John Plummer, Author at The Stray Ferret

Council has pumped almost 3,000 tonnes of grout into Ripon void

North Yorkshire Council has revealed it has pumped almost 3,000 tonnes of grout into a void underneath Ripon leisure centre as part of ground stabilisation works that began last summer and have cost £3.4 million to date.

The Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre opened in March 2022 but whilst the pool is in use, plans for a gym at the previously built leisure centre on the same site were delayed after an underground void was discovered.

This prompted an investigation by engineering firm Stantec, which found evidence of multiple voids and “significantly weak” areas of ground beneath the older half of the leisure centre that was built in 1995.

It warned that not carrying out remedial repairs would be “unacceptable from a public safety perspective”.

Ripon is susceptible to voids and sinkholes because it lies on a layer of water-soluble rock called gypsum.

North Yorkshire Council began works to stabilise the ground last summer by pumping it with grout.

A council spokesperson said that as of this month, 2,810 tonnes of grout has been used during the works, costing £3.4m.

They were unable to say exactly when the work will finish, only that it would be this year.

It means a temporary gym costing £300,000 that was erected in the leisure centre’s car park last year will remain open, despite the council previously insisting it would be removed by March 2024.

Retired chartered engineer Stanley Mackintosh campaigned against the site being used for the leisure centre due to the gypsum issues.

Mr Mackintosh told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the ground stabilisation works has become a literal example of a “sunk cost fallacy” for the council. He said he also has concerns about its environmental impact.

He said:

“The works are essentially ineffective and structurally dangerous, but I’m also concerned about the related release of thousands of tonnes of CO2 into our atmosphere during that process.”

The topic of the leisure centre was raised at a recent mayoral hustings event held by Zero Carbon Harrogate.

Independent candidate Keith Tordoff described the works as resulting from “gross incompetence” by leaders at the now defunct Harrogate Borough Council, which chose the site, and North Yorkshire Council.

He said:

“They knew about the sinkholes around Ripon and were advised about it. It’s a disaster and typical of the council. They are pumping our money into it.”

Kerry Metcalfe, the council’s assistant director for property, said:

“The ground stabilisation work underway involves pumping grout into voids under the ground. These works are expected to be completed later this year and are necessary to make the leisure centre building safe so that it can be refurbished and re-opened for public use.

“The cost for this work so far is £3.4m. Refurbishment work to the leisure centre was paused when the need for ground remediation work was identified and will therefore be finished after completion of the ground stabilisation works.

“The nature of the work is complex and is under constant review, reopening dates will be announced when they are confirmed.”

Cycle lanes scrapped and new traffic measures proposed for Harrogate’s Victoria Avenue

North Yorkshire Council has scrapped plans to create cycle lanes on Harrogate’s Victoria Avenue.

The council today announced it was holding a month-long consultation on proposals to change the wide avenue where the library is located.

The proposals include making the junction with Belford Road left-turn only and measures to prevent drivers illegally travelling straight ahead from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue.

The consultation will focus purely on pedestrians and motorists — even though the council had identified Victoria Avenue as a “priority route” for cycling and announced last year it intended to create segregated cycle lanes 1.5 metres wide and buffer zones on both sides of the avenue.

A letter to residents announcing the consultation said:

“Unfortunately budgetary constraints mean that the previously envisaged cycle lanes cannot be included within this initial phase of this Victoria Avenue scheme.

“Following advice from Active Travel England, we have therefore concentrated on improvements for pedestrians and improvements to the public realm.”

The new proposals include:

Signalisation of the pedestrian crossing at the junction Victoria Avenue and Station Parade to add a pedestrian phase, upgrade of the existing uncontrolled crossing at the junction of Victoria Avenue and West Park to a signalised pedestrian crossing
Addition of tactile paving across all side roads
A new bus stop outside the United Reformed Church and associated paving upgrades
Relocation of the existing staggered zebra crossing and introduction of an in-line zebra crossing
Removing some parking bays to facilitate access to the new bus stop
Making the junction with Belford Road “Left Turn Only”
Improvements to existing paving and benches
Improved decorative street and footway lighting
New ticket machines for kerb side parking bays
Layout changes to prevent vehicles from making illegal straight ahead movement from Beech Grove to Victoria Avenue.

