John Plummer, Author at The Stray Ferret

Moped youths arrested in Knaresborough

Four youths are being investigated for riding a stolen moped, traffic offences and possession with the intent to supply drugs.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today, a police community support officer spotted three youths riding a moped without helmets in Knaresborough yesterday (Sunday, April 7).

It added five youths were subsequently arrested following “police activity” and four are now under investigation.

The statement added:

“House-to-house enquiries were carried out in the Stockwell area yesterday, however any CCTV footage would assist with the investigation.

“If you were in the Stockwell and surrounding areas yesterday between 3.30pm and 5pm please check any CCTV or ring doorbell-type CCTV for a red Yamaha moped and a group of youths.

“If you have footage or any information please contact NYP on 101 quoting reference 12240060502.”

Brew York buys The Mitre pub at Knaresborough

Brew York has acquired The Mitre in Knaresborough.

It is one of three venues taken over by the independent brewery via an agreement with Market Town Taverns.

Brew York, which was founded in 2016 on Walmgate in York by Wayne Smith and Lee Grabham, has also acquired the Horse & Farrier in Otley and Coopers Bar and Brasserie in Guiseley.

The Mitre opened in 1923 but its future had been uncertain since it closed last year.

The pub, which is next to Knaresborough’s grade two listed train station, has a large central bar, function room, outdoor seating area and rooms to let.

According to a statement issued today, the plan is to take over all three venues this month with no significant changes,

Brew York beers will become the bar offer – across traditional hand-pull cask and keg, including lager – and the street food offer that has been a formula across existing Brew York venues will be introduced.

The Mitre

All Brew York beers are brewed in York either at the original brewery on Walmgate or at the main production facility in Osbaldwick, so the three venues will be a showcase of Yorkshire beer.

Towards the end of 2023 Brew York recruited John Hoe as bar operations director to lead an expansion programme.

As part of this, the existing four Brew York bars in York (Walmgate and Osbaldwick), Pocklington, and Leeds city centre have had their opening times extended.

Brew York managing director Wayne Smith said:

“We’ve now developed four solid Brew York venues that all offer a dynamic craft beer experience and we’ve realised a key opportunity to further strengthen and grow the business in this area.”

Business finance group Fresh Thinking Advisory advised on the deal.

Police officer suspended after violent incident in Harrogate district

A police officer has been suspended after an arrest turned violent in the Harrogate district.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement yesterday (April 7) it had referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct “following concerns raised about the officers’ use of force”.

The incident happened in the Tockwith area on January 26 this year. Tockwith is between Knaresborough and York on the edge of the Harrogate district.

Police received a report of a road traffic collision. The statement added:

“Officers attended, and arrested a man in his 40s in connection with the incident.

“The man became violent towards officers, who used force to restrain and arrest him. He was taken to custody, and subsequently released on bail while enquiries continue.

“Following concerns raised about the officers’ use of force, the incident was referred voluntarily by North Yorkshire Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who are investigating the circumstances.

“Following a review, one officer was subsequently suspended from duty.”

The IOPC is a non-departmental public body which investigates the most serious complaints about conduct matters involving police.

The statement concluded:

“We want to reassure our communities that we take concerns of this nature very seriously, and will continue to work closely with the IOPC.”

The IOPC said in December last year a senior North Yorkshire Police officer had been suspended and was under criminal investigation “for the potential offences of misconduct in public office, improper exercise of police powers and intent to pervert the course of justice”.

Readers’ Letters: Harrogate ‘feels like Narnia’ compared to where I’m from

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 is in response to two stories. The first being about recent vandalism on Harrogate’s Parliament Street, which prompted a letter from a reader feeling ashamed of the town’s appearance.

Vandalism anywhere is wrong. I can’t understand why the Parliament Street building was vandalised and it makes me annoyed.

