maintain school place sufficiency”, adding they were needed “primarily to serve housing growth”.

Looking Back: 8 of the best images of 2023

As 2023 draws to a close, we look back at some of the striking images that appeared on the Stray Ferret.

1 Historic Hampsthwaite Bridge damaged

One of our best-read stories this year was about the sudden closure of Hampsthwaite Bridge in June. The bridge was closed to vehicles for about two months after sustaining damage that cost £60,000 to repair. It occurred after this heavy goods vehicle squeezed over and this image of it doing so generated a lot of interest — and disbelief.

2 Northern Lights dazzle

The Northern Lights never seemed closer than they did in 2023. The aurora borealis appeared to be visible more often than ever and social media was flooded with images of multi-coloured skies. It’s doubtful if anyone captured it better than Paul Oldham, whose photos of it included this one beauty over How Hill in Ripon in late September.

3 The crushed Harrogate Porsche

Zenya Dunn, standing next to her partner’s Michael’s Porsche.

This year included more than its fair share of another natural phenomenon — storms. But although lightning never strikes twice, storms do, as a Harrogate couple discovered during Storm Otto in February. A large branch from a tree crashed onto their Porsche. Zenya Dunn, who lives on Granby Road, said her partner Michael woke to go to work, only to find his Porsche beneath a branch. She said it was the second time a branch from the same tree had crashed down on to one of their vehicles and her Range Rover only narrowly escaped this time. The tree was later severely pruned.

4 Cow in Valley Gardens

A genteel Saturday morning in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens was disturbed one summer morning when a cow appeared. Valley Gardens isn’t particularly near any cattle fields and where the cow came from remains a mystery. Police somehow led it to safely.

5 Bizarre cycling message

The felled tree at the junction with Bilton Lane pictured this morning.

Mystery also surrounds the message daubed on a fallen oak tree at the junction of Bilton Lane and Woodfield Road in Bilton. The decaying tree was felled by the council in August and this message appeared the following month. What it means, however — and what cyclists have to do with it — is anyone’s guess.

6 ‘Stonehenge of the north’ opens near Ripon

Photo of the neolithic Thornborough Henges.

A cluster of three Neolithic monuments on a raised plateau above the River Ure at West Tanfield opened to the public in September. Construction firms Tarmac and Lightwater Holdings gifted the site, known as Thornborough Henges, into the legal ownership of Historic England, although it is managed by the charity English Heritage. Historic England describes it as “probably the most important single ancient site between Stonehenge and the Orkney Islands in Scotland”.

7 Knaresborough Tractor Run dazzles again

Knaresborough tractor run

Knaresborough Tractor Run never fails to deliver. It doesn’t change much, but the sight of some 350 vehicles parading around the district, infuriating cars stuck behind them and delighting children lining the streets to watch, has become one of the most fun and fantastic days of the year.

8 Ripon’s streets lined for St Wilfrid’s Procession

The ancient tradition sees an actor on horseback adopt the role of St Wilfrid, Ripon’s patron saint, and ride around the city. The event attracts thousands of people and this year’s procession, which tied in with celebrations on Market Square, created a carnival atmosphere.

Knaresborough duck race cancelled due to high river level

Knaresborough’s traditional New Year’s Day duck race will be held online for the second consecutive year due to high river level.

Knaresborough Cricket Club, which organises the event, posted on social media today that it had acted on safety grounds.

It said the event will instead take place virtually rather than by releasing toy ducks off High Bridge on the River Nidd.

The club said:

“It is with a heavy heart that we need to tell you all that the duck race has been cancelled on New Year’s Day 2024 due to safety reasons.

“The river is very high, and with rain last night and heavy showers forecast our partners on the river think that the river will be much too high to have boats in the river and it will be unsafe for all.

“Thanks to all that have purchase tickets. The race will GO AHEAD ONLINE. A link will be posted on here. The race will start at 2.30pm, or why not join us in person at Knaresborough Cricket Club from 2pm.”

It added that all prized will be delivered and funds will go to the club’s junior cricket section and local disability charity Henshaws.

After a wet few weeks, Environment Agency flood alerts remain in place for the Lower River Ure and the River Nidd at Hunsingore in the Harrogate district.

