Police closed several Harrogate town centre streets last night for several hours when a distressed man climbed on to a roof.
The man was on top of the Linley and Simpson building at the junction of Princes Square and Albert Street fro about 6.30pm until midnight.
Both streets were cordoned off, as were some other nearby routes, including James Street.
Police in Princes Square.
Crowds gathered in Princes Square and elsewhere last night.
North Yorkshire Police eventually published a social media post saying “our officers are currently speaking to a person in distress in Harrogate town centre” and urged people to avoid the area.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said it responded at 6.32pm. It added:
“Harrogate crew assisted police with a male who had climbed on the roof of a property and refused to come down.”
Albert Street was among the streets blocked off.
The police cordons prevented people from visiting numerous hospitality businesses on a busy Friday night.
Some people were allowed to cross the cordons at certain point to enter restaurants but others closer to the incident were not.
In a social media post this morning, North Yorkshire Police said:
“Thank you for your patience while we dealt with a man on the roof of Harrogate town centre buildings overnight.“He came down at around midnight and was taken into custody.”
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- Harrogate men spend night in car after youth hostel refuses entry for lack of ID
- Man dies suddenly in Harrogate town centre
Police issue urgent appeal to stop sharing online videos of fatal Nidderdale crash
North Yorkshire Police has urged people to stop sharing footage on social media of the crash that killed 17-year-old Alfie Lovett.
Alfie, from York, was a passenger in a Peugeot 107 which crashed into a wall on Brimham Rocks Road, near Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale, on Tuesday at 6.50pm.
Three other people in the car were left with minor injuries and the driver has been helping police with their enquiries.
The constabulary issued a statement this afternoon saying it was “aware of numerous video clips that are circulating which show footage from the fatal road traffic collision at Brimham Rocks on Tuesday evening”.
The statement added:
“Officers are urgently asking anyone who is in possession of any of this video footage to save it and immediately make contact with the police as this could be critical to the investigation.
“To preserve the integrity of the investigation and out of respect to Alfie’s family officers are also asking that anyone who has any of the footage refrains from sharing it with anyone else other than the police.”
Police urged anyone with video footage to email general.enquiries@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101.
Quote reference number 12230173187.
Read more:
- Police name teenager who died in fatal Brimham Rocks crash
- Boy, 17, dies after car hits wall near Brimham Rocks
Height restrictor installed in Knaresborough car park
A height restrictor costing £3,250 has been installed in the car park at Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough.
Motorhomes, campervans and caravans often park at the back of the car park overnight even though signs say this is prohibited.
About a dozen vehicles pitched up and stayed for three nights last month.
Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West, said it was the largest encampment he was aware of and renewed his calls for North Yorkshire Council to clampdown on overnight stays.
The council, which owns the large long-stay car park, has now responded — and pledged more changes to the site.
Last month’s encampment
The road leading to the back of the car park.
Steve Brown, the council’s head of parking services, said:
“We are committed to improving the security at Conyngham Hall car park and have recently installed a height restrictor to deter campervans, caravans and illegal encampments.
“During the winter months we will be installing a new pay machine to provide better service to the public as well as a CCTV camera which will provide additional security for the new machine.
“They will be in place for its reopening in the spring.”
Cllr Walker praised the council for responding quickly to his latest request for measures to prevent encampments in the car park.
Read more:
- Electric vehicles charging points in Knaresborough car park causing ‘significant harm’
- Councillor calls for clampdown on overnight parking at Knaresborough’s Conyngham Hall
Man dies suddenly in Harrogate town centre
A man died suddenly in Harrogate this morning, police have announced.
The Stray Ferret reported this morning North Yorkshire Police had put up a cordon around one of the cabman’s shelters on West Park Stray.
North Yorkshire Police has now confirmed a body was found.
A spokesperson said:
“Ambulance and police were called to the sudden death of a man on Prospect Place, Harrogate, at 7.15am.