I moved here from Bradford in December 2022. Where I used to live, there was constant noise from balaclava-wearing youths riding quad bikes or off road bikes with no lights or reg plates and boy racers driving their cars down my road like it was a racetrack.

Bradford and Harrogate are like chalk and cheese when compared. I felt like I was in Narnia. The trees on the Stray were lit at night and not just for Christmas. Everywhere I walked I was in awe, and still am, of the magnificent buildings, the history and the open green spaces.

In addition, the ever changing flower displays; the shopping and hospitality choices; Harry’s walking tours and the events organised by the Harrogate BID and Harrogate International – and so much more – are brilliant.

I take pride in Harrogate, and I wasn’t even born here. I wonder how many residents, whether born and bred here, or incomers like me, either take it all for granted or don’t even notice the great things that surround them. If only they were to take their eyes off their mobiles for a minute and look up.

I can appreciate that the roads are not paved in gold (I am not going to rant about the potholes) and not everything is wonderful, like anti-social behaviour, county line drug dealing, homeless and street beggars.

I know these issues can be seen in towns and cities throughout the UK, but I find it sad knowing and seeing how much wealth there is in some areas of Harrogate and yet so much poverty in other areas. More social affordable housing needs to be developed and not just another conversion of a former office building.

Richard Coulter, Harrogate

Harrogate’s overflowing bins give a ‘dire impression’ of the town

The following two letters are in response to a story published this week about overflowing bins in Valley Gardens. North Yorkshire Council denied the claims, but the images were pretty damning.

How indescribably irritating it is to hear that as far as the council are concerned “there are no reports of bins overflowing”.

Frankly, it’s a routine sight in Harrogate, despite the new bins being installed. People are trying their level best to dispose of waste appropriately, but the number of times I’ve seen bins crammed to the hilt is too often to count. It’s now the norm, not the exception.

At the risk of sounding vicious… your staff are clearly lying. Because the fact of the matter remains that we constantly see bins overflowing in and around the town. It creates a dire impression and clearly indicates whatever measures are in situ are wholly inadequate.

Don’t rely on staff to report their own efficacy – go out and see the mess for yourself!

Mark Fuller, Harrogate

I have just read the article concerning rubbish bins in Valley Gardens. We are currently in Japan where there are no litter bins and no litter.

Everyone takes their litter home for disposal. We are simply a dirty and uncaring people.

Yes, the bins should be larger and emptied more frequently but we need to take some responsibility for our lovely town and gardens.

Cheryl Johnston, Harrogate

Perhaps the Dean should focus on Ripon residents – rather than one-day tourists

This letter is in response to the ongoing Ripon Cathedral annexe saga. The Stray Ferret has covered the topic extensively.

What’s wrong with the present toilet facilities which are a few yards away from the cathedral that would benefit from a smartening-up? The Dean appears to be the only person who is embarrassed about the cathedrals facilities that appear to have been accepted by most Ripon people for many years.

And if there is a concern with the running costs of the cathedral, why don’t they make an entrance charge as does York Minster?

A previous knowledgeable correspondent asked how do they expect to cover the overheads of the new annexe – which are bound to be very large.

Why wasn’t the Old Deanery, which is right on the doorstep and stood empty for many years, considered for the cathedrals expansion? It is such a magnificent building inside and out, and now leased as a restaurant.

Maybe it should have been time to give up when Historic England refused to back the south-side proposal for the new annexe – rather than ruin Minster Gardens with a huge carbuncle. It is beautiful, restful area with mature trees.

Rather than gaining funding from extra tourism from people who will be here one day and gone the next, maybe the Dean should be more concerned about looking after Ripon‘s city and its people, and invest its £8 million into more rewarding projects.

Gordon Lund, Sawley

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.

Tree falls on Harrogate road as strong winds continue

A tree crashed down on Fulwith Mill Lane in Harrogate today as strong winds continued to affect the district.

Yesterday’s warmest day of the year so far was accompanied by Storm Kathleen.