It is hoped the work will take place in autumn this year.

Victoria Avenue

Victoria Avenue was regarded as a key part of plans to create a joined-up, off-road cycling route from the train and bus stations to Cardale Park.

But with the second phase of the Otley Road cycleway abandoned, along with traffic calming measures on Beech Grove, today’s news is another blow to those campaigning for a greener town centre better suited to cycling.

Active Travel England, the government body that promotes walking and cycling, awarded the council funding to deliver a scheme on Victoria Avenue in November 2020.

Today’s announcement said “design development work has been ongoing” since then.

The letter to residents said:

“The works proposed support North Yorkshire Council’s desire and vision to increase active travel in and around Harrogate town centre by proposing a number of measures to increase pedestrian safety as well as improved bus provision.

“Whilst unfortunately is it not possible to include the desired cycle lanes within this proposed scheme, the proposed works will not prevent the installation of the cycle lanes in the future, and this will be the ambition within a future funding bid. North Yorkshire Council is committed to delivering a cycle scheme on Victoria Avenue.

Consultation on the proposals ends on May 12. As part of this, an engagement session will take place from 5pm to 7pm on Tuesday, May 7 at the council office. The address is Stray Room, St Luke’s Mount, Harrogate HG1 2AE.

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

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

Harrogate house fire family launches crowdfunding appeal

A Harrogate family whose home was devastated by fire has launched a crowdfunding appeal.

Mikey Donald said his parents’ home insurance had lapsed a month before Friday’s fire, which ripped through the garage and house on Avenue Close in Starbeck.

You can read about the incident here.

In his appeal post, Mr Donald posted photos showing the impact of the fire and said he was “reaching out for support during one of the toughest times my family has faced”.

The car and garage were ruined by fire.

The bedroom

He said his dad Mike Donald, 58, was disposing of paperwork when fire broke out:

“A sudden gust of wind sparked a fire that engulfed our garage and home. Miraculously, no one was harmed, but the flames ravaged everything we held dear, leaving behind only memories amidst the ashes.

“To add to the hardship, we learned that our insurance had lapsed just a month before the incident, leaving us vulnerable and without coverage. Now, we’re faced with the daunting task of rebuilding our home from scratch, a journey filled with uncertainty and challenges.”

Mr Donald said his father’s partner Rhona Andrew, 57, was an NHS nurse who had “devoted her life to caring for others” and was awaiting kidney and pancreas transplants due to declining health.

He added his father, a joiner, was “always lending a helping hand in our Starbeck community”.

Mr Donald said:

“Your kindness and support mean everything to us during this dark chapter. Every contribution, no matter the size, will directly aid my dad in rebuilding our family’s home and restoring hope in our hearts. Thank you, from the depths of our souls, for considering to stand by us in our time of need.”

More than 120 people had donated a total of around £2,500 by last night. You can donate here

New Clotherholme plans heighten fears for Ripon’s military heritage

The organisation fighting to save Ripon’s military heritage from being bulldozed has said it is “hugely disappointed” about updated plans for the 1,300-home Clotherholme housing scheme.

Government agencies Homes England and the Defence infrastructure Organisation provided the update in a planning report published on North Yorkshire Council’s website last week.

The homes will be built at the barracks site which contains internationally significant military structures, including huts constructed in 1939 when Neville Chamberlain’s government prepared for war with Germany and training bridges that influenced global warfare.

The demolition training bridge. Pic: Ripon Military Heritage Trust

The report pledged to “work with the Ripon Military Heritage Trust on a heritage strategy which will balance the urgent need for new homes for local people with a strategy for preserving and recording the unique history and heritage of the barracks”.

But the trust, which has launched a website as part of a campaign to preserve key aspects of the site, fears the agencies have shown little desire to co-operate since Harrogate Borough Council granted planning permission in February last year and their pledges remain vague and opaque.

Trust chairman Guy Wilson said:

“We are hugely disappointed that after 15 months of engagement with Homes England, the current outline planning application lacks any provision for the preservation of even a single example of the rare and unique huts at Deverell Barracks.