“The area was cordoned off while police investigated the circumstances. The fire service assisted in providing a screen around the scene as the man was found in a public place.
“Following enquiries, the death is not believed to be suspicious. The man’s family have not yet been informed.”
Prospect Place is the short road parallel with West Park Stray that passes Hotel du Vin.
The spokesperson said the scene was clear by 8.40am, adding:
“Officers are compiling a report about the death on behalf of the coroner.
“Anyone with information that could assist should call 101, select option 4, and speak to the force control room. Please quote reference NYP-15092023-0075.”
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Knaresborough resident says council was warned about collapsed wall
A Knaresborough woman has said she and other residents on Briggate raised concerns about an old stone wall that collapsed yesterday.
The wall, which was painted by Knaresborough artist Joseph Baker Fountain last century, crashed on to the road at about 2pm. Fortunately nobody was hurt.
Police and council staff responded quickly by clearing away debris and installing traffic lights.
But Catherine Rogerson, who lives on Briggate, told the Stray Ferret she reported the wall to North Yorkshire Council last month because it appeared unsafe.
Ms Rogerson said bricks were clearly moving and the wall was buckling. She added:
“I said it was an emergency and could collapse, causing a nasty accident.
“Several other local people have also contacted them about it. We all stressed it was in a dangerous state.”
Ms Rogerson said a woman at the council said she would report the matter but no action was taken.
Recalling the moment it came down, she said:
“My husband and I were in the kitchen and heard what we thought was a thunderstorm and then we realised what had happened.
“The main thing is nobody was hurt — but it could have been nasty.”
A passing motorist pulled over and the police were called. Lights continue to manage traffic.
Read more:
- Electric vehicles charging points in Knaresborough car park causing ‘significant harm’
- Knaresborough Town Council calls for 138-home scheme to be rejected
Ms Rogerson said she hoped the wall, which has been a feature of Briggate for many years, would be repaired using the same stone.
The Stray Ferret approached the council for a response late last night and will publish its response when we receive it.
Harrogate Autumn Flower Show starts tomorrow at Newby Hall
Up to 30,000 visitors ate expected at Newby Hall over the next three days for the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show.
The spring and autumn shows, organised by the North of England Horticultural Society, are among the most highly anticipated events on the gardening calendar.
Visitors to Newby, which is between Ripon and Boroughbridge, will see Britain’s biggest display of autumnal blooms and fresh produce.
This year sees the return of the National Vegetable Society’s national championships, which includes a giant vegetable contest.
There will also be talks and demonstrations across three live stages
Show director Nick Smith said:
“We love having the autumn flower show here at Newby Hall, it truly is an inspiring and beautiful location to celebrate and promote the very best in horticulture.
“This year we have such an incredible line-up of exhibitors, installations, and an exciting programme of live stage action, that we can’t wait to get things underway.”
The first day of the show coincides with what would have been Agatha Christie’s 132nd birthday and to mark the occasion, floral displays inspired by the Queen of Crime have been created.
Talented florists including celebrity floral designer Jonathan Moseley and award-winning Harrogate florist Helen James have created floral installations depicting book titles inspired by crime writing greats as part of the Blooms of Deception display.
Admission to the show includes access to Newby’s gardens and children’s adventure playground.
For further details, and to buy tickets, click here.
Read more:
- 11-foot sunflower leaves rivals in the shade at Kirkby Malzeard
- Banana plant flowers at RHS Harlow Carr for first time
Boy, 17, dies after car hits wall near Brimham Rocks
A 17-year-old boy has been killed after a car collided with a wall near Brimham Rocks, near Pateley Bridge.
The teenager, who has not been named, was a passenger in a grey Peugeot 107 when it hit the wall on Brimham Rocks Road at 6.50pm last night.
North Yorkshire Police today appealed for witnesses and information.