Although the worst of the winds hit Scotland, there was widespread disruption in England as flights were cancelled at Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham.

The Harrogate district has been relatively unscathed and winds are expected to abate this afternoon.

Besides the fallen tree, Little Bird Markets cancelled artisan markets in Knaresborough yesterday and Harrogate today because of the weather.

Further gusts of over 40mph are forecast on Tuesday afternoon.

Photo: The tree blocking Fulwith Mill Lane at about noon today (April 7).

Town centre living: a welcome trend for Harrogate?

Barely a month passes without a new planning application to create flats in Harrogate town centre.

This week we reported on plans to turn the offices on the first, second and third floors of 5 Cambridge Road into three flats.

Planning permission has been previously granted to create flats in buildings that used to host the Kings Club strip club and the main post office, among others. And, in a few weeks, the former River Island unit on Cambridge Street, will open as Trinity House, a 14-flat development incorporating retail units. It’s hard to think of a more central location.

Town centres are changing from places to shop to places to live — and Harrogate appears to be at the forefront of the trend. Is this good or bad, and what challenges does it present?

The former Kings Club

The Stray Ferret sat down this week with Tariq Shah, chief executive of Vigo Group, the property developer behind Trinity House, and Matthew Chapman, chief executive of Harrogate Business Improvement District, to discuss the trend and whether it posed a threat to retail.

Mr Shah, whose company is based in Doncaster, said Harrogate was particularly attractive to developers because it was seen as a desirable place to live and has good transport connections, which lessened the need for cars in town centres.

He said Harrogate had reasonable short-term accommodation for tourists and conference centre delegates but a shortage of town centre flats for living, adding:

“Harrogate is a town centre in transition. We are seeing more people from outside Harrogate wanting to come here.

“Trinity House has attracted more interest than any other scheme we have done. We would like to do more here.”

Cambridge Street

Trinity House flats will be marketed from £300,000 and although a nice town centre pad might suit some people, what impact will it have on retailers and on people who live here who regard the town centre predominantly as somewhere to shop?

The BID is funded by town centre businesses but Mr Chapman is not opposed to the change.

He said:

“A collaborative approach with landlords and developers is key. If people are willing to put something back into the community then we welcome it. Where I struggle is if buildings are owned by offshore investors, like Debenhams.

“Every town has probably had too much retail space for a long time. It’s an emerging trend but there needs to be a long-term vision for the town centre.”

Besides the 14 upper floor flats, Trinity House includes the existing Body Care shop and has additional room for a storage facility or small dance or yoga studio, as well as a kiosk space for a start-up business wanting a town centre presence.

Mr Shah said his company had agreed to improve lighting at the rear of the building, put up security cameras and create an internal bin storage area to improve safety and appearance and reduce the risk of vermin and fire. He said these were examples of the firm’s commitment to town centre improvement as well as profit.

He added having more people milling around at night added to the vibrancy and created “natural surveillance” at night in empty town centre streets where some people feel unsafe.

Mr Chapman said many of the units being converted to flats were first and second floor offices that had been unused for years, adding:

“If you have spaces that people live in and take pride in, it has to be better than having them crumble away.”

Despite his overall positivity, Mr Chapman said there was probably a ceiling on the trend and there were dangers. For example, he said converting ground floor retail units on the fully occupied James Street to flats “would be seen as a threat”.

Mr Chapman said the system of determining business rates needed reviewing to adapt to the trend, which he said would see an increasing shift towards “experiential activities” in town centres. He added:

“Whether it’s a cool independent retailer or axe throwing, people will want to experience something in town centres.

“Harrogate needs to be forward thinking and unique.”

Health services are being made available in Barnsley town centre.

So what will Harrogate town centre look like in 10 or 20 years?

