Knaresborough scarecrow trail to begin on Saturday

Knaresborough will host a scarecrow trail from this weekend in a fun scheme to attract more people to the town.

From Saturday, Ye Older Chymist Shoppe will sell maps for £3 revealing the locations of 18 scarecrows.

Anyone who finds them and fills in a form on the map will then be entered for a £50 prize draw.

Children hunting for scarecrows last year.

Knaresborough Business Collective, which represents independent traders in the town, has organised the initiative to boost trade in the pre-Christmas period. It will run until November 5.

Natalie Horner, co-founder of the collective, said:

“We try to do things when it’s quiet and there is less going on. We thought this would bring people into town and provide a cheap activity to do.”

This is the second year the scarecrow trail has been held. Last year saw 444 maps sold and raised almost £2,000.

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Proposals to revive Starbeck’s ‘burnt-out shell’ due by Christmas

A public exhibition on plans to bring the former McColl’s building in Starbeck back into use is expected to be held before Christmas.

The empty High Street building has blighted High Street since it was ravaged by fire five years ago.

In an article on his Community News website, Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones said plans for ground floor retail and flats above were finally coming to fruition.

Mr Jones, who described the building as “a burnt-out shell” that local people and residents’ groups were keen to see redeveloped, commented after meeting the owner of the site.

The article said the site owner, who was not named, “outlined the various issues they have had with developing a proposal” but “were able to reassure Mr Jones that they would be bringing a scheme forward very soon”.

It added the owner and architect hoped to run a public exhibition in Starbeck before Christmas “so that Starbeck residents can examine the proposals and have their say”.

Mr Jones said:

“This is very positive as, like many others, I have been keen to see proposals brought forward so that we can see progress on removing a building which is, frankly, an eyesore.  It is important that in bringing this site back into use the setting next to St Andrew’s Church is respected.

“I was grateful to the owner for sharing his thoughts with me and I urge people to keep an eye out for the start of the public consultation.”

A five-year eyesore

The old Harper's building in Starbeck.

The building was painted last year.

The historic building in the centre of Starbeck was originally a Harper’s grocery store and still bears the name. It continued to function as a supermarket but was vacant when fire broke out in July 2018.

It was brightened up last year when regulars at the nearby Prince of Wales pub painted it in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukraine flag.

However, its size, history and prominence lead many to regard it as a key part of regenerating Starbeck.

Harrogate Borough Council, which was abolished in April, approved plans submitted by Leeds-based developer Bates & Hemingborough in November 2021 to demolish the building.

The owner hoped to build retail and housing units on the site but a formal planning application for the development did not proceed after the council asked for safety documents, which were later submitted, addressing how the demolition would impact the adjacent St Andrew’s Church.

Planning agent Pete Gleave from Zerum Consulting told the Stray Ferret in February last year the developer would “was looking to progress the redevelopment of the site as quickly as possible and will be working up a planning application in the coming months” but the building remains derelict.

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New pasty shop to open in Harrogate next week

Cornish Bakery has announced it will open its first Harrogate shop next week.

The eat-in or take-out bakery will be based in the former Paperchase unit that closed at the end of May.

Cornish Bakery, which has more than 50 shops in the UK, sells pasties, breakfast pastries, cakes and coffees.

The Stray Ferret revealed in July the company was heading to upmarket James Street. Now the company has revealed the opening date.

The shop, which will serve customers from 8am to 6pm every day of the week, will provide competition to the nearby Greggs bakeries as well as the Cornish Pasty Bakery in the Victoria Shopping Centre.

The unit was originally the home of a chemist and later part of the Ogden jewellery store, which is now its neighbour.

Steve Grocutt

Cornish Bakery founder and owner Steve Grocutt said:

“We are delighted to be opening our Cornish Bakery in the beautiful spa town of Harrogate.

“We are on a constant journey to redefine what a bakery is does and what it can be, and we therefore build all our bakeries differently.”

He added:

“We have taken on this historic Harrogate property, uncovering some interesting features within it that will be showcased in the beautiful interior we have created.

“We also believe a bakery should be part of the community so our newly employed team will be actively seeking opportunities to work with local organisations in the Harrogate area.”

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Police car involved in Killinghall collision

A police car was involved in a two-vehicle crash in Killinghall today in which both drivers were taken to hospital.