“Neither has any land been allocated to allow for the relocation and re-use of these heritage assets. Both were specific requests that the Harrogate Borough Council planning committee called for in February 2023.

“It has sadly become apparent that none of the parties to this development has any real interest in preserving the heritage of the site and none has made any attempt to work constructively with us. All they are interested in is appearing to do enough to get their present plans passed without alteration, in which case the result will be that significant heritage assets will be lost and this we very much regret.”

The planning update said the housing scheme will preserve the main military roads and names as well as provide information signs.

How the site will look. Pic: Homes England

It also talks about “exploring ways to integrate a walking tour, virtual tour or to develop other forms of public exhibition at the site”.

One of the conditions of planning consent was to allocate £100,000 to the trust to conduct a feasibility study on preserving and retaining some of the existing military buildings on the site. But progress since then has been limited.

Mr Wilson said:

“Unfortunately, we are sceptical about their commitment to developing a feasibility study, as after 15 months of engagement with Homes England there has been no proper engagement with the real issues involved in preserving the heritage.

“During that period work has begun on producing an options appraisal; all the proposals put forward by the trust have been ignored and they have refused to allow the process to be based on a clear understanding of the assets’ heritage significance.”

He added:

“Where is the commitment to assess significance? Where is the list of assets to be preserved? Where is the agreement to transfer ownership of assets required? Where is the commitment to allocate the necessary land to relocate assets? Where is the commitment to build into the development timescale the reality of fund-raising?

“Instead of work on these crucial issues we have been stonewalled at every turn by all parties. Their heritage strategy is aimed at ticking boxes and getting approvals not at preserving the heritage.”

Readers’ Letters: ‘Harrogate’s roads are deteriorating before our eyes’

Readers’ Letters is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This letter follows news of the Otley Road cycleway in Harrogate being extended.

I use a mobility scooter to go up the pavements to the Co-op.

The pavements are a disgrace – as are the so-called dropped kerbs.

It improves a bit half-way up the road on the cycleway, but I have never actually seen a cyclist on the existing cycleway. Why? Because it’s dangerous and confusing!

The section I use has corrugated concrete which is a nightmare to cross. People with prams and elderly pedestrians also have issues.

I have contacted councillor Keane Duncan several times about the pavements, and the pedestrian crossing on Otley Road near the Prince of Wales roundabout. He has replied at one stage about the crossing. But he, and others from Highways, ignore my offer of going out with me on my scooter to let them see the state of pavements. They could use my scooter to see just how difficult it is.

Regarding his idea of buying The Grand Hotel, in Scarborough… I am speechless.

It is a beautiful historic building but does not warrant cllr Duncan spending tax payers’ money on it. Pavements and potholes should be a priority.

Ann Townson, Harrogate

Harrogate’s roads are deteriorating before our eyes…

On the topic of Harrogate roads, this letter bemoans the state of them. Few topics boil our readers’ blood more than potholes, gullies and poor road conditions.

Why, oh, why are our roads disintegrating before our eyes?

Surely the council should be thoroughly embarrassed, considering we live in a town that promotes cycling.

They waste money on harebrained schemes, such as the Gateway, but cannot plan road replacements.

And don’t even get me going about road gully maintenance.

Phil Brown, Harrogate

Ripon is becoming a ‘laughingstock’ with the number of construction projects

This letter responds to several potential and ongoing construction projects in Ripon, including the leisure centre, housing developments and the Cathedral annexe saga.

Ripon is becoming a laughing stock with the number of issues relating to construction projects.

Firstly, the farce of a leisure centre being built on totally unsuitable land.

Then there is the ridiculous state of the road around the Market Square and the housing development built on greenbelt land at the top of South Grange Road.

And now the absolute debacle of the Cathedral annexe.

It is an absolute joke, are the powers that be able to plan, or deliver, a construction project with any level of professionalism?

Tony Sidwell, Ripon

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

The Harrogate hospital worker bringing cheer for 50 years

Graham Cloake has been a friendly face at Harrogate Hospital for half a century.