Mr Shah said besides a more diverse mixture of retail and living, there would be more short-term leases, more leisure opportunities due to the higher population, more food halls and even community healthcare facilities. He cited Barnsley Council’s decision to work with partners to create a health and wellbeing hub in the Alhambra Shopping Centre as an example of how health managers will increasingly take services into towns.

He said:

“When it comes to long-term planning and thinking about these issues on a local level it’s important that a variety of partners are involved in these discussions and that is also a real strength of Harrogate, as a number of organisations are already open to having these conversations about how we can reimagine town centre usage.

“It’s not about drastically changing what is here but everyone working together with what we already have to bring clear economic and social benefits and secure our town centre for the next 30 years and beyond.”

By-election candidates support Harrogate active travel proposals

Candidates standing in next week’s Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone by-election have backed proposed new measures to encourage walking and cycling in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Council is consulting on plans to introduce crossings at the junctions of Slingsby Walk and Oatlands Drive Slingsby Walk and Wetherby Road.

It hopes the move will encourage fewer journeys by car in a part of town densely populated by schoolchildren.

The Stray Ferret asked the five candidates standing in Thursday’s by-election for a seat on North Yorkshire Council for their views on the proposal.

Liberal Democrat candidate Andrew Timothy, who will be defending the seat for the Lib Dems following Pat Marsh’s resignation in February, was the only one not to respond.

The Conservative, Labour, Green and Reform UK candidates all, however, supported the proposal.

John Ennis, who finished runner-up for the Tories when the seat was last contested in 2022, said:

“Having myself campaigned over several years for pedestrian / cyclist crossings at these two points on Slingsby Walk, I very much welcome the fact the council is bringing these proposals forward, and would encourage local residents to respond to the consultation.

“Regarding the council’s reference to possible further traffic changes in the Oatlands Drive area, I am supportive in principle of 20mph, but opposed to any introduction of local one-way systems.”

Labour candidate Geoff Foxall, a former Harrogate borough councillor, said:

“I agree to both of these as necessary safety precautions: for school pupils on Oatlands Drive and residents and school pupils on Wetherby Road. Hopefully, these measures will encourage school pupils to walk or cycle to school rather than be driven there by parents.”

The Slingsby Walk and Wetherby Road junction.

Gilly Charters, who is representing the Green Party, said many residents in the Saints area were worried about child safety and the crossings would address this and support active travel.

She added:

“The local Greens have led the way at North Yorkshire to address speed limits and road safety issues in particular around schools and presented a pilot scheme to Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee which paved the way for campaign groups to get safety measures in place on the roads around schools on the western side of Harrogate.

Reform UK candidate John Swales said he supported the crossings but “with a number of concerns, or reservations”.

He said it wasn’t clear how the pre-consultation was undertaken, and why motorists were not included, or why the cost of the schemes had appeared to increase since they were first mooted.

Mr Swales added:

“Also, I wouldn’t support a 20mph speed limits or junctions being made one-way, without a clear understanding of the benefits and drawbacks.”

The deadline for comments is Sunday, April 14. For more information and to view the plans, click here

Any comments should be emailed to Area6.Boroughbridge@northyorks.gov.uk using ‘Oatlands Drive/Wetherby Road crossing consultation’ in the email title.

The independent businesses bringing a new vibe to King’s Road

Towards the Skipton Road end of the almost mile-long stretch of King’s Road in Harrogate is a substantial cluster of largely independent shops and businesses.

For decades this row of around 30 businesses has offered an eclectic mix of shops and services. There are hair and beauty salons alongside a carpet shop, a dog groomer and a wedding dress boutique, a cake maker and funeral director.

There’s always been the odd deli or sandwich shop too, a role currently filled by the well-established and popular Little Breads. Food shopping needs have been met over the years by a succession of independents including the renowned Ramus Seafoods and Regal Fruiterers. Graham Sanderson Interiors has been going strong for nearly 60 years.

In recent years, however, some of the biggest and most long-standing names have gone. Ramus closed its doors in early 2020, while the fruiterers relocated to Otley Road in March last year. Victoria Lane ladies clothes shop closed in January after 17 years.