The latest update for the Ure this morning said:

“Areas most at risk include low-lying land, including agricultural land, and local roads in the areas around Boroughbridge, Aldborough, Bishop Monkton and Aldwark.”

Harrogate care home owner “absolutely delighted” after Grove House conversion approved

The owner of Harrogate’s Grove House has said he is “absolutely delighted” after planners finally gave the go-ahead to convert the grade two listed building into a luxury care facility.

Graeme Lee, chief executive of Springfield Healthcare, bought Grove House for £3 million in 2019 and then spent five years working on plans to transform it into what he calls “the holy grail of care”.

North Yorkshire Council finally granted approval this month, which means the former home of Harrogate mayor, inventor and philanthropist Samson Fox will be converted into a care home consisting of 24 flats. In addition, a 62-bed care home and eight houses providing supported living for over-65s will be built on adjoining land.

Mr Lee, whose company already owns seven care homes, including Harcourt Gardens in Harrogate and the Chocolate Works in York, said:

“I’m absolutely delighted that after a five-year journey we can now bring to life what I believe is going to be the most innovative and unique intergenerational care scheme.

“When we did Chocolate Works I wondered how we would top that. But this will.

“Grove House will be restored to its former glory. The building, which has lots of leaks, will be given some TLC. The grand hall and billiards room will remain. We will bring it back to life and reforge the spirit of Samson Fox.”

Mr Lee admitted there were doubts about whether the scheme would go ahead because of the length of the planning process. He added the cost had risen from £15 million to £20 million due to inflation and the cost of living increase.

An artist’s impression of part of the new care facility.

An aerial view showing Grove House opposite the fire station on Skipton Road.

Mr Lee, who lives in Harrogate, said he hoped to appoint a contractor — probably Simpsons of York, which undertook Harcourt Gardens and the Chocolate Works — by spring and then begin work in summer. He added the scheme would be built in phases, with a planned opening date of summer 2026.

The six-acre site, which has been unused for years, will host an annual community day and be used widely by pupils at nearby Grove Road Community Primary School.Children will hold lessons on site and build relationships with residents with dementia to make the project a pioneering multi-generational scheme, Me Lee said.

They will also be able to track wildlife such as foxes and badgers on site through hidden cameras and use a new wildlife pond for study.

Read more:

Nearly 1,000 people to see out 2023 in Ripon Runners 10k

About 900 people will see out the year by taking part in Ripon Runners‘ Jolly Holly Jog 10k tomorrow.

The event, which is being held for the 35th time, is the club’s biggest of the year.

Usually held on a Sunday between Christmas and New Year, it attracts a mixture of seasoned club athletes and casual joggers.

Race director Anneke Imeson said:

“Whether you’re aiming for a personal best or just want to have a scenic jog out, it’s a fab time of year to run off the Christmas excess and prepare for the forthcoming New Year festivities.

“We’re extremely lucky as a club to have the support of the National Trust who are delighted every year to welcome so many runners to run around their stunning deer park as part of our 10k course.”

Starting at Hell Wath Nature Reserve, runners complete a multi-terrain loop through Mackershaw Woods and Studley Royal Deer Park, passing Monty’s bench, which is named in memory of Ripon Runners’ club co-founder and former club president. They then return via Mackershaw with a short section through Hell Wath woods, before approaching the finish line.

The race fills up fast and this year’s 925 capacity has been reached.

The event raises funds for Upper Nidderdale Food Bank, which is based at St Cuthberts’ Church in Pateley Bridge and entrants are offered the chance to plant a tree. Over 400 saplings were planted last year.

Ripon Runners, which was founded in 1985, hosts various races throughout the year including the Burn Valley Half Marathon, which is a road event in Masham, the Ripon 10 Mile around Studley’s seven bridges, The Round Ripon Ultra, which is a 35-mile solo or team event and the festive Jolly Holly Jog 10k.

Ms Imeson said:

“We’re especially pleased this year as in May we sadly had to cancel our Ripon 10 event which had struggled to get back to regular race numbers post-covid. Many local races suffered and those that did go ahead saw significantly reduced numbers with increased expenses. That said it’s fantastic to see such a high entry this Christmas.

“Without such a positive response from Ripon Runners who step up to marshal, such a hugely successful race would not be possible, so huge kudos to our own club members.”