North Yorkshire Police said it was contacted at 3.45pm today about a collision between a white Hyundai car and a police car on Otley Road.

It is believed the incident occurred at the junction with Grainbeck Lane.

The police statement said:

“Emergency services attended the scene. No serious injuries have been reported, but both drivers of the vehicles have attended hospital with minor injuries.

“Road closures were put in place between Lund Lane and Otley Road, to allow officers to determine the circumstances around the collision and to enable the vehicles to be recovered. These have now been lifted and the road is now open.”

It added:

“While the police car involved will have audio and video recordings of the collision, officers are still keen to hear from any other witnesses who saw the collision and/or recorded dashcam footage.”

Anyone with information can email Dan.Stoppard@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101 and ask to speak to traffic sergeant 880 Dan Stoppard quoting reference NYP-24102023-0320.

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Harrogate man unveils world’s first vertical bathroom

An inventor from Harrogate is set to unveil the world’s first vertical bathroom.

Paul Hernon’s design includes a rotating toilet, basin, shower and storage space combined in one upright unit.

Known as the Vertebrae, it will be displayed at the Homebuilding and Renovation Show at Harrogate Convention Centre from November 3 to 5.

Mr Hernon already has one of his space-saving bathrooms in his Starbeck home.

Now he hopes the pioneering invention, which according to his website costs £9,480 plus VAT, will lead to a paradigm shift in bathroom design.

The units rotate to save space.

The gadget enthusiast hit on the idea while studying as an industrial designer and has since refined the idea. He said:

“By associating space within a bathroom with particular activities, I rearranged them in a vertical configuration, which was both space saving and ergonomic.”

After numerous funding application failures, the Royal Academy of Engineering awarded him a grant, to reach his goal of manufacturing the Vertebrae.

In 2020 he installed a pre-manufacture version of his all-in-one bathroom in a dedicated extension in his Starbeck home. It has been fully working for the last three years and is now ready for market.

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Bid to create butterfly bank and dipping pool at Staveley nature reserve

A fundraising appeal has been launched to improve Staveley Nature Reserve.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, which owns the wetlands site between Boroughbridge and Knaresborough, plans to introduce new features and increase the number of visitors.

The proposals include the creation of a butterfly bank — a type of chalk grassland habitat — so people will be able to see more butterflies across the wildflower meadows.

The trust also wants to create a dipping pond and platform at the edge of one of the pools so it can run pond-dipping sessions, which are popular with children.

There are also plans to install a toilet so the site can cater for school visits and events and enable volunteers to work longer.

Pic: Jono Leadley (10)

A barn owl at Staveley. Pic: Carl Watts

The reserve, which is close to the River Tutt just outside Staveley, is one of 111 sites owned by the trust and attracts almost 40,000 visitors a year. Entry is free.

Staveley is home to hundreds of species including otters, water shrews, foxes, roe deer and more than 150 species of bird including bitterns and barn owls.

Over autumn and winter the reserve hosts spectacular starling murmurations, bats and kites.

Staveley. Pic: Paul Fox

A goldfinch and linnet flock. Pic: Carl Watts

The trust hopes to raise £20,000 from a public fundraising appeal and will also apply for grants.

The goal is to raise funds before February next year so work can begin in spring.

Staveley reserve manager Laura Harman said:

“Staveley is hugely important for Yorkshire’s wildlife, but also offers a unique space for local people and visitors to experience and enjoy the benefits of being in nature.

“As well as creating even more habitat space for wildlife such as butterflies and breeding birds, we want to improve routes and information, facilities like pond dipping and activities for schools – to make Staveley nature reserve a welcoming, easily accessible and inspiring place for everyone.”

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Harrogate wins gold at national Britain in Bloom awards

Harrogate Business Improvement District has won gold at the RHS Britain in Bloom awards.

The organisation, which aims to increase footfall in the town centre, was successful in the BIDs, town centres and city centres category.

It was recognised for its Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration campaign, a fortnight-long initiative that celebrated the town’s international connections through a series of town centre floral designs.

The summer of celebration was in addition to Harrogate BID’s regular floral offering of almost 200 barrier baskets, shop doorway planters and hanging baskets.

One of the gold-winning displays.