But as these mainstays have been lost, a new group of businesses rarely seen on the street before are bringing a whole new vibe to the area.

Two years ago, within a matter of months, coffee shop Pink Door, café Mamma Amelia, and restaurant and bar Lilypad opened. And with the news last week that a pizzeria is due to launch in the former Regal Fruiterers premises, the street has begun to attract a new kind of lifestyle customer.

“There’s nowehere like us this end of town”

As Lilypad prepares for its second birthday celebrations later this month, co-owner Jan Moxham said they’d been overwhelmed by the support of the local community since they opened. She said:

“It’s been incredible. We get a lot of people from Bilton and the other side of Skipton Road who tell us there’s nowhere like us at this end of town. We’ve now got a huge cohort of regulars from around age 25 upwards. We are very busy on Thursday evenings, and Fridays and Saturdays are rammed.”

Jan, her husband Roger and son Tom offer South American and Asian inspired dishes, with a menu that’s completely gluten free and mainly vegan. Chef Tom makes all the dishes from scratch and runs special menus such as the ramen-based Tokyo Tuesdays and bao buns ‘baonanza’.

Tom, Jan and Roger Moxham of Lilypad.

Jan said they were pleased to see a cluster of cafés and restaurants developing:

“It’s becoming more of a destination to come to, it will be more vibrant. We’re only five minutes’ walk from the conference centre so we need to entice people from the direction of town.”

Next door to Lilypad, Becky Keown at the long-established Regal Flowers is looking forward to the pizzeria opening next door. She said:

“This end of King’s Road has always been busy but recently there seems to be a new, younger vibe. When Ramus shut it had an impact because they brought a lot of footfall here. Covid didn’t help either, and people are now shopping more online and watching what they spend. But places like Pink Door and Lilypad are bringing people back again.

“We take a lot of orders online now but we do have regular customers and also work with a lot of local wedding venues and funeral parlours. We have a good relationship with many of the businesses on Kings Road and recommend them to our customers.”

The florists’ new neighbours will be Sally Hall, who grew up in Harrogate, and her Italian fiancé Stefano Dell’oso. The couple are leaving their hospitality jobs in London to open the 50-seat Stefano’s restaurant, which will feature a traditional wood-fired pizza oven, in June. Sally said:

“We love King’s Road; we think it’s an up-and-coming area. It’s a different kind of vibe, it seems quite young. We also like the outdoor space we’ll have here.”

“It’s close to town but you know everybody”

Mamma Amelia’s owner, Antonio Cavinato, successfully ran his previous venture, Caffé Lago di Como, in the town centre for five years, before looking for somewhere quiet and more relaxed. He said:

“Here, it’s still close to town but it feels like you know everybody. You can chat to people, the businesses support each other, and it’s easy and free to park. We get regulars from the local community, as well as visitors and conference guests.”

Antonio Cavinato and his team at Caffé Mama Amelia.

The former pastry chef and his team serve a selection of cakes as well as a lunchtime menu that includes pasta dishes and meatballs, all of it home made. He welcomed the growing number of food and drink businesses, saying: “Competition is good.”

A positive impact

Dan Brady of The Harrogate Butcher said the new lifestyle businesses are attracting a new generation of customers to the street, which will have a positive impact on the other businesses as people realise they can drop by for everyday essentials as well as a coffee or a beer.

It’s only a few months since Dan opened his business in the former Ramus Seafood shop premises and he has already seen a significant month-on-month increase in customers. He is already planning to add a selection of fruit, vegetables and bread from other local independents to his offering. He said:

“It’s been fantastic. We’ve got regulars as well as new customers coming in. There’s a really good community around here, there are nice houses and a lot of young families. We also get visitors who are staying in Air B&Bs.