As he marks 50 years as a porter and more recently a post room worker, Graham is one of countless behind-the-scenes employees who hold the fabric of the hospital together. And he’s always done it with a listening ear, a smile and a joke.

With an ethos of treating everyone as he would a family member, not to mention a talent for witty poems and joke-telling, Graham has brightened the days of thousands of staff, patients and their families during his amazing five decades of service at the hospital.

It’s not a role he’d imagined when he left Granby High School aged 15 back in July 1967.

He joined the West Yorkshire Road Car Company repairing buses before moving on to a job as a panel beater and sprayer with a local garage. By the age of 21, he was still panel beating while also working at the Intercon nightclub in the basement of Copthall Towers (now The Exchange) on Station Parade.

And it was at the Intercon one night in December 1973 that he got chatting about nursing to a group of nurses on their Christmas party. They encouraged him to talk to the hospital’s head of teaching, Mrs Broughton, who invited him for a chat.

It didn’t quite go as planned. Graham recalls:

“I asked about nursing at first and Mrs Broughton said, ‘I see you’ve got some tattoos on your arms. I don’t think patients need to see tattoos.’ She said there were lots of other opportunities, and would I consider being a porter as they do a wonderful job.”

The early days

He started at the old Harrogate General Hospital on February 4, 1974. His first duties were on the cleaning and domestic side before he was shown the ropes by the head porter, Ernest Clark. His role involved taking patients between the theatres, wards and casualty, as well as transporting items to and from the laundry and sterile services at Scotton Banks Hospital. He says:

“I was taught not just what to do but how to care about people. I didn’t know before I started the job that I was that caring person, but it just seemed right.

“I’ve always had the approach of not mollycoddling patients but I still look after them. If I know they are going for a big operation, I try to look on the bright side. Some people are frightened and like to hold your hand when they are going to theatre.”

Graham Cloake has worked at Harrogate Hospital for 50 years

Left: Graham in 1981 at a charity jump for the Special Care Baby Unit and Children’s Ward. Right: Graham with his portering colleagues in the 1980s. From left are Cyril Jones, Michael Hodgson, Chris Sadler and Graham.

When Graham started his job, the current Harrogate District Hospital was under construction, the first phase of which would open in January 1975 with staff gradually transferring over during the following years. Graham moved there in 1979. He says:

“It was totally different to the old hospital but people were friendly. Everyone was an equal – the doctors, nurses and cleaners were so friendly. I used to go drinking with the doctors and they were all good close friends. I was even the best man for Dr Graham Garrod at his wedding in 1979.”

A lifetime at the hospital

Graham’s work at the hospital has crossed over into other areas of his life, too. He met his late first wife, Sally, when she was working in the catering department and they went on to have two children. He has known his present wife, Debra, whom he married in 2020, since she started working at the hospital in 1976.

Graham today with his wife Debra.

He ended up taking his bus driving licence in 1986 after ambulance driver Stan Beer recognised his caring nature and asked if he would be interested in taking elderly people out on day trips from some of the local nursing homes.

His bus driving would later open up other opportunities for him. He started coach driving at the weekends when he was not working at the hospital, and this led to a six-month stint with a local company driving qualified East Germans who were looking for work from Berlin to Harrogate and back after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. He later also worked as a school bus driver for Abbots of Leeming.

Now 71, Graham took semi-retirement when he reached 60 and in recent years has worked in the hospital’s post room. He continues to work beyond retirement age because he enjoys making a positive difference to peoples’ lives.

Reflecting on the many changes over his five decades at the hospital, he thinks the respect and close working relationships between the ‘back-room’ workers and managers has been lost under the pressure of the work and the lack of staff. He’s had little acknowledgement from the hospital of his 50 years’ service. He says:

“It’s changed now, everyone is so stressed out. There’s not enough staff these days and a lot of pressure. In the early days, I was always talking to people. Now, you don’t get the chance so much. So many people I knew have retired now. But the job keeps me happy; I still enjoy it.

“I still love trying to cheer people up. Most of my jokes are ad lib, and I started writing poems for some of the departments. They can have a bit of wit in them. I wrote one recently for Orthotics and they’ve put theirs on the wall.”