The force said in a statement:
“Tragically, a 17-year-old boy, a passenger in the 107 died at the scene of the collision. The boy’s family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
“Three other occupants were left with minor injuries and the driver is helping with the police with their enquiries.
“The road was closed for several hours to allow investigation work to take place at the scene of the collision.”
Police are urging anyone who saw the collision, or the car involved prior to the collision, to get in touch.
Brimham Rocks Road
Officers think that the car left the Fulford area of York at 11am on the same day and travelled to Brimham Rocks via Kirk Hammerton, Green Hammerton and Knaresborough.
They are particularly keen to hear from anyone who has captured any dashcam footage of the vehicle prior to the collision.
You can email Nicola.Peters@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101 and ask for Nicola Peters.
Quote incident number 12230173187.
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Andrew Jones MP urges Prime Minister to ease ‘strain’ on access to Harrogate NHS dentists
Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones today urged the Prime Minister to tackle the “immediate strain” facing local people trying to access NHS dentists.
Concerns about a shortage of NHS dentists in Harrogate were heightened last week when Chatsworth House Dental Clinic, on King’s Road, said it will stop treating NHS patients at the end of the year.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions today, Mr Jones said he and fellow North Yorkshire MPs met with the local integrated care board last week to discuss ways of improving dentistry provision. He added:
“But when surgeries suddenly close to NHS patients without notice as one in Harrogate did very recently, an immediate strain is put on local provision.
“Will the Prime Minister look at what can be done in these circumstances to ensure that no one is left without access to an NHS dentist?”
Mr Sunak pledged to “look into this issue” and said Mr Jones would be “reassured” to know the government was investing £3 billion a year into dentistry. He added there were no geographical restrictions on which dentists people could attend.
‘Sitting on the sidelines’
Tom Gordon with Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrats’ health spokesperson.
The man who hopes to succeed Mr Jones as Harrogate and Knaresborough MP at the next election accused his rival of “sitting on the sidelines” over dentistry.
Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, said he was “pleased that after 13 years Andrew Jones has finally bowed to pressure and asked a question in Parliament about the dentist crisis affecting local residents”, adding:
“In the last six months, the Lib Dems have been increasing the pressure on him to do this. We have set up a dentists survey, arranged a meeting with the Lib Dem shadow health minister and made sure that questions were asked in Parliament about this issue.
“We’ve heard awful stories about how local people have been putting up with pain as they can’t afford to see a dentist. It shouldn’t have required a concerted campaign to make our MP act.”
“We’re determined to keep on fighting for the cash that will re-establish NHS dentistry in our area. We hope Andrew Jones will join us in this fight rather than sitting on the sidelines as he has done over this and many other issues for the last 13 years.”
Following his meeting with Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board last week, Mr Jones said:
“Dental services have been recovering but there is much more progress to be made.
“It is important that action is taken swiftly to expand the NHS dental provision in our area.”
Read more:
- Station Gateway: Andrew Jones calls for funding to be switched to ‘other projects’
- Local politicians raise concern over lack of Harrogate and Knaresborough NHS dentistry
- Harrogate NHS dentist to move to ‘membership only’ patient scheme
Knaresborough businesses prepare for glittering awards night
Knaresborough Business Awards will celebrate the town’s commercial heroes this weekend.
The event, organised by Knaresborough Business Collective, will take place at the Worlds End Pub at Bond End on Saturday night. Tickets sold out in 48 hours.
Five companies have been shortlisted in each of the 18 categories, which range from favourite attraction to favourite coffee shop.
The most prestigious category is Knaresborough Business of the Year, which was won by The Farm Dairy last year. The deli, cheesemonger and sandwich shop on Market Place is among this year’s nominees.
Annie Wilkinson-Gill, who organises the event with Natalie Horner, said the awards had generated an “amazing response”.
“We feel it really is a wonderful way for the gorgeous businesses of Knaresborough to get together, and for the Knaresborough community to vote for their favourites.
“It’s also a wonderful way to promote the businesses Knaresborough has to offer.”