“It’s a great location. I looked at a lot of different places in Harrogate but I liked the history here as well as the good mix of shops. Customers can park up outside and all the businesses champion each other.”

Kings Road Harrogate butchers and food store

Dan Brady of The Harrogate butcher, left, and Robertas Bernotas of Delikata.

Robertas Bernotas at the Lithuanian food store, bakery and cafe Delikata agrees. Since opening two years ago, the store, which serves coffee and cakes alongside cheeses, meats, vegetables and other produce from Lithuania, Ukraine, Latvia and Poland, has had a core of non-English regulars.

But Robert said they had recently seen an increase in English customers too.

“People like to support independents”

Neil Thomson and Natalie Inger’s jewellery and gift shop Shine has been on King’s Road for 18 years. They sell affordable design-led gifts such as bags and scarves, along with greetings cards. Their core offering is silver jewellery, with Natalie herself making some of the pieces and taking bespoke orders as well.

Neil Thomson and Natalie Inger at Shine.

Neil said:

“King’s Road has been its own entity for a long time, but things have changed in recent years. It’s gone from a shopping road to more of a lifestyle road. We get fewer customers who would once have popped in as part of their everyday shopping visit, but we still have our regulars and we’re getting a lot more visitors as there are so many Air B&Bs and guest houses down here.

“People definitely like to support independents, and the fact you can park here too is a bonus.”

Yemi’s Food Stories: a taste of France at Kendell’s Bistro, Leeds

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.

In the world of gastronomy, French cuisine stands as a beacon of excellence, celebrated for its rich flavours, meticulous techniques, and timeless elegance.

As a Nigerian British who lived in the West Indies and whose food is influenced by many cultures including African and the Middle East, I must confess that some of my most consulted books are my French cookbooks. That’s because I love to understand foundational cooking techniques and I adore sauces as they can make or break a dish.

Key defining factors of French cuisine include:

Quality ingredients: French cooking begins with the finest, freshest ingredients sourced locally and seasonally. From vibrant produce to succulent meats and delicate cheeses, the quality of ingredients is paramount.
Technique and tradition: French chefs are renowned for their mastery of culinary techniques, passed down through generations. Whether it’s the art of sauce-making, precision knife skills, or the delicate balance of flavours, French cuisine is steeped in tradition and craftsmanship.
Attention to detail: Every aspect of French cooking, from preparation to presentation, is executed with meticulous attention to detail. From the perfectly chopped herbs to the intricately plated dishes, each element contributes to the overall harmony of flavours and textures.
Regional diversity: France boasts a rich tapestry of culinary traditions, with each region offering its own distinct specialties and flavours. From the seafood-rich cuisine of Brittany to the hearty stews of the French Alps, exploring French cooking is like embarking on a delicious journey across the country.
Celebration of seasonality: French cuisine is deeply rooted in the rhythm of the seasons, with dishes showcasing the best of each time of year. From vibrant spring salads to comforting winter braises, French chefs know how to highlight seasonal ingredients.

Kendell’s Bistro, Leeds

Recently I was craving the decadence of French food and wanted to wrap up what had been a ‘foodie’ month to celebrate my birthday, so I went to Kendell’s Bistro in Leeds after recommendation from work colleagues.

From the humorous words on the board about tips to the seafood menu on the board, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming.

To start

The menu had the usual suspects, but my choices were inspired by the accompanying sauces. I ordered the Oeuf Aux Meurettes, a starter of poached eggs, red wine sauce, bacon, roast shallots, mushroom, garlic and sourdough croute.

Oeuf Aux Meurettes

I enjoyed the rich and dark sauce red wine sauce, saltiness from the crispy bacon and the sourdough was the perfect vessel to carry the poached eggs and soak up the delicious red wine sauce.

On arrival it almost looked like the size of a main dish but that’s because the sourdough toast underneath the eggs made it look substantial.

The second starter of mussels in a light white wine sauce with garlic and a touch of cream was delicate and perfectly seasoned. A great way to start the meal and prepare us for the indulgence that was to come.