Yemi’s Food Stories: one year of celebrating Yorkshire’s food

Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in the 2022 series of BBC TV’s Masterchef competition.

Every Saturday Yemi writes on the Stray Ferret about her love of the area’s food and shares cooking tips – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.

Yemi’s Food Stories was a year-old last week and it’s a perfect time to reflect on my journey since pitching the idea for a food column.

There have been many highlights over the past year, and I have been privileged to meet amazing chefs and independent food retailers. I have loved dining out and writing about my experiences and enjoyed sharing my recipes and stories.

Readers have been supportive with many of you sending in recommendations of places to go, pointing out the odd mistake and giving feedback that have made me a better writer. Some readers, like Ann Townson, have become friends and others have dropped my name when visiting places to encourage the food retailers.

A fruity entrement made by @babnaspatisserie to celebrate the anniversary milestone

I want to take this moment to appreciate everyone of you for coming along with me on this journey and taking time to read my posts.

After taking part in MasterChefUK 2022 competition, where I finished in the top six as a semi-finalist, I wanted to give back by recognising those behind the scenes of our food and drink: from farmers, producers to retailers by championing their produces, products and events.

More festivals

Despite having lived in Harrogate for over ten years, I never made it to the Great Yorkshire Show until last year when I was covering the event for my food column. This was a brilliant opportunity to meet those I wanted to write about, and I can’t wait to see them again this year and discover new products.

This year, I will be doing a chef demonstration on the main GYS cooking stage and covering the event.

A standout cauliflower dish

I visited many food festivals including the RHS Festival of Flavours, Harrogate, Wetherby, Ripley and Yorkshire Dales where I did food demos and covered the events.

This year I am going further afield to East Anglian Game & Country Fair, Manchester food festivals and Mountainview food and wellness festival at Kilkenny in Ireland so I will be bringing you any fabulous food and product finds.

More experiences

Some of my highlights stand out for reasons over and above the food and drink. For the scenery and scenic drives, the Himalayan Gardens, Bar & Restaurant EightyEight at Grantley Hall and Cocoa Joe’s in Boroughbridge were memorable.

For behind the scenes, visiting Rudding Park Kitchen Garden, baking at Bettys Cookery school and spending time with Chef Mehdi Boukemach at Fodders were fun and educational.

A dessert made by Samira Effa of Bar & Restaurant EightyEight

Some places have become the heart of the community where great food, drinks and friendly faces are waiting for you; visiting Folk Coffee House along Leeds Road was fantastic and felt like hanging out at a friend’s place.

More fine dining

For fine dining and exceptional classical cookery, Bar & Restaurant Eighty-Eight at Grantley Hall was a definite highlight for me along with Paradise Café at Daleside nursery, Kendell’s Bistro Leeds and Rhubarb Harrogate. Check out Ake & Humphris along Leeds Road for excellent wine selections and expert advice.

For great experiences and wonderful gifts ideas for your ‘foodies’, Yorkshire Appetite Food Tours, Yolk Farm & Minskip Farm shop and a tour of Ellers Farm Distilleries with a tasting of stunning cocktails are perfect.

Dining at Rhubarb

The Afghan and Syrian kitchen experiences are fantastic values and the perfect way to learn about new cultures and food whilst listening to people’s stories.

I had a fantastic brunch at the Hideaway in Boroughbridge where chef Ben Keightley is delighting the locals who would actually like to keep the place hidden in plain sight – but their secret is out, and we can all enjoy the brunch experience.

More future stars

Meeting cake designer, Kean Ong from Blossom Tree Cake Company was special. From the sublime flavours of cake, the intricate handmade flowers to their timeless and elegant designs, I can see why they are chosen by many couples.

At Harrogate Ladies College

Speaking of future stars, spending the day mentoring some students at Harrogate ladies College was a brilliant experience.

More to come…

There is more to come in this new year, so please get in touch if you want me to check out your restaurant, shop, coffee house, products, produces or events. Keep sending in your recommendations and thank you for your continued support.