Matthew Chapman, the manager of Harrogate, said:

“Three years ago this award was a huge aspiration of Harrogate BID and after winning gold in last year’s Yorkshire in Bloom awards and then being entered as an RHS Britain in Bloom finalist, we are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded a gold award.”

“This summer’s Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration was the second year of the campaign and it was a huge success, increasing footfall, spend and first impressions with visitors and residents alike.”

Pictured receiving the award from left to right: Pam Grant (Harrogate in Bloom), Bethany Allen (Harrogate BID), Matthew Chapman (Harrogate BID), Kitti Johnson (Harrogate BID) and Nick Smith (Harrogate Flower Shows)

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Council removes anti-speeding scarecrows in Nidd for ‘safety reasons’

North Yorkshire Council has removed several scarecrows created as part of an anti-speeding campaign in a village between Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Residents in Nidd put up about 16 scarecrows near the B6165 and Town Street this month as part of a campaign to reduce the speed limit after two recent fatal accidents.

Several were designed to look like police officers and some contained messages.

But North Yorkshire Council removed the ones immediately alongside the highways last week. Several on private land remain.

A council spokesperson said:

“Our highways team contacted festival organisers on Thursday requesting that scarecrows near the road were removed ahead of Storm Babet.

“They were not able to get hold of the organisers so officers were sent to remove scarecrows close to the road due to safety reasons.

“The scarecrows are being kept safe at the highways depot for collection. The organisers and parish council were informed of this.”

Several scarecrows have high visability jackets.

A police officer scarecrow.

The activists’ creative scarecrow stunt has divided opinion in Nidd.

Some villagers embraced the move to raise awareness of the campaign to reduce the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph.

The B6165, which links Ripley and Knaresborough, has some sharp, narrow bends in Nidd, especially near Nidd Hall.

Villager and co-organiser Jayne Brown said the scarecrow festival served its purpose:

“It definitely had an big impact on reducing the speed and making the lives of the people in the village safer.”

Ms Brown added that less than 36 hours after the scarecrows were removed a car crashed into a wall.

But others thought the stunt was ill-advised.

The clerk of Nidd Parish Council, who asked not to be named, said although it sympathised with the cause it did not think the methods were appropriate.

The clerk reiterated her previous comment, which said:

“We are concerned that any distractions to drivers as they approach, what we all agree is a dangerous bend, is not sensible.”

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Harrogate poppy appeal seeks volunteers

The Harrogate branch of the Royal British Legion has issued a plea for volunteers to help with this year’s appeal.

Chairman Mike Comerford said the branch needed six to eight people to distribute poppies and collection tins as well as to take part in street collections.

Poppies were due to start going up in Harrogate today ahead of Remembrance Sunday on November 12. Ripon already has a magnificent display.

Mr Comerford said there was a shortage of volunteers this year because some regular helpers were either too old or unwell to give as much time.

He said volunteers who could drive were required from tomorrow (Tuesday) to distribute the poppies and collection tins on prescribed routes.

Street collections begin on Saturday (October 28) but shops can sell poppies before then.

Six hundred boxes, each containing 150 poppies, are distributed as part of Harrogate’s poppy appeal.

The poppy appeal provides support for members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families.

The town raised about £50,000 of the £48 million generated nationally by the Royal British Legion last year.

Anyone interested in helping can call Mr Comerford on 07954125891 or email him at mike.comerford@ntlworld.com.

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Artist and designer open gift shop in Harrogate

An artist and designer have combined their talents to open a gift shop in Harrogate.

Katie and Howard Shelmerdine opened Lighthouse Lane on Royal Parade.

The couple, who have two other shops, describe the venture as a “design-led gift, art, homeware and greetings card brand”.

Katie is responsible for the artwork and Howard specialises in the Yorkshire product range.

About half of the products are designed and often made in house.

Katie said:

“We opened our first retail store in Haworth in 2015. After welcoming our first child, we left our jobs working for a high street bank and decided to give running a business a go.

“We had no experience in the creative world but knew we were passionate about it and decided the time was as right as it could have been.”

They opened a second shop in Skipton in 2019 and have now set-up business in Harrogate. Katie said:

“We are very excited to become a part of the community of vibrant Montpellier independent retailers, cafes and bars.

“We hope that our store is a welcoming, fun and relaxing place to visit where you might find that special something to treat yourself to.”

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