Like last year’s inaugural event, the event uses local suppliers: flowers have been provided by River and Rose, balloons by Balloons and Confetti, brochures by Sid Horner and Sons, the desserts are from the Black Mulberry, and the trophies are from Wayne at If.
The collective, which was formed in 2022, consists of Knaresborough business owners who work together to promote the town and its businesses.
Here are some photos of last year’s awards, taken by Brian King.
Read more:
- Natural beeswax shop opens in Knaresborough
- Knaresborough Town Council calls for 138-home scheme to be rejected
- Performing arts school finds new home in heart of Knaresborough
This year’s shortlisted businesses and individuals are:
Knaresborough Business Of The Year
Freedom Performing Arts, Farm Dairy, Wild Thing, Wildstyle tattoo and Greenwood solicitors
Favourite Female Led Business
Freedom Performing Arts, River & Rose, Sheer Bliss, The Lash Gallery and Kat’s Dogs
Favourite Male Led Business
The Music Bank, Wildstyle Tattoo, Barber Asylum, Zig Zag and Tommy’s Barber Shop
Favourite Family Run Business
Two Brothers, Greenwood solicitors, Sid Horner and Son, Hirst Bakery and Hutton Butchers
Favourite Healthcare Business (not hair & beauty)
Castle Clinic Chiropody by Louise, The Crystal Buddha, Natural Choice, Sarah Chisem Podiatry
Favourite Hair and Beauty Clinic
Aimed Health & Beauty, Kelly Teggin Hairdressing, Orchis Escape, Swish Beauty and Divine Hair
Favourite Retailer
Wild Thing, The Clothing Store, Harriet’s, Stomp and Sheer Bliss
Favourite Place To Stay
The Groves Inn, Gallon House, Custard Cream Cottage, Teardrop Cottage and Newton House
Favourite Attraction
Mother Shipton’s, Blenkhorn’s Boats, the Kiosk at Conyngham, Knaresborough Rescue and Knaresborough Painting Pots
Favourite Coffee Shop
Number Thirteen, The Black Mulberry, McQueens, Cafe Nero and No Place Like Home
Favourite Place to Eat
Two Brothers, Farm Dairy, So! Bar, Six Poor Folk and Carriages
Favourite Place to Drink
The George and Dragon, Six Poor Folk, Blind Jack’s, Half Moon and So! Bar
Favourite Tradesman
Neil Watts, TG Plumbing, Thistle Handyman Services, Dave Bebb DB Roofing and Brian King
Favourite Class or Workshop
Clubbercise with Gilly, Freedom Performing Arts, Bounce with Georgina Sands, Emergy Fitness and Wellbeing and Judi Does Yoga
Favourite Party Provider
Painting Pots, Rascals Entertainment, Bórn of the Forest, Petite Boutique and Studio 3
Favourite New Business (last 12 months)
No Place Like Home, Number Thirteen at Silver Street, Berry’s Tavern, Claire Baxter Art Gallery and Lawai Spice
Favourite Member of Staff
Connie Li (Yorkshire Trading), Lindsey Ruthen ( Farm Dairy), Maisie Withnell (The Clothing Store), Tom Robson (Vapour Worx) and Miles Lazenby (Berry’s Tavern)
Favourite Inspirational Business
The Crystal Buddha, Painting Pots, Sid Horner and Son, Freedom Performing Arts and Greenwood solicitors
Motorbike stolen from Harrogate’s James Street
A motorcycle has been stolen from one of Harrogate’s busiest shopping streets.
North Yorkshire Police has appealed for information about the theft, which occurred on James Street between 6pm on August 26 and 12.15am on August 27.
The 22-reg black and orange KTM 125 Duke was taken and then found abandoned on Byron Walk Mews at about 6am on 27 August.
Police urged anyone with information to email katie.bell@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101, select option 2, and ask for Katie Bell.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Quote reference number 12230161540.
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