Read more:

Editor’s Pick of the Week: Tim Stedman returns, a new mayor awaits and Ripon prepares for 1,300 homes

No corner of the Harrogate district has been immune to new housing in recent years but the sheer scale of the 1,300-home Clotherholme development will alter Ripon forever.

Planning approval was passed by a whisker last year. Since then, the government agencies behind the scheme have said little so this week’s planning update contained some key insights.

There are now just five days until North Yorkshire elects its first mayor. Confused? Read senior reporter Calvin Robinson’s article about the main manifesto differences and look for a recap this weekend of his interviews with all six candidates. We will provide live coverage at the count in Harrogate on Friday.

There are 241 days to Christmas, but Harrogate received one of the best possible festive presents this week with the news that Tim Stedman will return to the town for his 24th panto season. Tim is so loved he would have probably been elected mayor if he’d stood — or at least livened up the sometimes tedious hustings.

Contrary to appearance, Tim is well into his 50s and the slapstick tomfoolery of a lengthy panto, often twice a day, must be exhausting. We should treasure him while we can.

Sadly his long-term double act partner Howard Chadwick won’t be back for what is always a seasonal joy, whatever your age.

Pateley Bridge Cemetery. Picture: Bill Boaden.

Finally, there can be few better places to rest for eternity than Pateley Bridge Cemetery. Look at that view. So plans to create hundreds of new plots this week will be welcomed by Nidderdale folk. The plans even cater for new natural burial sites.

Fairfax Wellbeing Hub set for £278,000 upgrade

Fairfax Wellbeing Hub in Harrogate is in line for a major upgrade.

North Yorkshire Council has approved awarding a contract worth £278,397 to Nottingham firm Universal Civils & Build Ltd to refurbish the building.

The hub is run by council-controlled leisure company Brimhams Active. Its main hall is used for sports such as basketball, netball, indoor tennis and badminton.

The venue on Fairfax Avenue also hosts exercise classes.

Stuart Wilmslow, head of operations at Brimhams, said:

“The improvement work will partially remodel the interior of this community centre to provide a new exercise area, accessible toilet, improved reception and office.

“The remodel will allow the centre to increase opportunities for our community. Working with partners, including the NHS, we will be able to increase our delivery of specialist programmes for people living with long term health conditions, in a space that is local, welcoming, and accessible.”

The main hall

Mr Wilmslow added the centre has been running at capacity for several years, adding:

“So the introduction of an additional exercise space will allow us to impact more people, allowing them to manage their condition, living well for longer.”

According to the council’s website, the scheme work on site is expected to begin next month and last three months but Mr Wilmslow said:

“We are waiting for a start date on site.”

‘I’ve never seen smoke like it’ — neighbours react to Harrogate house fire

Neighbours have spoken of their shock at the scale of a fire today that ravaged a home in Harrogate and forced a nearby nursery to evacuate.

Firefighters from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Wetherby and Moortown rushed to Avenue Close, off Starbeck High Street, at 9.52am, as reported by the Stray Ferret.

The occupants escaped unhurt but the fire, which is believed to have started in a garage, caused major damage to the two-storey property. However, the fire crews prevented the flames from spreading to an adjoining property.

Firefighters at the scene.

About 60 children from the nursery Nature’s Little Learners, which is also on Avenue Close, were evacuated.

Owner Sam Williams said:

“We followed our fire procedure as soon as we noticed the smoke. The smoke then set off our fire alarm.”

She said everyone had to stay outside for five to 10 minutes until it was deemed safe to return. The nursery had to keep its doors and windows closed to escape the impact of thick smoke.

Lorraine Barnett, who lives in the area, said her three-year-old grandson alerted her to the incident. Ms Barnett added:

“I’ve never seen such big flames. The smoke was up to the roof. Then we heard this loud banging and crashing. Black smoke was coming out for ages.”

Another woman, whose home on High Street is close to the affected property and asked not to be named, said:

“I was in the kitchen and saw the garage was on fire. There was then thick black smoke and flames — it must have happened so quickly. I’ve never seen smoke like it. I called the fire brigade but it had already been alerted by the methodist church.”

Here are two videos taken at the scene, showing the scale of the fire.