The main course

My main was Pave D’Agneau, roast rump of lamb, aubergine feta mint, charlotte, rosemary jus and dauphinois potatoes. The sauce was glossy with a touch of sweetness, purée was elegant, and the roasted garlic was a nice touch.

Potato dauphinois was indulgent and decadent with the rich cream and it was perfectly seasoned. I could eat this all day. Aubergine with feta was a nice addition with richness of the feta but I needed a touch more salt.

Pave D’Agneau

The other main was the Loup de Mer; boneless and skinless sea bass with sliced lemon and capers cooked on a bed of fennel and tarragon en papillote. Cooking the fish in paper created a light and delicious broth.

Dessert

Ordering dessert was simply because I was too curious to give it a pass. The Ile Flotante Aux Rhubarb aka. vanilla pod custard, poached meringue, toasted almonds and rhubarb was pretty and delicious.

The second dessert of chocolate mousse with raspberry had a mousse that was thick, bitter and not overly sweet. Raspberry coulis was sharp and cut through the richness of the mousse. The brandy basket provided a base for the mousse and the crunchiness that was needed.

Chocolate mousse with raspberry

Price: Starter from £7.90 to £10.90, Mains from £19 to £32, Sides from £4.20 to £4.70 and Desserts £9 and £11.50 for a selection of French cheeses.

Verdict: The meal was well cooked, beautifully plated, delicious and indulgent from start to finish a reminder of why classic french cooking remains well regarded.

Reaching a foodie milestone

This is my 50th post for The Stray Ferret, so I want to thank all readers for your support. Please send me recommendations of places, producers and produces to check out in Yorkshire.

Read more:

Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone by-election preview: John Swales, Reform UK

Reform UK wants to shake up British politics this year and John Swales believes he can become the party’s first North Yorkshire councillor.

Mr Swales describes himself as one of Thatcher’s children but says that nationally and locally the Conservatives have lost their way.

He says Reform is winning over disenfranchised Tory voters “like there’s no tomorrow”.

He added:

“They are not Conservatives, they are following a globalist agenda around United Nations development goals. We’ve been bombarded with covid lockdowns and massive state control. Something is very wrong at the heart of British politics.”

Reform UK was previously known as the Brexit Party when it was led by Nigel Farage.

Mr Swales says the party has evolved from when it was largely a single-issue proposition for voters.

Locally, he said parking around Harrogate District Hospital is a big problem in the division, with hospital parking fees forcing people to park on nearby residential streets instead.

Mr Swales said:

“I’ve had elderly relatives down at the hospital and paying for parking is a regressive thing to do. I know they say it’s to fund the NHS but how much does it need, what are its priorities?”

He also questions active travel schemes in the town and was against previous council proposals such as the one-way system on Oatlands Drive that aimed to make the area more friendly for cyclists.

He says he’s also against the town’s £12.1m Station Gateway scheme, which he calls a “dog’s breakfast”. He added:

“It will please nobody. I don’t know why they are pushing ahead with it.”

When the division was last contested in 2022, independent Anna McIntee came last with just 167 votes. She ran a campaign that was not too dissimilar to Reform’s platform, voicing concerns about active travel and how the Conservatives had taken locals for granted.

However, Mr Swales says Reform has a raft of policies that are resonating with voters on issues from energy to the cost-of-living crisis. He said:

“We’re a major political party that has pragmatic and common sense solutions for the problems facing the country.”

He added:

“There’s a hubris with the Conservatives who are so disengaged from what’s going on in town. It feels like a change is coming, it’s exciting.”

The by-election will take place on Thursday, April 11. For more information, visit the council’s website.

A full list of candidates is below:

Conservative – John Ennis.
Green – Gilly Charters.
Labour – Geoff Foxall.
Liberal Democrat – Andrew Timothy.
Reform UK – John Swales.